NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019
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When mustering, Bex works on horseback bringing the sheep into the yards and transferring them into new paddocks
saves me money, and I get more years out of them. They are my work tools, and work extremely hard and deserve nothing but the best. I always have pups coming and going as I breed and rear a lot. I pick what I think is going to be the best that will suit me. “Younger people would find the dog trials really interesting, and we need more people to come through and train as judges, and helpers because if they don’t turn up the sport will die out. These days we are so lucky because in the past no one would pass on their training information. Now if you are willing to learn — people are more than happy to help. “It is about having good dogs for work. Good dogs are important for me,
as my income relies on them. You are paid to do a job mustering, and if you can’t do it efficiently, people won’t get you back. “Training a dog is like breaking in a horse. You need to be able to direct each dog and have it listen to you. It takes many hours and travelling to get advice, but it is worth it, and I do it because I love them and my job being outside every day. “Mustering other people’s stock is a huge responsibility, and they need to be able to trust their staff. I bring the stock down on horseback, and depending what time of year it is, depends on the chores. With docking, I transfer animals from paddocks to the required yards, from one beat to the next. Some
Bex Hughes-Baynes, Jo Waugh and Steph Tweed are all successful dog trial place-getters and believe it is a rewarding sport for females to participate in
stations are huge, so you need to be organised and confident. “I have been shepherding for 11 years and confidence comes with experience. You need to back yourself because you are more capable than you think.” Bex placed second in the New Zealand Dog Trials in 2018, and sixth in the South Island Championships. “I won the first round and then got into a run-off with contestants from across the South Island. I run heading dogs, but I enjoy the huntaways a lot more due to the countryside I work on. In the last 12
months, the girls within dog trialling have done phenomenally well. “In 2018, when I placed second in the country — it was the highest placing a woman ever got. “This year myself and two other women were in the run-off. Out of 300 competitors, there were only 10 women, and my friend Jo Waugh won that round in the South Island. “In the New Zealand competition, Steph Tweed won. It is a good sport that girls are excelling at and the best part is we are all very good friends, and that makes it extra special.”
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