Farthest trial?
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
Over last summer I was set to sign up for a trial nearly 17 hours away. A lady who runs the trials closest to us was judging out in Nova Scotia last year, so I was contemplating taking the trip to do the trial and maybe sight see and visit some relatives.
Unfortunately due to money constraints that never happened.
But I don't see any problems with doing a trial a little further away. Just makes it more of a mini vacation, a chance to explore a new area, or even just meet some new like minded people!
Unfortunately due to money constraints that never happened.
But I don't see any problems with doing a trial a little further away. Just makes it more of a mini vacation, a chance to explore a new area, or even just meet some new like minded people!
By next Sunday, I will have driven a total of 7-9 hours for dog training classes - not even a trial or anything that exciting. And I will do that again the next week, and the week after that, and the week after that....And a lot of this will be in rush-hour traffic through Manhattan, mind you, so for all I know, that 7-9 hours will turn into 7-9 years and I will just spend my entire existence rotting on a bridge, cursing the city while my dog cries in the back set.
You're perfectly sane in my book, is what I'm trying to say.
You're perfectly sane in my book, is what I'm trying to say.
There was someone from 12 hours away at our Barn Hunt. She lives in Fairbanks, which is where Alaska's only tracking trial is at each year, so people from here will be driving 12 hours for that in August. Lots of us drive 4 hours regularly for various events. Zoe and I did it twice just for her ORT, and we'll be doing it again for the trial in a few weeks. I would go further if needed.
Well I went to a trial about 14 hours away.... but I was kinda also vacationing and visiting Mira's breeders and bringing MacNut home... 
The funny thing was it happened to a be a breed supported entry trial too (MAS) and a local person to where I live was there because of that. Who nearly had a heart attack when she saw me there because WHO WOULD COME THIS FAR lol
The funny thing was it happened to a be a breed supported entry trial too (MAS) and a local person to where I live was there because of that. Who nearly had a heart attack when she saw me there because WHO WOULD COME THIS FAR lol
I would never be able to compete! I only have one trial a year where it is really reasonable to drive home at night.
I did 17 hours to Kentucky for Cynosport; the longest I do for regular trials is just about 4.5 hours for the Rhode Island trials. I wouldn't do that for an outdoor trial, but it is reasonable for me given that the footing/temperature is assured (nice indoor, climate controlled site).
Eight hours for me would be too long for a regular trial. My general rule is that I want to be able to reasonably drive home Sunday night, not pay for an extra hotel night after it is over. But I certainly wouldn't judge someone for doing it!
I did 17 hours to Kentucky for Cynosport; the longest I do for regular trials is just about 4.5 hours for the Rhode Island trials. I wouldn't do that for an outdoor trial, but it is reasonable for me given that the footing/temperature is assured (nice indoor, climate controlled site).
Eight hours for me would be too long for a regular trial. My general rule is that I want to be able to reasonably drive home Sunday night, not pay for an extra hotel night after it is over. But I certainly wouldn't judge someone for doing it!
Yeah, I'm lucky that I live in a pretty central location where plenty of stuff is available within a 3 hour drive. I'm willing to make exceptions for things like Nationals though.
Part of my reason for no hotels is trying to keep costs down. Part is that I used to travel a lot for work and I'm sick of staying in hotels. The last reason is that Watson is a PITA about sleeping in new locations for the first night (though I decided on the no hotel rule before I got him).
Overall I just don't enjoy going to shows all that much, so I'm happy to limit my options to those nearby. I'm also willing to drive a little further to sleep in my own bed at the end of the day.
Part of my reason for no hotels is trying to keep costs down. Part is that I used to travel a lot for work and I'm sick of staying in hotels. The last reason is that Watson is a PITA about sleeping in new locations for the first night (though I decided on the no hotel rule before I got him).
Overall I just don't enjoy going to shows all that much, so I'm happy to limit my options to those nearby. I'm also willing to drive a little further to sleep in my own bed at the end of the day.
Four hours to Louisville is the furthest I've gone. Purina Farms is on the other side of STL to me and that's four hours-ish... I went there for herding at Sheltie Nationals last time it came around. Granted I was already in Glen Carbon so I didn't have AS far to go, it's a little over three hours to get to Glen Carbon. I drove straight back home from Purina Farms after herding was over though.
I don't typically go to Purina Farms or Louisville for average trials. Louisville for the big four-day cluster is worth it. If I were REALLY campaigning Payton (and had more money) I would do Purina Farms regularly. But four hours is just a bit far away. Admittedly part of the issue is the lack of cheap hotels when I get over that way.
I would go further for Nationals or something like that. I would say six hours would be my max, but I might be able to talk myself into an eight hour drive to a big event like Nationals...
I don't typically go to Purina Farms or Louisville for average trials. Louisville for the big four-day cluster is worth it. If I were REALLY campaigning Payton (and had more money) I would do Purina Farms regularly. But four hours is just a bit far away. Admittedly part of the issue is the lack of cheap hotels when I get over that way.
I would go further for Nationals or something like that. I would say six hours would be my max, but I might be able to talk myself into an eight hour drive to a big event like Nationals...
No, they rotate every three years... east coast, west coast, then back to the midwest. It will probably come back to Purina Farms when they cycle back to the midwest, it was there in 2011. That was the year I took Auggie to herd sheep. I meant to take Payton this year but the weather has been so crappy I haven't been able to get him on sheep to even start to train him... guess we have plenty of time to work on it. =P