GOOD FEELINGS
by Carl Wallace
(originally published in Hounds & Hunting, Better Beagling, and SPO)
Most people, recreationally at least, do those things that make them feel good. That certainly seems like a natural thing. I believe people trial for the same reason-it makes them feel good. I started thinking about all the good feelings associated with trialing and came up with more than I thought.
I guess the good feelings start out there at your favorite thicket, leaned back against a tree, listening to your dogs running that rabbit, watching a cloud float across a clear blue sky, enjoying the calm quiet interupted by only the cry of the beagles, and just generally feeling pretty good about everything-contented. The dogs come around pretty close and they’re hammering that rabbit so steady you’ve just got to go see some of it. As they come by ole Lady is carrying the line steady and quick. Ole Lady might be a 2 year old that’s just coming into her own or maybe a 5 year old that’s maturing into a good dog. You’re thinking "Ole Lady is looking better everyday. You know, I think she just might be able to compete at the trials". The next day the same thing happens and again "I think I’m gonna take ole Lady to the next trial". At home that night you’re sitting in that recliner taking it easy looking through one of the beagle magazines when you notice an ad for a licensed trial next weekend at a club only two hours drive away. You’d been to that club several years ago as a spectator and remembered those people as being good folks. "Yep! I’m gonna do it’ I’ll get ole Lady ready this week and go to that trial. Lady might win!". You’re feeling pretty good about this thing.
That week you run Lady Monday night in a trio and then put the fininshing touches on her with a couple hours of soloing on Wednesday and Thursday. You think to yourself that Lady is looking better than ever. Yep! Ole Lady just might do OK! She might win!". Anticipation of a good feeling is almost as good as a good feeling.
You wake up Saturday morning at 3:30 and load up. Now if you weren’t a little excited this part would be pretty close to a bad feeling. Too early! You make good time and you pull into town ahead of schedule. The trip seemed fast because you were thinking the whole way how Lady might just do good today. What’s that up ahead? International House of Pancakes! Breakfast! This is one of the best parts of trialing. You notice several trucks with dog boxes and several people nod and speak as you enter. You order one of everything on the menu that has cholesterol and fat in it and wolf it down. Boy, that was good! It is my theory that cholesterol and fat have no detrimental effects if consumed on the day of a trial. As you walk out and stretch and take in a big breath of that fresh crisp morning air you’re getting one of those good feelings.
As you pull into the club parking lot the excitement steps up a notch. Competition! People registering, filling out entry blanks, numbering, measuring, and all those social things that go on before a trial. You see a couple of folks from your home club and recognize a couple of old aquaintances. Somebody asks as you’re getting Lady out of the truck, "Whatcha running today?" and reply "Oh, just an old female I’ve had awhile. She’s never trialed before." And she might win. That last part was just a thought, you didn’t really say it out loud. Confidence is a very private thing. Kind of fragile, too.
Roll is called. Lady is #26 in a class of 42. You can’t help but think, goodness that’s a bunch of dogs. You draw the second pack. Well, at least you won’t be the first one picked up at the trial. As the first pack heads into the field you start getting Lady out of the box and walking her around. The time is drawing near. You notice a couple of people coming out with their dogs and they seem to be a little grumpy. The marshall calls, "Second pack!". Here we go. Pack of seven. "Cast your hounds". Suddenly you wish you had maybe run Lady a little more or something. They hit a rabbit pretty quick and away they go. Boy, you’re a little anxious. Maybe a little nervous. Hang in there Lady. After almost 20 minutes of good running the judges call "marshals" and everyone tenses a little. In a few minutes he hollers "Pick up #38 and #7". Holy smoke, they didn’t pick me up! Allright! They picked the check and they’re running again. Now you can pick Lady out a little better and it sounds like you hear her doing pretty good. On one good long drive you hear one judge ask the other "What’s carrying that?" and the other judge answers "#26". You act like you didn’t hear it but inside you’re feeling pretty good. In just a few more minutes the Marshall calls "Pick up #29 and #22 and handle the pack". Good gosh we made it. Didn’t get picked up in first series! And only three dogs stayed down. They must have liked ole Lady. On the way out you meet the third pack coming in and someone you never met asks "Stay down?" and you say quietly "Yeah, still down." What you really mean is "Yeah! Allright! We’re still down!". Feeling pretty good now. Now when your buddies ask next week how you did you can at least say Stayed down in first series".
You spend the rest of the morning leaned back chewing on a weed listening to the old timers talk about dogs and trials of times past. Everyone is kinda laid back and low key and everyone is obviously enjoying themselves. So are you. It dawns on you that this is a good feeling and what’s that other feeling you’re beginning to feel. Hunger! Just about lunch time the judges come out with the seventh pack. Let’s go eat lunch! Lunch at a field trial is always good. Food out doors is always better than at home. Now, if you’re still in the chase it’s much more pleasant, As you’re eating the secretary comes out and announces 2nd series, 14 dogs. Whew, tough cut! That’s probably going to get us. First pack is called and #26 is not called. Uh oh! Second pack is called and-#26-alright! Made it! As you turn toward your truck someone asks you, "Did you make it?". Again you say in your best nonchalant voice "Yeah, Still there". You wonder if your excitement showed through. They run the first pack a solid hour and leave down four dogs. As the first pack is coming out one of those four still down says to no one in particular "Well boys, They’re gonna have to really shine to beat that!". Great. That’s all you needed. Hounds are cast and it takes a while to jump a rabbit. All of a sudden you realize you’re in the middle of a huge briar thicket beating the brush like some kind of wildman. Whoops! Letting your excitement show through a little. Somebody starts hollering "Tally-Ho" way over yonder and dogs are on it and gone in no time. Where’s Lady? Oh goodness! She’s not there! Where is she? Oh no, Don’t let her get beat like this! You run for the pack as hard as you can. As you get closer you get a little panicked because you can’t tell if she’s there or not. You finally catch up to the rest of the handlers and someone starts a little chit-chat with you as you walk up. No talk now, this is serious! You get up to the judges on a long check and ask if your dog is there. "Oh yeah" hollers one of the judges. Oh yeah, you knew she was there all the time. You weren’t really worried. Now you do your best Clint Eastwood look to let the other handlers know you never were really worried. Yeah right! The marshall sings out "Pick up #42 and #28". Did he say #26?-no #28. Oh, ok-thought so. Five minutes later and "Pick up #1 and handle the pack". You fly in there to catch Lady. You might make the winners pack. Boy, Lady looks kinda tired but you’re some kinda proud of the old girl. Holy cow girl, we might make the winners pack. We’re feeling pretty good now. Making the winners pack would be quite an accomplishment, worthy of some bragging next week.
Everyone heads back to the clubhouse to call out the winners pack and measure. Winners pack of 8 and Lady’s there. Standing there waiting to get measured you’re so proud you can hardly stand it. Even if she’s the first dog up. But if she could just place! A trophy!
Real good feelings are just ahead!
Winner’s pack’s been down for 30 minutes of nonstop running. You’re so proud you’re about to bust, but you’re afraid they’re gonna pick Lady up any minute. About that time the marshal comes running by heading for the judges and says to you in a low voice, "She’s looking good!". What’d he say? Alright! The judges must be thinking so , too, Huh? Holy smokes she might place. The judges holler "Marshall" and you almost faint. Pick up #7 and #12. Whoopee! Good feelings all round!
Dogs are back on the rabbit and you fall in with the other handlers suffering from the handlers disease. You’re not sure why you’re following the dogs and judges, it’s just an irressistable urge. It dawns on you that there are six dogs still down and only five will get trophies. Oh goodness, I bet we get picked up sixth. Well, Lady still did good. You can almost brag about getting picked up sixth. (I’m convinced more people get picked up sixth than any other place. Just sit around the fire at the clubhouse and listen. Everybody got picked up sixth! There’s a certain vet in the Mid-South who claims to hold the record and I think he just might.)
The last six dogs are run another 15 minutes and the judges holler "Marshall". Uh oh! Here it comes! "Pick up # 14. Pick up # 21 NBQ". Alright! Holy smokes! She placed! Not only that she’s gonna get at least 4th. Good feelings and gettin better. After another five minutes the judges call for the marshals again. You can hear the marshall hollering "down". The judges ask "Did you catch her?" and the marshals answers "yeah" and you just know they caught Lady. At that instant you hear Lady squall like she does when she hits a hot line. "Hound #6, 4th place". Good grief, she’s got at least 3rd! You knew she could do it! Good feelings!
Only three handlers left now and handshakes go all around. Good luck to you but we might win! After about another 10 minutes the judges holler "Field trial!" and head out. You run in to catch Lady and don’t have much trouble. She looks like she’s been through a buzz saw. You’ld kinda like to hug her but suspect that might not be acceptable trial behavior. You’ll wait till later. As you’re leading Lady out with the other three handlers and dogs you can tell that they’re a little bit anxious , too. As you approach the trucks and everyone is watching as the last three dogs come in you’re so proud you could just bust. Boy, this trialin’ is fun. In the immortal word of James Brown, "I feel good!".
You get back to the club house and kinda go through the motions of taking your boots off and putting your shoes on. Several people say something to you but you’re not really sure what. Adrenalin! As the secretary walks out of the clubhouse to announce the results the crowd moves toward him. He calls out NBQ and 4th and then hesitates and smiles at everybody. Kinda cruel isn’t it. As he begins to call out 3rd you kinda spontaneously make a move. "#18". You almost faint. She must have gotten 2nd. And dare you think it! She might win! The owner of the other hound is standing right next to you and he extends his hand and says "Good luck!" Now that’s a nice fellow you think. "And second place goes to-". The secretary pauses again boy that’s mean. "#20. 1st place goes to#26, Ole Lady!" You don’t even remember walking up and getting the trophy. Everybody is slapping you on the back and shaking your hand. Boy, this has got to be the best feeling ,huh? No, not the best.
You go to get Lady out of the truck for picture taking. This allows the good feelings to linger a while longer. They take pictures of the placing hounds and then one of just you and Lady. You sure would like to have one of those pictures but forget to ask. Boy, what a feeling! As you’re loading Lady up several people ask what she’s out of and just basic beagle chatter. As you pull out of the parking lot and head for home you just about holler. Ole Lady has given her all for you today and boy it feels good! The drive’s always better when you’re sharing the cab with a blue ribbon. You relive the trial a dozen times on the way home and when you get home you tell the wife all about it. Lady gets a little extra food tonight.
Monday morning at break time you gather up with your buddies like every morning and right away someone asks "How’d you do?". That’s all you needed. Boy, this has got to be the best feeling, huh? No, not the best.
The next Wednesday you head out to that favorite thicket for a little running. As you get out conditions are just about perfect- sun low in the western sky, cool, clear, quiet.
You go around to the tailgate and open it and then open Lady’s box door. Lady walks out and stands on the tailgate and you just can’t hold back a little half smile. "Come on, old girl, let’s run some rabbit."
Now-THAT’s the best feeling!