Liz K Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Hi, Everyone - I recently underwent extensive knee surgery and will be trialing in about 10 days. The doctor said I can do anything I want, and this falls under that category (PLEASE, no flaming...) I still can't get around the field without some assistance, and my fiberglass stock cane does not support me well. What are the parameters for a "legal" stockcane for use on the field? If I have a normal cane like one would use to assist in walking, and it has a crook, is it still legal? Should I get a big wooden dowel and cut it down to size so there is no crook? I won't pull out of the trial for this, and would never ask someone else to run my dog, so those aren't options. Any suggestions before I run to the drugstore and buy a cane? Thanks in advance - Liz Klenk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgt Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 I looked at the USBCHA rules and the ISDS rules and I could not find any mention of a crook. This surprised me. Did I miss something? Maybe someone will come up with something. But, even if there is something in the rules, unless you are running in open/nursery, what is allowed is completely up to the specific trial organizers and/or judge and/or course director. Having said all that, I would be very surprised if you were not allowed to use a regular walking cane. (I found a blind person's cane at a thrift store; I use it a lot in Open trials. Nobody ever seems surprised. I guess it seems appropriate.) charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz K Posted May 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Thanks, Charlie - I checked the USBCHA rules last night and could not find anything either, but it was really late and I'm just a novice - this is my second USBCHA trial. The last one was Bluegrass last year, and we are coming back for more! Maybe some numbers instead of letters this time, and maybe a dog that doesn't help the sheep grow wings and fly over the fence, too! LOL!!! I completely understand about the blind person's cane reference. My fiberglass one is white with an orange tip. I guess I could email the judge, explain my situation, and see what he will let me use. That way, I'm not caught unprepared beforehand. And I LOVE the idea of going to a thrift shop - you just saved me some $$ if I can find a cane at one of the many thrift shops in the area. Thank you!! Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amc Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Many if not most handlers use a 'fancy' shepherd's crook for trialing, often with carved handles and such. The 'crook' part would not be something that is disallowed. Other venues do have restrictions on length, I believe. I can imagine a course director or judge forbidding something like a rattle paddle, or a rake, at the post. Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz K Posted May 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Thanks, Amy! I can feel more confident that I can walk on the course with an assistive device that doubles as a stockcane now! Stability is important...but feeling hobbled and not completely recovered is a real bummer. Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 I believe Becca on these boards has used a walking cane as a de facto stock stick after she was in an accident and needed a cane to walk. I can't imagine any trial forbidding any sort of cane that resembled a crook, since many of us carry crooks to the post, as Amy said. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 The rules state: SECTION 8: CONTESTANTS P. A contestant shall not enter the trial field at any time with any kind of training device. The trial management, representative, or judge must disqualify a contestant if he enters the trial field with any such equipment, and all entry fees and/or premiums pertaining to said contestant shall be forfeited. Such devices include, but are not limited to, electronic collars, dummy or weighted collars, a leash or rope that is not detached before the dog is sent, or any device used to distract or cause pain to a dog while it is working. The judge has the right to inspect the dog for any violation to this rule. I consider a training device a rake, rattle paddle, pvc pipe or flag. I do not consider a walking cane as a training device. I do remember at one trial that I judged that a person had a thin pvc pipe. I told them it was a training device and made that person borrow a proper crook. I considered the pvc pipe as a training device as there is a training center near me that uses them to train the dogs with and as a mean to hit the dog or as they say, push the dog out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Orr Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 I remember my very first trial. In a driving rain in Hickory Tavern, SC, at the handler's meeting for novice I was a nervous nellie. The venerable judge, Jimmy Langston, gave his instructions and added that no training aids were allowed. I nodded and thought, "What kind of bonehead would compete with a training aid - must be a real lout." Well, the judge, kind man repeated the prohibition and sort of looked at me. Duh, there I was with the only stick I had ever used - a tassel-less lunge whip. I threw it down like it was a snake. Trialing - no place for the easily embarassed. Good luck. bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 I still use that old cane - $10 wooden one I got at Wal-Mart - as a stock stick. It's just the right height for me and yes, when I was in an accident I relied heavily on it for about a year to get around and no one had a problem with my taking it out to the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMSBORDERCOLLIES Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Hi, Everyone - I recently underwent extensive knee surgery and will be trialing in about 10 days. The doctor said I can do anything I want, and this falls under that category (PLEASE, no flaming...) I still can't get around the field without some assistance, and my fiberglass stock cane does not support me well. What are the parameters for a "legal" stockcane for use on the field? If I have a normal cane like one would use to assist in walking, and it has a crook, is it still legal? Should I get a big wooden dowel and cut it down to size so there is no crook? I won't pull out of the trial for this, and would never ask someone else to run my dog, so those aren't options. Any suggestions before I run to the drugstore and buy a cane? Thanks in advance - Liz Klenk You just go ahead and use your regular walking cane or a pair of crutches if you like. No different than using binoculars if you are vision impaired. Neither one would come under the guidline of a training aid in any Judge's opinion. Bob Stephens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoofly Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Trialing - no place for the easily embarassed. Ain't that the truth?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhereinusa Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 I got yelled at by well known judge once for NOT carrying a crook. He said it didn't LOOK right. I said I didn't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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