Lewis Moon Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I promised my daughter that I would take her to one of the major sheepdog trials next year. Both Meeker and Soldier's Hollow are about the same distance from home (Phoenix). Which offers the better spectator experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I'm guessing that Soldier Hollow is more geared toward non-stockworking- or owning-spectators. It's an invitational, so you'll get the cream of the crop, so to speak. Meeker is highly respected and in a beautiful location, but I think Mark Petersen at Soldier Hollow really tries to make the trial a great spectator experience. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoresDog Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 I've been to Soldier Hollow many times and can recommend it for spectators. There are a lot of activities in addition to the trial -- duck herding, police dog demos, a dock diving contest that runs in parallel to the trial, wild animal demos, etc. There are booths for Navajo rug weaving, Navajo jewelry, and dog stuff, and a there's a food court. Bagpipers, and a wonderful award ceremony. And the trial is absolutely great. The topography is a natural bowl, and you can really see everything. The handlers are top-notch and very friendly. It's quite cheap to fly to Salt Lake City, and there are some other attractions there you might enjoy with your daughter. A brand new Natural History Museum just opened on the U. of Utah campus, and I really enjoyed visiting it over Thanksgiving weekend. It's a must-visit for any dinosaur fans. I've not been to Meeker, but I know that the handlers are awesome, and the sheep have a reputation for being challenging. It is a beautiful part of Colorado. The people who run it are experienced and very good at running sheepdog trials, as they showed over in Carbondale this September at the Sheepdog Finals. I don't think you can go wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiba Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 I went to Soldier Hollow this year and thought it was great. I had forgotten sunscreen and an umbrella so I got pretty sun burnt, but it was a neat experience. There are bleachers for spectators or you can bring your own chair. The dock diving was pretty cool as well. There was even a booth for WBCR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Your daughter might enjoy watching the movie "Away to Me", scheduled for release this spring. (The previews alone are pretty cool!). It's about sheepdog trialing and is filmed in part at Soldier Hollow. Even without all the attractions that it sounds like Soldier Hollow offers for spectators, the existence of this film, to me, would tip the balance in favor of Soldier Hollow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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