This is an example of the Hock exercise for the Dalmatian "Road Dog Excellent" title. The Hock exercise for the RDX must be 200 yards in a figure 8, or 200 yards with at least 2 turns. In this example, the dog/horse/handler team perform a figure 8. The team begins the exercise in the center of two cones placed about 95 yards apart. The team circles left around the first cone; crosses the center line between the cones; circles right around the second cone; and then crosses the center line to the starting point, creating a figure 8. The exercise is performed at a trot. The judge may follow along behind or may remain in a stationary position, but the judge must realize that a stationary judge's perspective may sometimes make a dog appear to be lagging or forging, and the judge should consider her perspective when judging the position of the dog. The dog should remain in hock position throughout the 200 yard exercise. Hock position is within one horse-length of the horse, on either side of or behind the horse, but not in front of the horse's nose. In this example, the dog does an excellent job of remaining in the proper position, in spite of the obstacles of hay stubble and uneven terrain, and the occassional weaving of the horse. The RDX hock differs from the RD hock in that the RDX hock has turns. To train for the RDX hock, the handler must train the dog to stay near the horse in spite of distractions, obstacles, and a turning horse. The dog must have enough "horse sense" to avoid being stepped on and to negotiate the terrain, while still remaining attentive to the handler. A Dalmatian Road Trial is a field trial, or "performance event", for Dalmatians. Dalmatians were once bred to follow the horse; they were called "coach dogs". A Road Trial is designed to test the Dalmatian ability to follow a horse. The handler at a Road Trial may be mounted on a horse or may drive a horse/pony and cart/carriage. At a Dalmatian Road Trial, the Dalmatian Club of America currently offers the titles of "Coaching Companion", "Road Dog", and "Road Dog Excellent" to Dalmatians which successfully complete a set of judged exercises specifically designed for each title. In addition to the judged exercises, the RD title also requires a 12.5 mile endurance ride, and the RDX title requires a 25 mile endurance ride. Bot RD and RDX also require that the dog pass veterinary examinations. The dog in this video is Champion Koira Redrk Radagast the Brown, CD, RD, RDX, bred by Lynn Luikart and owned by Peggy Ann Strupp. "Rad" is sired by Ch Redrock's Harmony Con Brio, and his dam is Canadian Champion Koir Fyrlyte Just Between Us, NA, NAJ. Rad has won three High in Trial awards at Dalmatian Road Trials, and is the 2009 High in Trial winner at the Dalmatian National Show. The horse is "Shadowfax", a "grade gelding" (mixed breed). Rider is Peggy Ann Strupp. Videographer is Cless Karren. The video was filmed in the Strupp hay field in Crane, Montana.
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Dalmatian Road Trial Demonstration at Horse Extravaganza 2010by pstrupp921 views
great video, thanks for posting! I would love to do this with one of my Dals, but I cant ride a horse very well! I did have a friend offer to teach me, though.
shatteringglass 2 years ago
Some people who do not own a horse train on a bicycle, and then try it on horseback. It seems to work quite well!
pstrupp 2 years ago