Following is a copy of the letter recently sent out to all HAC club reps.  If you have comments or suggestions regarding these proposed changed to the AKC herding program, please contact the BCSA Herding Advisory Committee Representative, Larry Sisson.

Dear Herding Delegate:
We hope you have already heard the news that last year's items have passed and the Board of Directors of AKC has approved them. Starting in September of 1999, trial chairpersons will be eligible to compete in events they are chairing. For  the new millennium, the AKC program will be offering course specific and stock specific titles for all trial classes. Both of these issues shoudl help build our program and increase entries for your club.

The Subcommittee has received a great deal of input from the fancy and we hope it keeps coming. We met with Mr. Bill Speck, Elsie Rhodes, Dean Wright, Gordon Hildebrandt, and Bill Brown in Nashville to work on what the HAC will vote on this fall. The meeting was very productive and I think ther are some very good things in the works for our herding program. Please let me review the issues for 1999 and give you some input on the Subcommittee's reasons for recommendation.

HT Revision
The Subcommittee received a great deal of input on this. The majority of respondents agreed that the course was very  confusing but did not want to return to instinct test level. So we propose the following. First, reduce the size of the HT arena to 100 feet x 100 feet maximum. We are now trying out possibilities for a minimum (could be as small as 60 feet x 60 feet). Second, eliminate the cones and use an "L" shaped pattern with numbers. The dog would move the livestock from 1-2-3 then return 3-2-1. Third, retain the required stay at the beginning and a recall off the stock. Last, allow a boundary if requested by the exhibitor.

These changes make the HT an entry level test for the dog and exhibitor. It requires a smaller arena to increase control, and  introduces the use of numbers for the exhibitor to follow. It is our intent the changes will eliminate the confusion with HT among judges and exhibitors alike.  The revisions will provide a reasonable test for the dog and handler.  The changes should also lead to a natural progression through the program.

Exhibit-Only Entries
This was also discussed at length.  In some parts of the country it is not an issue because there are not enough trials to allow for exhibit-only entries. However, in more established areas with a large number of trials, this can be a way of covering fixed costs better.  These entries would not take precedence over regular entries or alternates.  Exhibit-only entries will not take  precedence over competitive entries.  As far as training in the arena, this is already evident.  Until this program has more  matches available and more opportunities to trial within the 60 day limitation after completing a title, exhibit-only may be the only way some handlers can get ring experience.

Herding Championship Points Awarded for Duck Work
The Subcommittee received many letters regarding this issue.  People are definitely on one side of the fence or the other.  The proposal is to allow championship points awarded from duck classes.  The program already recognizes advanced titles in duck work.  Championship points are earned by doing advanced work.  Allowing points from duck work will allow more dogs and handlers to stay in the program and compete.  We would not be denying anyone the ability to continue.

High in Trial
The committee is proposing one High In Trial per event.  If we continued with stock specific and then added course specific there could be 6 HIT's at an event.  Giving one HIT and Reserve per event gives meaning to the award.

A Course Changes
The outrun changes will be on the ballot this fall.  The changes would effect started and intermediate.  In Started the dog would be left at the bottom of the centerline panel and the handler would be allowed to move toward the stock.  The handler could get as close as 15 feet to the stock before sending the dog.  The dog and handler would then fetch/drive the stock around the advanced handler's post and proceed to the Y chute, as is now allowed with the present rules.

The Intermediate course would have the dog starting at the position of the advanced handler's post with the handler permitted to move towards the livestock, but no closer than bottom of the centerline gates before sending his dog.  They would then proceed to fetch/drive around the advanced handler's post then move on to the Y chute.  Intermediate handler's lines and zone would still be in effect during the course of the run.  These changes are very similar to the outrun on AHBA courses.  Much of the fancy has tried it, and we have received very favorable response.

Other lssues
There are some other issues you as delegates are asked to take to your organizations.  We need input on these things from you in order to improve the program.

Course A Hold/Exam Pen
The change on the hold/exam pen is not on the ballot for the fall.  We require more input to improve this part of the course. From #3 through #5 is very rough on most runs.  Please put your thinking caps on as to how to fix this.  Currently, problems include: runaway stock exiting from the hold/exam pen, no demonstration of a hold at the hold/exam pen by the dog, confusion as to where the points come off in scoring, such as , when the stock never get to #4 prior to attempting the centerline gates,  what constitutes an attempt on the centerline gate.  Please keep in mind safety factors with different types of livestock and different dogs.  Give us input on the hold/exam pen.

Intermediate B Course Changes
We are currently looking at possibly changing the intermediate B course. The outrun/lift/ and fetch would remain as is. The dog would then proceed to drive the stock to the first set of panels. The handler could then leave the post and fetch through the second gate and back to the pen.  Our B course exhibitors on the Subcommittee felt that this change would allow for more progressive training and a more consistent competition by utilizing the entire course for all three levels.  We are looking to you to field test these changes and give us input.

National Championship
We are currently looking at a National Championship. AKC has authorized a pilot program with a group in the Midwest.  This club would hold two National championship prototype events in 2000 and 2001.  We need input from you as soon as possible on determining how dogs qualify to run in this event.  January 2000 is only five months away.  Do we limit the number each breed can have?  Do we have a set number of qualifying scores? What type of format should we run for the finals, such as: qualifying round(s), or score an average over a number of days (how many days)?  How are judges selected?  Should the host club choose them or perhaps they could develop a slate of eight or ten with the fancy voting on three, the highest three being invited as judges.  Should there be any judging restrictions? For example, should a judge who agrees to judge the National be restricted in his judging for X number of months?  Should this event move geographically each year?  Should clubs be allowed to submit bids to hold such an event? There are lots of questions for you and your club to address, especially with the first pre-national scheduled to happen in the year 2000.

Ranch Dog Course
We had many requests for a ranch dog course but very little in fleshed out proposals.  The subcommittee is forming a committee to try to develop a ranch dog course.  The committee will consist of individuals from different regions and with different breeds of dogs.  Once we have a committee in place, we will let them develop a course proposal which must include for all levels (Started, Intermediate, Advanced) all rules and regulations, diagram(s) of the course, minimum and maximum dimensions, suggested scoring and measurement of any obstacles and/or substitutions of obstacles.

Juniors Program
We are also forming a committee to develop a more extensive junior program for our sport.

Herding Championship and Other Titles
We need to look at revamping the herding championship.  Once the dust settles on the new course/stock specific titles, we will address awarding championship points and possibly looking into some sort of Versatility title.

Increase in Number of Runs to be Judged "NQ and Out"
This has been done by a couple of clubs.  It would be a club's option to allow for 50 A Course runs to be judged in one day.  The sponsoring club could do this if contestants are removed once they have NQ'd.  The result would be to allow clubs to run more runs and possibly increase income.  We need to really examine the consequences: how it would work on different types of stock where cattle runs might be significantly slower; what about large arenas where runs might take substantially longer; how exhibitors feel about not being able to finish runs if they have lost enough points to Non-Qualify after the first obstacle, after the outrun.  Also, could we increase the number of times the livestock would run?  We need your ideas comments, opinions both positive and negative on these issues.

Housekeeping Changes
Since our rule book has not been updated in years, the performance events department and the herding subcommittee reviewed the regulations and made some clarifications and corrections.  Many ideas came from the herding community.  These are changes that will benefit the program and could be instituted quickly as housekeeping.  They include wording on the hold/exam pen on for course A, the set back area on the outrun for course B, eliminating the vehicle running on C Course started as well as some additions to the glossary and changes in when the paperwork needs to be submitted. Also a specific opening date for all clubs herding events before which entries cannot be accepted by the secretary.  There are also some changes in suggested scoring.  All of these housekeeping changes will improve the program starting with making your secretary's job easier to giving the clubs more flexibility on providing courses and ending with a greater fairness in receiving entries.

Secretary's Package
We need ideas on streamlining the secretary's job.  AKC would very much like to eliminate more of the paperwork.  Please ask your secretary what they feel is superfluous in both the test and trial packages. Also ask if there is anything that AKC could do to make their job easier. Please let us know as we're coordinating this effort with Sue Richey at AKC.

We want to thank all of you for sending input to the Subcommittee over the past year.  We greatly appreciate and need to hear from you.  We are all working together to develop a program we can be proud of whether we are handlers, trainers, breeders, owners, judges or just someone who appreciates good working dogs.  Please keep your ideas coming.  We also want to thank those of you who have organized and disseminated information to your clubs and provided representation on the ballot for  these changes.  Without your effort the Subcommittee would have little contact with the fancy.  We would encourage those new to the position of herding delegate and those who may have had a slow start to take this letter to your next club meeting (or mail or e-mail it to your membership).  Remember, this information is vital to them if changes do happen.  They need to hear these suggestions from you as delegate.  The Subcommittee has a hard time explaining why "no one" ever hears of the changes until they are already done.

If you or anyone you know has anything that they would like to see happen in the program, please write your ideas and forward them to your area Subcommittee member along with a copy to the other members.  Their addresses and e-mail addresses are listed below:

Elsie Rhodes, 119 Reinseth, Winlock, WA 98596, exr@akc.org

Carol Delsman, Chair, 14940 NW Shadybrook Rd. Hillsboro, OR 97124, delsman@teleport.com

Bob Ewing 718 Laurelwood Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403, ewing00@ibm.net

Carol Lucero P.O.622-550 Paden Ft.  Lupton, CO 80621, aclucer@bentley.unco.edu

Susan W. Sullivan 88 Kinne Rd Canterbury CT 06331 firethom@cyberzone.net

Barbara Witte 11704 Capehart Rd., Springfield, NE 68059, GaelynCot@aol.com