03/21/2024
The first photo was taken on February 20th, 2021. I started working with Ray Dohse in June of 2020, so that photo was taken during my first field trial season. That weekend, Ray could not run all of the dogs entered at Di-Lane due to health issues. When he asked me to run the dogs, it was the first time I had done so at a trial. I was scared to death. I had no clue what I was doing, but I didn't want to let Ray down. I jumped on the horse and just imagined myself working the dogs on his grounds and did the best I could with what he had taught me during the months prior. Little did I know that day I would place a dog, let alone place first. The moment I was handed that blue ribbon, I knew I was doing exactly what I was supposed to with my life, and I caught the field trial itch.
The second photo was taken on February 27th, 2024. I knew when I entered this trial it would be very bittersweet to run on those grounds again without Ray. The last two trial seasons without him have been tough, but this trial, in particular, was one of the hardest. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears riding back into camp thinking about him not being there to meet me each time, but I knew he was there in a different way to cheer me on. It may not be a blue ribbon. My dogs may not have performed as well as I could have hoped for, but at the end of the day, I cannot thank Ray enough for introducing me to this sport almost four years ago and giving me the knowledge to continue to do something I absolutely love. This ribbon is for you, Ray❤️
