Setting Trial Dates

Setting a trial date, or dates, requires advance thought of anywhere from three to six months. When planning a trial, it is perfectly acceptable to set the dates (based on the considerations provided below) and then relax for a bit.

Setting Trial Dates

Cattle Availability

The availability of cattle is crucial. Ongoing sales, weaning schedules and movement to and from grazing areas, to name a few, affect whether or not there are cattle to be had at any given time of the year. Obviously, chosen trial dates must coincide with the availability of cattle in the geographic area of the trial.

Number of Trial Dates to Schedule

Trials that rely on attendance within a 200 mile radius (+/-) need not give this too much thought, but trials that intend to draw handlers from afar need to consider the benefits of a two-day trial or, more specifically, two one-day trials scheduled together. Many handlers justify extended travel time and expenses (entries, gas, food, lodging) by the increased chances to collect experience, paychecks, prizes, titles or points.

Conflicts with Scheduled/Established Trials

The general rule of thumb is to avoid, if possible, scheduling a trial on the same date or dates as another trial in the same geographic area. Handlers often return, first and foremost, to trials that left them with a good impression on a previous visit, which could hinder a new trial scheduled on the same date(s).

To avoid conflicts, check herding publications, association and club newsletters and websites (known trial listing sites and sites that feature annual trials). Posting possible dates to e-mail groups can also be of some benefit for those that have the access and means to do so.

Weather/Travel Conditions

Differing times of year obviously come complete with different weather. Plan accordingly, and be sure to give a bit of thought to the weather conditions handlers might encounter traveling to and from the trial. Perhaps the event is in a beautiful valley where the weather is dependably nice, but will those traveling to and from have to traverse a summit where heavy snowfall is the norm?