2022 Herding Lesson 1:

Phira said I was a hot mess and she wasn't even sure she wanted to play with me.

Set the tone outside the ring. Work gates, take charge, go through first.

When I down on one side of gate, I go through, and say "here" or "come" rather than "OK" which is a big release.

Work corners to set tone (do this at home). Make her get into them without asking 3 times. Praise when she does. Instead of "goooood", a there, good would work better.

Out the gate. Have her by the gate, send to get sheep, if she cuts, stop her and go to the sheep and get her back. 

Gate: Have my crook pointing with the gate.

Crossdrive: Put my hand up to get her out. Keep it up if need be.

Position: Be very aware of where the sheep are and where the draw is, try to think before telling her what to do as most of the time I'm wrong.

Driving away from the draw she can fall in behind. 

Going towards the draw she needs to get out and up to catch the leaders eye.

Going through gate that the sheep want to go through-she doesn't have to do a flank.  A release of pressure is all that is necessary. Clear the gate, click the latch, release the pressure and the sheep will go through. To block forward momentum towards sheep, use pop bottom of crook propped out at an angle.

Prim-she gets the "smarter" me. We had a better time.