tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post2788074998138358206..comments2024-01-08T01:20:20.736-07:00Comments on Days of Speed and Slowtime Mondays: USDAA Nationals 2007 - The Mega ReportElaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734583197185810124noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-68035133680236726392007-11-14T12:21:00.000-07:002007-11-14T12:21:00.000-07:00Thanks, that was one of our better runs from Natio...Thanks, that was one of our better runs from Nationals and the only one in which Cody did the weaves without a fault. Way too slow to qualify for the finals but I was happy enough to have a nice clean run.Elaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734583197185810124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-88771032206877263962007-11-13T20:38:00.000-07:002007-11-13T20:38:00.000-07:00Just watched a couple more of your videos--Speed J...Just watched a couple more of your videos--Speed Jumping Semifinals Cody looked really nice.<BR/><BR/>-ellenElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827436807468320435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-11319957454949796362007-11-09T15:46:00.000-07:002007-11-09T15:46:00.000-07:00Thanks, Elayne. If you dig out her number, send it...Thanks, Elayne. If you dig out her number, send it a long. If not, no problem. I have a friend who is big into herding, and she's supposed to let me know next time her club does tests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-2662061695998759092007-11-09T15:31:00.000-07:002007-11-09T15:31:00.000-07:00I'll echo others' thanks for posting all the detai...I'll echo others' thanks for posting all the details and videos of your dogs' runs. It made it almost as fun as being there to watch in person, and without all the waiting around. :-)Muttsandaklutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05551047401085562752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-50955061802393752112007-11-09T10:19:00.000-07:002007-11-09T10:19:00.000-07:00There's a wonderful woman out near Berthoud that d...There's a wonderful woman out near Berthoud that does herding instinct tests and lessons. She was very good with Lola who as it turned out was afraid of the sheep. It could be a great confidence builder for Lily or it could be a bust, hard to say until you try. I can try to find her number if you're interested. I'm thinking of calling her anyway to try again with Strummer.Elaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734583197185810124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-74188321732739013402007-11-09T09:37:00.000-07:002007-11-09T09:37:00.000-07:00Thanks for posting all the videos. It's very fun t...Thanks for posting all the videos. It's very fun to watch you handle and your dogs run.<BR/><BR/>I would love to do a herding test with Lilly, but I'm also afraid it would freak her out. Congrats to on getting a certificate. <BR/><BR/>It sounds like a crazy busy time. Sorry to hear about the costs, the rude lady and other frustrations.<BR/><BR/>I think you should be allowed to finish, especially when you travel that far and pay so much. That would bum me out too.<BR/><BR/>Get some rest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-39155138730842669142007-11-09T08:29:00.000-07:002007-11-09T08:29:00.000-07:00You are correct, the venue itself (polo fields) ar...You are correct, the venue itself (polo fields) aren't that pricey...but then factor in the tents, the tent putter-uppers :), the bleachers, the light towers, the fencing around the perimeter, the ticket booth (only $75, but an expense), the security guards, the judges ($800 x 6 = $4,800 plus hotel, food, airfare, etc.), the volunteer hospitality supplies ($1,000 alone), volunteer lunches and parking, the t-shirts, the awards, the production crew (Feathers, Renee, Joyce), the truck drivers (to get USDAA equipment to Scottsdale), etc. <BR/><BR/>I am not defending nor justifying USDAA's expenses...I paid my entry fees too...but many people are quick to assume that USDAA (Ken) is making out like a bandit when in effect, they really aren't.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15879038476064844736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-47922400906489462942007-11-08T09:37:00.000-07:002007-11-08T09:37:00.000-07:00USDAA is also making a fair chunk of change off of...USDAA is also making a fair chunk of change off of parking and gate fees from the public plus money from the vendors and I’m sure they must charge the Frisbee and flyball people something to use the fields.<BR/><BR/>They also get money from sponsors. I was talking to one sponsor who was complaining about how little he gets for his sponsorship and how cheap USDAA was being with him, nickeling an diming him for this and that. He pointed out that it was telling that Clean Run chose not to show up this year.<BR/><BR/>Without knowing their expenses it’s impossible to say how much money they’re making but I refuse to believe they’re losing money. During Steeplechase they mentioned that USDAA donated money to the Humane Society of the U.S., something I doubt they would have done if they were losing money.<BR/><BR/>My main point is that some competitors feel like the event is less about them and more about USDAA making money off of them. One person from my area will not be returning next year because of this. Personally, I find the fault limits more of a problem and that would be my main reason for not returning.<BR/><BR/>I will say the event was extremely well organized and the volunteers were awesome.Elaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734583197185810124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-90074831622714057732007-11-07T17:21:00.000-07:002007-11-07T17:21:00.000-07:00Expenses: It's really hard to figure out whether U...Expenses: It's really hard to figure out whether USDAA is eating it or eating us without seeing detailed expenses. Having gone through heck & high water with our Twin Creeks location and our regionals, where TC gouges us for every little thing, I'm less inclined to assume that USDAA is making a mint off of the entrants. All the tenting costs a bundle, too. Portapotties and pumping put a bigger hole in the budget than one might expect. And so on... And based on what Twin Creeks charges for onsite vendors, it wouldn't surprise me if the food vendors aren't making an awful lot despite their ridiculous prices. But at least they didn't prohibit people from bringing their own food & drinks onsite, which TC technically does! So I gripe about the feeling of things being cheap, too, but I have an underpinning of bad site experiences to make me maybe a little less irate.<BR/><BR/>BTW--herding instinct test certificate--I've seen them fail several dogs. Tika flunked last year and I didn't try again this year. So, yes, it's a legit thing.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for all the details.<BR/><BR/>-ellenElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827436807468320435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-84378085111364117802007-11-07T15:56:00.000-07:002007-11-07T15:56:00.000-07:00Karen,Do the math. With an average entry of about ...Karen,<BR/><BR/>Do the math. With an average entry of about $190 per dog for agility and I think about 1000 dogs, the gross income for agility alone is almost $200,000. The rental of the polo fields is $2700 a day (this is public information) with set up and break down days costing about $800 each. Westworld charges $20 a day for RV spaces, so that expense is covered by the competitors. So that is about $16,000. I know there is more expense involved, but I am sure it doesn't add up to $200K. <BR/><BR/>/amyAmy Siegelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243610775853872002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-31199655717516152972007-11-07T15:28:00.000-07:002007-11-07T15:28:00.000-07:00I have to comment on USDAA making loads of money o...I have to comment on USDAA making loads of money off this event...to set the record straight, they don't. In fact, I'm not even sure they break even. WestWorld raised expenses on them this year which made matters worse. <BR/><BR/>Sure, there are things that can be improved on, but the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of little things that need to fall into place to make this a World Class event...to have them mostly fall into place is a miracle. My part as the Volunteer Coordinator was stressful enough...I couldn't imagine being in Ken's shoes having to hammer out the details with WestWorld to attempt to cut costs...but WestWorld clearly calls the majority of the shots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11345288.post-7830261459223513452007-11-07T07:30:00.000-07:002007-11-07T07:30:00.000-07:00Thank you for the detailed report. Flirt and I man...Thank you for the detailed report. Flirt and I managed to qualify for this year in everything but GP (we needed 1 more) but I couldn't be persuaded to go. It's just too big an event for me. And your report made me feel like I had made the right decision. <BR/><BR/>/amyAmy Siegelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243610775853872002noreply@blogger.com