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ASTA was formed to encourage the use of Australian Shepherds
on farms and ranches by demonstrating their ability to perform useful but
challenging tasks and to promote calm, confident control of livestock using an
objective trialing system. In keeping with these goals, ASTA strives to give
assistance to trial organizers while affording them ample freedom to determine
what best suits their location, livestock and personal preferences. ASTA
provides the event insurance, advertising and course design assistance required
to host an event, while allowing trial hosts a great deal of latitude in course
design, scoring system, arena and/or field size and time/location of their
event.
ASTA trials should be fun events that are challenging,
interesting, and diverse. Trial organizers are never required to run any course
more than once. In fact, ASTA encourages progressive adaptation and
experimentation that is only bounded by the course designer's imagination and
creativity. ASTA hopes to inspire your imagination, challenge your abilities,
and help you and your stockdog partner grow in your capabilities of calm, quiet,
confident control of livestock.
There are no judges in ASTA trials. Instead they are
points/time and time only events. A points/time event is one in which
competitors receive points for each head of livestock that completes the various
obstacles comprising the course in a required manner, usually in a set amount of
time. Time only events are set up with a series of obstacles. Usually all head
of stock have to complete the first obstacle before going on to the second and
so forth. The dog and handler that get all the stock through the greatest number
of obstacles in the least time is the winner. Good points/time and time only
trial courses are set up so that effective and precise stock handling rather
than just speed wins.
The ASTA trial program aspires to showcase and promote good
training and the breeding of ever better working Australian Shepherds. The
system aims to foster good stockmanship and to be fair to all that come to
compete, no matter the breed, no matter the registry.
To host a regional Australian Shepherd Trial Association
sanctioned point/time or time only trial, the individual organizing the event
must be a trialing member of ASTA. To join the Australian Shepherd Trial
Association as a trialing member and gain access to sanctioning and entry forms
as well as access to the Trial Guidelines and suggestion packet for point/time
or time only trials, click here.
Executive(s) of ASTA
Neal DeShazo ~ Chairman ~ Phone 936-931-9464
Lincoln Keiser ~ Vice-Chair ~ Phone 860-347-1796
Tenley Dexter ~ Treasurer ~ Phone 860-354-9069 CT / 270-378-5910 KY
Teri Kassa ~ Secretary ~ Phone 509-262-9702
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