I’m normally just a lurker, but finally feel the need to express my concern about NADAC agility in New England.
There are primarily 2 major clubs that offer NADAC agility in the New England/northeast area. One hosts primarily indoor trials, the other only outdoor trials. While I enjoy the indoor venue, I love the outdoor agility. Being cooped up in a basement all week at work, I look forward to the sun and fresh air on the weekends. Yes, there are weekends of inclement weather, but we just plan and dress for it, and take it in stride. There are some beautiful outdoor venues offered: a horse barn in S. Glastonbury CT; fairgrounds in Greenfield MA; fairgrounds in the Catskills; SugarBush Farms in Stephentown NY and a campground in Dummerston VT, which offers plentiful shade. These venues are spacious, offering plenty of room for set-up and walking your dog.
My concern is that entries for these trials have been dropping, and all future trials are seriously in jeopardy. Due to my work schedule, I have not been able to attend the indoor trials, so if it weren’t for the outdoor trials, I would not be doing any NADAC agility so far this year, and would have to consider another venue.
I would like to encourage everyone in the New England area to give these trials a try; EGC is even being offered at a few of them, which isn’t offered too often in this area. If you’ve never tried it, it is truly a blast for both dog and handler! All of these trials are low –key, stress-free, and have provided Chelsea and I with some of the best agility weekends. Please consider giving them a try to keep NADAC agility going in the northeast!