SOLDIER HOLLOW CLASSIC SHEEPDOG
CHAMPIONSHIP & FESTIVAL
May 23-26, 2025
Memorial Day Weekend
8am - 4pm+ Daily

Heber Valley, UT

Please check out and support our Event Sponsors and Dog Sponsors — The continued success of this Event is thanks to all of them!

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? Contact Judy Klautt – judy@soldierhollowclassic.com for more information today!

Sheepdog Competition

Our 2025 Judge

Don Helsley is one of North America’s most respected handlers and trainers, with over 30 years of competing and actively judging for the last 20 years.  He has judged numerous prestigious trials across the country, including the USBCHA National Finals (3 times) the Canadian Finals, the Meeker Classic, the Bluegrass Classic (twice) and here at Soldier Hollow.  He has also successfully competed in numerous trials and double lift Finals. Prior to raising and training Border Collies, Don trained and showed cutting horses.  After 35 years with Idaho Power, Don now devotes all of his time to training, trialing, and teaching, including giving valuable judging clinics. Don is a quiet man, with a reputation for fairness and honesty.  He has succeeded in the trailing world — not only as a competitor, but as a well-respected judge.  We welcome Don back this year to judge the Soldier Hollow Classic and we are excited to have him!

Our 2025 Set-Out Crew

Chris Jobe and Liz Stenning will be the 2024 set-out team, bringing a wealth of experience to the job.  Chris is the owner and trainer of Canine Solutions, which specializes in training, trialing and breeding working border collies in southern Albertas. Border collies became an integral part of my life when I  started ranching in 1994. I got my first border collie ‘Tuck’ soon after and have since devoted a good share of my time to training and working them.  Liz is from Kimberly, Oregon, where she raises and trains border collies and kelpies.  She actively trials and helps set out at numerous trials.

2025 Yearling Rambouillet Ewes

The Okelberry Rambouillet yearling ewes will return again this year to challenge the handler-dog teams at Soldier Hollow. Wintering over the vast lands of the Utah-Nevada “west desert,” these sheep must fend off a host of predators on open range. Every handler that has run on them has described them as being among the most challenging sheep they have faced. These yearling range ewes are individually selected for even size, condition and confirmation. They have not been worked by dog and have rarely been around people. They are “the ultimate test.” Both Brian and Ann are fifth generation sheep ranchers and we are excited to have bring their sheep back to Soldier Hollow.The result are sheep self selected for generations for their ability to survive in dangerous terrain. They are athletic, tough and very wary. One handler called them “wicked.” They are “the ultimate test.”


Competition Course and Scoring

The trial course is set to test the dog’s ability to maneuver sheep in a clam, controlled manner. There are six scored parts to a course run, each designated to test a skill that working dogs need to help a shepherd with the daily management of sheep. While the layout of the course may vary slightly from trial to trial, depending on terrain, this trial, follows this general layout as all approved trials.

On the left, is a typical scoresheet for the preliminary runs.  The United States Border Collie Association (USBCHA) has adopted Judging Guidelines which are followed at all USBCHA sanctioned as well as here at Soldier Hollow.  

For a description of each element of the course and the how it is scored, tap or click the button.

To see how the trial course relates to farm work, check out the video from the American Border Collie Association: “How Sheepdog Trials Relate to Practical Work,” found here.