Joanne & I first saw Kit at Samantha (Sam) Furman’s farm in Richmond, VA on the 1st of November, 2001.  Sam told us she was for sale and had already been qualified in one leg of the Nursery qualifications.  We were second in line to purchase, as another handler had expressed interest. Our interest was heightened when Tom & Karen Lacy said they wanted her, if we didn’t.  I tried her out on a ranch course at Sam's and she responded well. That weekend we went to a trial at Chesapeake, VA where Sam ran her in P/N and won both days. On Sunday at noon Sam told us the other handler declined so that Kit was mine if I still wanted her.  As it was my birthday, Joanne said I’ll buy her for a birthday present.

The following week we went to Tom & Florence Wilson’s farm to have Tom show us what she could do, and so I could hear his whistles, as he had trained her.  At the farm, Tom sent her after a flock of 150 sheep that were grazing about one km away.  Five minutes or so later the flock was at his feet.  She then proceeded to shed off a small group & Tom put her through an open style course.

During the spring and summer of 2002 I had mixed results at trials with Kit.  She was getting  used to my voice (non Scottish accent) and my whistles (not very consistent), and I was  getting used to her lightening quick movements.  At the Genesee Trial in NY we placed first in the Nursery class and we were now qualified to attend the Nursery Finals 2002 in Tennessee.   Later in the summer we also placed first in Nursery at Country Heritage Farm so I was able to say that I had qualified her for the finals.

In September we entered the CBCA Nursery Championship trials at Ottawa.  The first run was a retire, but on day two, Kit did very well and we were the only team to achieve a pen.

We attended the USBCHA Nursery Finals in November and although we didn’t do too well, we at least got a score and not a DQ or Retire.  Kit’s littermate, Queen, handled by Barbara Ligon, won the Nursery Finals.

I decided to remain at Pro-Novice level so as to polish up my timing, and to get Kit and I on the same music sheet before we progressed further.  The results were very satisfying as she placed very well at most trials during 2003 and ended up as Pro-Novice Champion.  In the  2004 season we will be competing in the Ranch Class until the end of July when we will move up to Open and start earning points for the 2005 USBCHA Finals in South Dakota.