The trials will start at 8 a.m. each day and will run until about 5 p.m., rain or shine. Admission charges will be good for the whole weekend. The cost is $5 a person and children under 12 get in free.

The sheepdog trial is put on by the Leatherstocking Sheepdog Trials Committee, which is sanctioned by the North East Boarder Collie Association (NEBCA). The event is a competitive dog sport in which dogs move sheep around a field, fences, gates, or enclosures as directed by their handlers. According to committee member Linda Hotchkiss, of Hartwick, the handler instructs the dog with a whistle or with voice commands. For this trial, three sheep are used and one dog goes through the course at a time.

Hotchkiss says there are bleachers for people to sit on during the event, but she encourages visitors to bring chairs and blankets because there is limited seating. She said the event typically attracts about 200 people each day, depending on the weather. The event has been advertised all over the state, according to Hotchkiss.

Hotchkiss says organizers are expecting approximately 70 dogs to participate in the event each day. She said the novice class, which usually is a four minute course, will be held on Friday and the more experienced classes, which can take close to 10 minutes, will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

Each test element is assigned a maximum score and a judge will deduct points for each fault made. For example during a drive the judge may deduct points when the sheep move off line. Competitors must negotiate each element in sequence before proceeding to the next. There is a set amount of time for the whole course; however, there is no advantage in completing the course in a short amount of time, but if the competitor runs out of time, points will be lost for the element they were in the process of completing and all those that they have yet to attempt. The competitor’s score is the sum of their score for all completed elements and the competitor who receives the most points wins.

Hotchkiss said competitors will be disqualified if a dog grips into a sheep.

``We just do not allow that,’’ she said.

Ribbons are awarded to the top 10 competitors and there are some money pay backs, said Hotchkiss. This year’s top prize, which is given to the winner of the open class, is going to be a weather vane. Hotchkiss said the committee tries to come up with something a little different to give out with the ribbons each year.

Hotchkiss said the sheep are rented from different farms each year. Last year’s heard came from a farm near Cortland and this year’s heard came from about an hour away, she said. She said the sheep do not come from local farms because the committee is not aware of many farms that have enough sheep for the event.

``We have to have about 80 sheep,’’ she explained. ``We do not recycle sheep. We do not use them over and over.’’

Hotchkiss also explained that not every breed of sheep work for sheepdog trials. She said some sheep work better than others because they cannot be too big or too small. Hotchkiss said this year’s heard are mixed breeds between Scottish Blackface and Montadale.

The event is open to any breed of dog, but mostly Border Collies are used because they seem to do the best, said Hotchkiss.

``Border Collies are also fun to watch because there is no set standard for the breed,’’ said Hotchkiss.

Hotchkiss said Border Collies can be black and white, brown and white, all white, short haired, long haired and look different in many other ways.

According to Hotchkiss, a German Shepherd was used in the event in the past.

Hotchkiss says there is something fun for everyone to do at the sheepdog trials. She said if people get tired of watching the dogs they can visit the vendors at the event.

Dog Wild Canine Supply of Cooperstown will be there along with a licensed canine massage therapist, someone making walking sticks and much more. There will also be food and ice cream at the event.

To get to the trial, follow the trial signs in Hyde Park off Route 28 South of Cooperstown. The event is sponsored by the Farmers’ Museum and Blue Seal Feeds. For more information call 607-293-8385.