The Ladder of Competition
Every handler who reaches the Open finals started somewhere lower. The class system in herding trials creates a structured pathway from novice to elite, and understanding this progression matters whether you are planning your first trial entry or watching from the spectator area trying to figure out what level you are seeing.
I have followed handlers through their entire journey from Pro-Novice to National Finals. The progression takes most people years. Some never make it past certain levels. Others shoot through so fast that the community notices and starts asking questions about who trained their dog.
Started Class: Learning the Basics
Started class, sometimes called Novice depending on the organization, is where new teams prove they can complete basic tasks under trial conditions.
Course Requirements
A typical Started course includes:
- Outrun: usually 150-200 yards, significantly shorter than Open distances
- Lift and Fetch: bringing sheep straight to the handler
- Pen: completing the work by putting sheep in the enclosure
There is no drive element and no shed. The sheep are typically trial-experienced and relatively cooperative.
What Judges Evaluate
At the Started level, judges look for fundamental competence. Can the dog go out and get behind sheep without scattering them? Can the handler direct the dog without creating chaos? Is the team working together or fighting each other? Understanding how scoring works at each level helps you know what to prioritize in training.
“I am looking for potential at Started,” explained judge Lyle Lad at a judging seminar I attended. “I do not expect perfection. I expect to see a dog that understands its job and a handler who can communicate.”
When to Move Up
Most organizations have automatic advancement rules. Win a certain number of points at Started, and you must move to the next level. Some handlers try to stay in Started as long as possible, accumulating easy wins. Most judges and serious competitors view this practice unfavorably.
The honest guideline: if you are consistently finishing in the top third at Started trials, you should be thinking about advancing.
Pro-Novice / Ranch Class
This intermediate level exists under various names across different organizations. USBCHA calls it Pro-Novice. Some trials use “Ranch” to describe similar work. The terminology confuses newcomers, but the intent is consistent: a middle ground between Started and Open.
Course Requirements
Pro-Novice adds complexity:
- Outrun: 200-300 yards typically
- Full fetch with tighter line expectations
- Short drive away from handler
- Pen
Some Pro-Novice courses include a simple cross-drive element. The sheep may be less experienced than Started sheep, introducing more variables.
The Learning Curve
Pro-Novice is where many handlers stall. The jump from fetching sheep to driving them away represents a fundamental shift in the dog’s work and the handler’s control.
“Pro-Novice broke me for a while,” admitted handler Sarah Trainor, who now competes successfully at the Open level. “Fetching, your dog comes toward you. Driving, the dog goes away. Everything I learned about pressure and position had to be relearned.”
I watched Trainor struggle through two seasons at Pro-Novice before things clicked. Her story is not unusual. This level tests commitment.
Nursery: Young Dogs, High Expectations
Nursery class deserves special mention because it operates on different logic. Nursery is age-restricted, typically for dogs under three years old. A talented young dog might compete in Nursery while also entering Pro-Novice or even Open, depending on the trial.
The purpose is showcasing developing talent. Nursery finals at major trials draw breeders and trainers scouting future prospects. A strong Nursery dog becomes a known quantity in the community.
At the 2024 Soldier Hollow Nursery finals, I watched dogs that will likely compete at national championship level within two years. The quality of work these young animals produced was remarkable, though judges appropriately account for youthful inconsistency.
Open Class: Where It Counts
Open is the pinnacle of competition. Full-length courses, challenging sheep, experienced judges who have seen everything, and handlers who have dedicated years to reaching this level.
Course Requirements
A standard Open course includes:
- Outrun: 400-600 yards or more at major trials
- Lift with immediate assessment of sheep attitude
- Fetch through gates with tight line requirements
- Drive: typically a triangular pattern covering 300+ yards total
- Cross-drive through panels
- Pen under pressure
- Shed: separating marked sheep from unmarked
Some courses add obstacles like bridges or water crossings. The variety keeps experienced teams from becoming complacent.
The Open Difference
Watching Open runs after spending time at lower levels clarifies what elite performance looks like. The dogs at this level anticipate. They read sheep behavior and adjust before handlers can whistle. The communication between dog and handler operates on a level that seems almost telepathic.
“At Open, your dog either knows or it does not,” said handler Patrick Shannahan, a multiple national finalist. “You cannot fake it. You cannot over-handle your way through. The dog has to be there mentally, and you have to trust it.”
I have seen handlers move dogs to Open prematurely, attracted by the prestige. It rarely ends well. The dogs get overwhelmed, confidence suffers, and handlers spend months rebuilding what they broke by advancing too fast.
Double Lift: Elite Among Elite
Double Lift is not a separate class but a course format used at championship-level trials like those on the major trial calendar. The dog must gather two separate groups of sheep from different locations, bringing them together before completing the course work.
Soldier Hollow and the National Finals use Double Lift formats for their final rounds. The difficulty is extraordinary. Dogs must hold the first group while gathering the second, maintain control of a combined flock that may include sheep that have never been together, and complete all standard elements under heightened pressure.
Double Lift runs separate serious competitors from those just along for the experience.
Ranch Trials vs. Border Collie Trials
An important distinction: not all herding trials are created equal. The USBCHA (United States Border Collie Handlers’ Association) runs Border Collie specific trials following the format described above. But AKC herding trials, AHBA trials, and various ranch dog competitions operate under different rules with different standards.
AKC trials, for instance, use smaller courses with different stock and allow multiple breeds. The progression from Started through Advanced operates differently, and the skills emphasized vary from USBCHA standards.
Neither system is inherently better. They serve different purposes and different communities. But a handler moving between systems should understand they are not equivalent. An AKC Advanced title does not automatically translate to USBCHA Open readiness.
Choosing Your Path
Handlers entering the trial world face a choice about which system to pursue. Factors include:
Geography: USBCHA trials concentrate in certain regions. If no sanctioned trials run within reasonable driving distance, AKC or other organizations might be more practical.
Goals: If you want to compete at the highest levels of Border Collie work, USBCHA is the path. If you want herding titles on a German Shepherd or Australian Shepherd, other organizations are more appropriate.
Training Resources: Local trainers often specialize in one system. Working against your trainer’s expertise makes advancement harder.
For those interested in the genetics behind herding ability and what makes certain dogs excel, understanding the underlying instincts and trainability provides useful context for what you will observe at trials.
Moving Through the Classes
The handlers I respect most took their time. They learned what each level taught them, stayed until they could perform consistently, and moved up only when their dogs were truly ready.
The handlers I have seen burn out tried to shortcut the process. They bought started dogs to skip the early stages, entered Open before their dogs had enough experience, and wondered why they never placed.
The class system exists for reasons. It protects young dogs from overwhelming challenges. It gives handlers time to develop skills alongside their dogs. It creates a shared journey that the herding community recognizes and respects.
There are no shortcuts worth taking. If you want to compete at the major trials, the path goes through every level below. Embrace it.
For handlers ready to focus on what separates good teams from great ones, understanding the handler-dog partnership dynamics provides crucial insight.