MacRae Sheepdogs

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Abbeville, SC
MacRae Sheepdogs

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Our passion is to increase the mutual understanding & bond between sheepdog handlers and their dogs. Please visit us www.macraeway,com/academy

Our positive, proven methodology is based on our dogs natural instinct to want to get to balance point; it is a system rooted in making a connection with our dog instead of a correction. We breed, train and trial Border Collies as well as provide on-line sheepdog training, and in-person clinics, lessons & custom training.

10/16/2026

Friday morning and just home, feeling a bit sentimental— it's not proper or artful, but expresses how I feel.
Some ride we had, I'm so blessed to be his person… onto retirement!
I’m incredibly grateful Nite, for everything ❤️❤️

Thank you for taking me to trials,
by my side for all the miles
Thanks for stopping on a dime,
reading the top end every time.

Thanks for gathering the flock,
for shedding to beat the clock.
For driving through the wind,
taking my whistle on the bend

Thank you for every instant flank,
for working ewes quite rank
For quick kepping at the pen,
like your forbearers from the Glen.

Thank you for working direct,
always commanding sheep’s respect
Thanks for making the rough go smooth,
a privilege to watch your every move

Thank you for being there when I’m sad,
for all the amazing times we’ve had
For working til days end,
for being my ever faithful friend

Thanks for always being true
and most of all,
thank you for being you.

10/12/2026

Huge congratulations to Kelleen Ison and Ty Lee, US National Amateur Nursery Champions! 🎉🥇🏆🐾🥂🥂

They were also 5th overall in Nursery Final and we’re excited to watch this very promising team, well done👏👏.

This award recognizes the highest pointed nursery dog handled by a competitor YET to win an open trial—
Sponsored by Nancy Kemna, Alasdair and me, this award is in memory of our dear friend,
Kristi Oikawa✨🎇💫🌟🧡🧡

10/06/2026

Yay Moss, 2026 US National Champion 🎉🏆😍🥂🥂
so excited for his 2nd title!
He handled the western sheep as well as he ever has, with a bit less eye than last year, he was in great form; he won his qualifying day, was 3rd in the semi and won best drive in the final.
His turnback was class and while his international shed had some challenges, his save from a rejoin was a thrill; his and Alasdair’s partnership is special.
Congratulations to Fansie Bassson and Finn, Reserve Champions and winners of best shed in the final; well done to all the finalists 👏👏

Nite ❤️…Ran well all week and sure didn’t look 10.5 years old. He won his qualifying day and was 4th in the semi.
In the final we drew 10th and it was very hot .
Good turnback, likely the right trajectory, but I was worried about heat and his age;
I tried to pull him in to keep the 2nd outrun smaller (last years course on this field was bigger) but I did it too early, as tho to come in on 1st lot.
My attempt to help, ended up in a costly, unnecessary blunder (mistake I’d likely make again trying to do best for him).
He had solid fetches and good drive but I miscalculated the shed, had a rejoin and we didn’t get it done.
Not our day, but what a last dance the past 30 days has been….
I have such immense gratitude— for all the years of his bossing sheep, saving sheds, making difficult work easy, his mental fortitude, always direct af, and mostly, being the bestest boy 🥰
Now it’s pupsicles and stuffed elephants in retirement 🥳🥂🥂 love you buddy.

With Bute and Cymro, we both have work to do, 🙉 + 🐊..😅

Thank you to our judges Peter Morgan, Russell McCord, Fraser Shennan and Bruce Fogt.
Thank you to the entire host committee, trial committee, Lazy Spade Ranch, USBCHA, ABCA, Purina Pro Plan, event sponsors, sheep providers, shepherds, Ray Crabtree, Mike Meredith and the excellent set-out crew.
The generous practice field hosts, especially the countless, tireless volunteers, you were all tremendous and appreciated.
I was sick this week and grateful to all those that helped, (on the mend!) Besides a fantastic competition, seeing students accomplish goals, realize their dreams and getting to reconnect with friends was amazing.

Dogs have enriched our lives immeasurably.
We have so much gratitude for being able to live a life we love with them 🙏💙💙

09/25/2026

Trip was amazing!! It’s true what they say, no Scotland, no party 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥂
We’re excited to be back in the USA 🇺🇸 We all arrived safely late Wednesday and leave Monday to compete in our National in Alturas, CA—we really are complete nutters 😅
Enormous thanks to Bryan and Allison White for their support, generosity and friendship in helping us get to the World Trial; also for letting us enjoy their gorgeous ranch until we leave for CA!
This photo is one of my favorite places, Glencoe.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend 🙌

09/21/2026

Fantastic accomplishment, World Champions David Howells and Wyverne Pip 🏆🏆🌍🐾🐑
and
Young Handler World Champion,
Jack Howells and Cydros Boss,
—father and son , very special for them and their family 👏👏👏👏

Dean McAuley and Joe,
Reserve World Champions, some month you 2 have had, well done and very happy for you 🔥🔥🔥🥂🥂
Angie Driscoll and Kinloch Carlos 3rd, all those in final
Brace World Champions , Kevin Evans with Dan and Ids—congratulations! 🎉 👏👏

Thank you Scotland, Fiona McMillan and the countless volunteers for a first class event.
Loved seeing friends, meeting folks we’ve connected with online and watching top dogs in person, win or lose, it’s a privilege.
Special thanks to Joyce, Andy all those that helped make this trip possible for me, Alasdair and our dogs, we are forever grateful!! 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙏

09/19/2026

Congratulations to all through to WT Final tomorrow 👏🐾🐑🌍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥂
No glory for us but 1st class event in every way!
Good luck🍀

09/18/2026

It wasn’t our day but so proud of Nite , he sure didn’t look 10.5 years old ❤️❤️
He ran well, had the sheep on his nose for the drive, impossibly I missed x drive at 1 mph!!🙈,
after a good split, sheep were tricky at the pen
great work from him , but I made too many mistakes and once complete, left only 15 seconds to single—we timed out .
You never know how many, if any, of those single points you’d get but by taking too long to pen, I never gave us a shot and slightly less than full points was enough to qualify.
For me, it always feels worse when I let my dog down.
From Nite’s perspective though, he worked sheep, ran well, ate steak and is well loved; a pretty great day.

There’s a football saying that can apply to trials when things don’t go you’re way …
‘Nobody cares, work harder’
— for me it means no excuses, put in the effort, learn from mistakes , get to work and try again.
I’m so grateful for Nite and this opportunity 💙

Alasdair’s field (1) didn’t get finished yesterday but he had a crackin run, 191, with Bute and she’ll certainly be through to the semis 🎉🇺🇸👏👏👏👏
she had a great finish, smooth pen and a heart stopping single! 😍😍
Moss runs late in field 2 today 🤞🤞🤞
Congratulations to all those through from Day 1 qualifying.

First class event in every way. Sheep and course are brilliant, incredible job by all here ; just amazing Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💪💪

Enormous thanks to all of you for your support, messages, donations, texts, those of you here at the trial, it means the world to us 🙏
—TEAM USA, LFG!!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🎉🥂🥂🥂🥂

09/15/2026

Last morning walkies at beautiful Tighnablair 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙🐾
So grateful for our time here.
Tomorrow down to Lauder for the World Trial parade ; trial starts Thursday! 🇺🇸🥂🥂🥂

09/09/2026

Brilliant few days here 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌈🥂—
arrived Scotland Friday night and off first thing Sat to a great trial, Atholl & Weem .
Big congratulations, winners Michael Gallagher and Roy 🏆👏👏
(Well done Bridget Strang and Ken 5th Team🇺🇸)
Alasdair and I crashed and burned but dogs ran not so bad; very good to get a chance on these tricky sheep!
Sunday , Udny Trial, another fantastic field and sheep.
Andy Carneige and Suus won with a class run on 96 🎉🏆🥂👏👏

Nite was 3rd despite my mistakes at the pen.
Cym had good run around the course, not so bad at pen, but decided to single at the shed that was a split 🙈
Bute and Moss both ran well around course but foiled by the pen —we have lots of work to do to figure out these sheep!

Thank you to the generous trial hosts, sheep providers, setters, scribes, everyone that contributed, special thanks to judges Neil McVicar and Geordie Simpson
Grateful to spend time with Joyce and Andy❤️
No signal here but will update whenever we can ☀️

09/04/2026

1st night in 🇬🇧, me & Hotel Clerk...—🤷‍♀️😅😂

ME: do you have a dog friendly room available?

CLERK: yes , 1 or 2 dogs please?

ME: 4 😬

CLERK : Oh, sorry, we have a 2 pet maximum

ME: completely understand , could I pay additional fee or get a 2nd room;
we’ve just flown in from United States and have 4 w us.

CLERK: Oh lovely, you’re moving here?

ME: No, we’ve actually come for the World Sheepdog Trial in Scotland

CLERK: You’ve flown across from America, with 4 dogs,
so you can compete in a sheepdog trial ?
Aye, um , so, ok then, you are ,,,

ME : A COMPLETE NUTTER

CLERK : Aye, right , you’ll fit in f*cking perfect, sign here

Address

Abbeville, SC

Telephone

(434) 955-3767

Website

http://www.macraeway.com/

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