With Schapendij, you soon think of Scotland or Wales, where a shepherd in a rough area has to keep his herd together. Yet the sport is also great in the Netherlands. Schapendrijer Erik has been participating in EKs and World Cups several times. He himself is Multiple Netherlands Champion: “It’s really top sport, I am working on it 365 days of the year.”
At the 114th edition of the Agricultural Show in Opmeer, he does not have to compete against anyone. He gives a demonstration to show the public how training a dog works. The annual Agricultural show is the largest agricultural event in Noord-Holland.
No circus act
It is a day full of equestrian sport, cattle inspections and shows. For the horse lover there are shows and national and regional competitions with harness horses, hackney’s, friezen and jumping horses. The tradition in the agricultural area brings up around 10,000 visitors from all over the Netherlands. A nice stage to show what Erik and his dog Kev have in their march.
According to Erik Groot, Schapendij is a game between the instinct of the Border Collie and the human mind. “I also want to show that it is not a circus act, but really a collaboration between humans and animals against the resistance of the sheep. The moment he does exactly what I want, then you stand with tears in your eyes.”
Text continues under the photo.