English Springer Spaniel Field Trials

English Springer Spaniel Field Trials

Field Trials are exciting competitions that emulate hunting with an English Springer Spaniel. They take place in many gorgeous locations, such as the Kincade Wildlife Management Area near Porterville, CA pictured here during a February 1997 trial.

The format of ESS field trials is three series run under two different judges. All dogs run with a bracemate on a parallel course for the first two series. The English Springer Spaniel must find, flush and retrieve birds (usually pheasants) while working for the handler under full control. Handlers do not shoot for their own dog; there are gunners for the trial that work for every dog entered. Spaniels must be steady to wing and shot, meaning that they must sit down ("Hup" in Spaniel-ese) after flushing a bird, when they hear a shot or see a bird fly (even from their bracemate's course). Dogs do not retrieve a bird until sent by their handler. Not all downed birds are theirs, nor safe to retrieve. This "honoring" is required for all competitors, but placing dogs must do all the basics, with the flair, intelligence and perseverence to catch the eye of the judges.

Most field trials have three stakes, or classes: Open All-Age for any Spaniel over 6 months and any handler, including professionals; Amateur All-Age forSpaniels over 6 months and amateur handlers only; and Puppy stakes for dogs under 2 years. Puppy stakes are generally run on pigeons and do not count toward championship. For a dog to become a field champion (FC) or Amateur Field Champion (AFC) requires at least one win and ten additional points in regional competition, or two wins. In addition, a water retrieving test is required for all field titles.

Once a year, in the late fall, there are two National field trials where ESS and their handlers compete for the titles of National Field Champion (NFC)--in the Open (or professional) category; and National Amateur Field Champion (NAFC)--where only Amateur handlers can compete. Every dog running in the Nationals has qualified by placing in a regular, regional trial during that trial year. The quality of dog work you can observe at the Nationals is unbelievable. Everyone rises to the event, from bird planters, to gunners to handlers---and of course, the dogs. See gorgeous locations for a photo of the striking setting for the National Open near Logan, Utah in November, 1997.

The quickest way to get hooked on field-bred Springers is to watch them in a field trial. Trials are held in the Spring and the Fall throughout the U.S. See the Events Calendar for one near you.

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