Page 21 - Demo

Lindy Patrick of Lyric Aussies by Heather Herron, Breeder Profile Editor
“Jump, chute, A-frame, weave, weave, weave, touch!” Language that’s Greek to a conformation handler is native tongue to an agility trainer. Some of course speak both—and more. In the ambitious pursuit of excellence in the dog world, Lindy Patrick has made it all happen. Lucky
lady or lucky dogs? How about both!
ASJ: Tell us about your childhood.
LP: I grew up in Pasadena, California, the youngest of four children and the only girl. My father was retired from the Navy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis and went to graduate school at MIT. He continued to work on government projects, but in the private sector. My mom had her hands full with four kids and a host of pets. My mom had raised a litter or two of boxers before the family moved in southern California. The first group of pets I remember included two Siamese cats; an Irish wolfhound; a black
Ch. Lyric’s Sunnyside of the St. “Sunny” with Lindy
German shepherd named Fury; Henry, the Chihuahua; and Kim, the Shetland sheepdog. My first dog was Missy, a min- iature Pinscher that we bought from Corky Vroom’s parents. Later on we had a pair of whippets.
ASJ: Did you have an interest in dogs as a child? Did you have pets other than dogs?
LP: I enjoyed the dogs and taught them tricks and competed at our school dog show when I was in grade school. The Irish wolfhound, who was a finished champion, took Best In Show two years in a row. Then the German shepherd took Best In Show the following year. I think I was banned from competing after that.
My passion as a youngster was riding horses. I was fortunate to have the full support of my family, particularly my mother, who each day drove me to a different riding lesson. Mom and I were very competitive (possibly obsessive) and I rode and trained in hunt seat, saddle seat and Western. I was fortunate to train with Helen Crabtree in saddle seat and won the AHSA Saddle Seat Medal Finals at Madison Square Garden. I also won the AHSA Stock Seat Medal Finals, training with Harold Farren. I was second twice in the AHSA Hunt Seat Medal Finals while training with Jimmy and Marcia Williams. Back then the hunt seat and saddle seat medal finals were always held at the Garden. I also won the AHSA Combined Medal Finals, which included stadium jumping and dressage. I was invited to try out for the Olympic team, but by then I was headed to college and my riding career came to halt. I bred a few thoroughbreds. My father had owned a couple of race horses when I was young, and we also raised some saddlebred horses. Statistics and pedigrees have always interested me, and I can still study them for hours.
ASJ: Do you have higher education or training? Do you work to support your dog habit?
May/June 2005 The Australian Shepherd Journal 19