Karmala Merino and Working Kelpie Studs: Bitches

Delta was to have been retained at Riana. I appreciate the opportunity to purchase such a nice bitch. Her pedigree goes back to Karrawarra Tammy II on both sides. Tammy was an outstanding bitch who bred very well and is still considered by Arthur as one of the best he has owned. Arthur says Delta reminds him very much of the way Tammy worked.

It has been interesting to watch Delta’s work improve over the last couple of years as she gets more experience on stock. During the winter months I take sheep out grazing on stubbles nearby, and this has given her the opportunity to develop a searching cast. She will now kick herself out wider on her outrun, both on command and on her own judgement. Delta is also an effective worker in the yards without back and bark. I have no trouble drafting with her on my own.

As Delta has aged she has learned to conserve energy and uses minimal effort to move stock, allowing them to drift off her and only correcting their direction when needed.

She is a quality bitch with beautiful footwork and anticipation, to watch her work newly shorn lambs is a delight. Her pups have been very useful types, not at all tied up with eye, and most are strong on cattle. K.Peggy Sue(below) is a nice leggy young bitch that will hopefully make the grade later as a stud bitch.

I recently took delivery of a nice bitch pup bred by Peter Telford from K.Shiner(Paddy’s ShadowXRiana DeltaD). Peter is very happy with Shiner, who has developed into a very useful allrounder.

Riana Delta Dawn at 1yo.

Delta at 6yrs after weaning her Glen litter in 2009.

Karmala Swaggy(Karmala SpikeXRiana Delta Dawn) has inherited many of his mother's traits.

Delta bringing them home, 2007

Karmala Peggy Sue(K.GlenXRiana Delta Dawn) aged 8 months, a nice versatile young bitch with less eye than Delta and bark in the yards.

Telford's Tally(Bendocpark NoddyXKarmala Shiner). Shown here with grandma R.Delta keeping an eye on her. She is a nice calm pup with a great attitude, just starting to show interest in sheep.

PADDY’S ELKIE (Paddy’s ShadowXPaddy’s Jedda)
Elkie belongs to Chris Campbell

Elkie is a very nice cream bitch who hasn’t done a lot of work but is a very good type and shows enough promise for Arthur Hazlett to have admired her. She has bred well to Riana Condo and a dog from that litter, Campbell’s Karma(Toby) is being used as a sire at Kirkaldy Kelpies.
Elkie has some illustrious dogs in her pedigree; she is by Paddy’s Shadow who is out of a Riana Don bitch. Don was one of the all time favourite dogs at Riana, and a very clever dog.
Elkie’s dam, Paddy’s Jedda is a bitch I like very much. Jedda’s sire is by Philscreek Sam and her dam by White’s Toby.
Elkie’s litter to Riana Finch has started well(now 6 mths) and should be handy types suited to sheep or cattle work. Finch is breeding extremely well and leaves lovely natured pups that are very easy to get on with; more importantly they are also sensible, natural workers.

Paddy's Elkie(Paddy's ShadowXPaddy's Jedda)

Karmala Fern(Riana FinchXPaddy's Elkie) at Avenel, Wanganella.

Karrawarra Gift IV
4/2002
Karrawarra Rip III X Karrawarra Gemma
Black/light tan

Karrawarra Gift has a great temperament, she is a lovely bitch to handle and a bit of a character…she has the most engaging grin and a habit of ‘talking’ to you, especially around feed time.

Gift’s work is very classy with a great ‘break out’; she has natural strength and walk up combined with a calm temperament. As a pup Gift appeared on Burke’s Back Yard when Don ‘road tested’ the Working Kelpie.

Gift has worked with James Dudley contract mustering. She has an excellent cast and is not tied up with too much eye. Will also work cattle, and barks on command. An easy bitch to work, very natural and correct.

Gift reared a litter of 7 by Karmala Spike in 2006. Bindi has been exported to Patrick Stubbe in Belgium. Gidgee flew to the UK in Jan.08 to Tracy Huxtable in pup to Riana Glide. Both these bitches have developed into useful types.

A litter of 4 by Riana Glide has proven to be well above average and this mating was been repeated(b.2/08) ; the second mating resulted in 7 pups and proved an outstanding litter.

Gift takes after her dam Karrawarra Gemma in appearance, and Glen and Win also show an uncanny resemblance to their grand dam. I had originally picked another pup from the litter when I went to pick up Gift as a 6 week old pup, but Tony Parsons suggested I swap her for Gift. When questioned, he replied that he believed the pup who most resembled her mother would also retain her working traits to the greatest degree…whether that is true or not, these 3 generations have certainly confirmed my belief in the influence of the bitch in breeding.

Gift deals with a stroppy XB ewe with twins using persuasion and bluff. I have never seen her bite a sheep.

Karrawarra Gemma, a lovely old bitch.

Karmala Lily(Riana GlideXKarra.Gift) has mum's undivided attention.

Karrawarra GiftIV with 3 of her daughters by Riana Glide. K. Lily(left), Gift, K.Tilly, K.Win.

Woorivale Spice
9/2001
A3F 11075 01 OZ14E (V-A12)
Woorivale Jim X Karrawarra Sugar

Spice is a neat black and tan combining the bloodlines of some famous old Kelpies. Her mother Karrawarra Sugar is a litter sister to Karrwarra Rip3 has been a good brood bitch; she is the dam of Bellrock Anna(Tool) who died recently(5/07) at Karrawarra. Spice’s sire is Woorivale Jim (Nacooma Jack X Rockybar Betsy) a nice type and a handy all rounder.
In October 2003 Spice ran a 95 in the first round of the Encourage at the Queensland Championships; the points were deducted for her owner’s inexperience. Spice is a clever little bitch with good stock sense and a lot of class. She has developed more strength with experience, and has recently displayed a taste for pushing up in the shed. I moved a mob of sheep with her along a busy roadside and continued another kilometre or so across country in July 08, and hardly had to speak to her.

She has bred very well to Riana sires. Below is Karmala Phoenix owned by Simon Hartwich, who also has K.Gem(R.GlideXK.Gift).

Woorivale Spice in 2003

....and in 2007, after rearing 30 nice pups.

Spice and K.Clyde hold sheep as they graze a waterway.

Karmala Phoenix(R.RaddleXW.Spice) at 15 mths has matured into a useful member of Simon Hartwich's team.

Nessie is a nice leggy young bitch, the second bitch from Spice to be retained at stud.
She went out to Stewart Oates, Jimargil, Menindee, to be broken in.
Due to lack of work here, Ness has gone over to Warner Bros. Paradise Farm on the Gold Coast for some more work experience. This will involve small amounts of sheep work and a lot of socialising with the public; being rather photogenic, Ness might be become quite famous by having her photo taken with visitors. Apparently there’s a Border Collie at Outback Spectacular that can bring in up to $1000 a night!
Nessie is a quality bitch and I look forward to the nice pups she will produce.

Karmala Finesse(Riana FinchXW.Spice) has her first look at sheep at 4 mths.

Nessie as a mature bitch when she returned from Menindee where Stewy Oates broke her in.

Tilly is a litter sister to Karmala Glen and has spent the last 8 months with David Hart at Oakwood. She is a classic type of bitch, leggy, classy, great nature. David would like a bit more ‘grunt’ for cattle work and has returned her and taken Glen in her place for work.
At a recent ‘pup day’ at Arthur Crumblin’s at Leyburn Tilly impressed with her sheep work, and Arthur has taken her to train further. Later we will share litters from her.
It is by this exposure to different work environments that I am able to accurately assess a dog’s strengths and weaknesses. Tilly will get valuable mustering experience in the Traprock country, a test for any dog. Arthur likes her temperament very much, and she settled in with him quickly.

Karmala Tilly on cattle at Oakwood.

Karmala Tilly, 1 year.

Karmala Tilly(left) and her little sister Lily working Arthur's lambs at Leyburn.

Karmala Lyddy is the same breeding as Karmala Spike but from a later mating. She was returned for some schooling on sheep and started very well, and when Spike died prematurely I bought her back… at that stage(1 year) she hadn’t done any work. Lyddy has a great nature, and is very easy to handle.
David Hart was good enough to start Lyddy on cattle and she was reading her stock well and was prepared to hold calmly when she came home. I have worked Lyddy on some very tough XB ewes and lambs; she works them confidently, and they respect her and move off her well.
Treva Turner from Dalby has been using Lyddy on cattle for the past year and is pleased with the way she’s settled in with him.

Lyddy had a nice litter to Falcon Dart in 2008; Karmala Dell has been retained and
Mick Gleeson is running her on for me.
In April 2009, Lyddy whelped 5 pups to Karmala Glen out at Dalby.

Karmala Lyddy

Karmala Lyddy and Riana Glide

Karmala Lyddy minding the sheep who were grazing stubbles last winter.

Karmala Dell(Falcon DartXKarmala Lyddy) working ducks in Nth Q'land last summer when it was perfect weather for them!

K.Dell preparing to block. One of these photos could turn up in Tony Parson's new Kelpie book next year.