The AKC just made a major change to field trial rules: judges in walking stakes can now use ATVs and UTVs instead of being required to ride horses. To unpack what this means for the sport, I sit down with Paul Hermes — a Florida-based AKC field trial and hunt test judge — to talk through the impact.

Paul is realistic about the situation and in an ideal world, he would prefer to have horses for judging. But he also recognizes the practical challenges: horses are increasingly hard to source, and many younger participants don’t own them. We discuss the upsides of this shift, the potential challenges it brings, and why, overall, this move could help keep field trials alive and more accessible for the next generation.

You can find Paul on Facebook or email him at phermes1@gmail.com.

My online course: https://accidentalbirddog.learnworlds.com/

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The Accidental Bird Dog Podcast is sponsored by onX Hunt and Elevate Pet Provisions. We are part of the HerUpland Podcast Network.