Field trials for pointing dogs began in North America in 1874. They had begun first in England in 1865. The form of trials here have long followed a simple format: entries are submitted, their names written on slips of paper, the slips folded and placed in a receptacle, then drawn out two by two as bracemates. Then braces are run for a prescribed time over a prescribed course.
Handlers are mounted on horseback as are judges (two or three), and observers called the gallery. Each handler is allowed a mounted helper, called a scout, who must ride behind the judges, whose job it is to find the dog pointed or guide it back on course. There are also walking-handler stakes. Read more