photos by Cally Matherly
ERICA MATHERLY: FROM HORSES TO DOGS
by CALLY MATHERLY
G rowing up on a horse farm with a father as a Farrier and a mother a renown Friesian horse photographer, Erica Matherly was bound to be an animal lover as well. She was in the saddle with her dad before she could walk, riding a full-sized quarter horse at three years of age and competing in barrel races by age six. She loved the spotlight and was fearless of competition and willing to work hard to better her skills. She also loved dogs, setting up obstacles in the yard and teaching her family dogs tricks. She often performed at school talent shows and did class demonstra- tions at every opportunity. Some juniors have the sport of dog showing passed down from previous generations, but the Matherly family had no experience at all and discovered Erica’s talent almost by accident. They had purchased their first AKC regis- tered Australian Cattle Dog with plans to do some agility and possibly junior showmanship. They attended their first dog show in Novi, Michigan to do
a free handling clinic and it was there they realized that Erica had a gift for handling dogs. She took to it as if she had done it her whole life, with a soft hand and quiet nature and a gentle but firm communication. She finished her first ACD’s championship in exactly one year when she was 10 years old. One of her most memorable moments was when Dr. Carmen Battaglia gave her dog Best of Winners and a 5-point major win with 44 cattle dogs entered at the
from Pioneer Australian Cattle Dogs, Jim and Lorrie Pruett, had noticed Erica across the United States and had a special pick puppy bitch they knew had great potential. She was sired by “Brick”, Carben Copy’s If the Shoe Fits, the number one ACD in the US in 2012 and also the sire of their first ACD.
Perry, Georgia show. It was that day that hooked this family into going further, much further in the world of dog showing. By now Eri-
Erica riding in a rodeo.
ca was getting noticed at dog shows and peo- ple were asking
her to show their dogs. She was helping others quite often and getting very eager to have a dog of her own. Breeders in California
124 • S how S ight M agazine , M arch 2017
Powered by FlippingBook