Field trials are an important part of the pointing dog world. Sure, the majority of pointing dog owners don't participate in trials, but the never-ending quest of trialers to breed better bird dogs spills over into the hunting dog world, with champion field trial dogs found in the lines of many bird hunters' four-legged companions.

The first recorded field trial in the United States was held in 1874 in Memphis, Tennessee. In the ensuing 150 years, men and women have been climbing on their gaited horses, releasing their dogs in front of judges, and working to take the top spot. And in so doing, over the past century and a half they've played a major role in the imrovement of various pointing dog breeds.

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