Every year, the small rural town of Hunterville comes alive for one of New Zealand’s most unique events – the Shepherds’ Shemozzle. Part of the Hunterville Huntaway Festival, the Shemozzle celebrates the strength, stamina, and partnership between farmers and their huntaway dogs.

At its heart, it’s a high-energy obstacle race where shepherds and their dogs tackle mud, hills, tunnels and all sorts of challenging and disgusting surprises together. But beyond the main event, the festival also showcases rural New Zealand life – from dog trials and junior races to food stalls and community spirit.

Each year, the event attracts thousands of spectators who flock to Hunterville to cheer on the competitors and their dogs. And this year, the competition went truly national – with entrants travelling from as far south as Queenstown, and even from Australia for the very first time.

An Early Start to a Big Day

Our day began bright and early with a drive up to Hunterville. We stopped for breakfast in Bulls before stretching our legs on a short bushwalk just outside of Hunterville at Pryces Rahui Reserve. It was one of those crisp, sunny mornings that promised a great day ahead.

By 11 am, we were checked in at the festival grounds, ready for a quick photographer briefing before heading out to capture the first event of the day: the dog trials.

Skill, Whistles and a Whole Lot of Character

The dog trials are a classic test of teamwork and precision. Farmers stand in one spot, guiding their dogs through a series of obstacles using only whistles and voice commands. The aim is to reach a red circle, where the dog must bark at the sheep in the pen before racing back to the start line – all against the clock.

Watching these dogs work was fascinating. The best teams moved with seamless coordination, while others added their own flair. One particularly cheeky dog decided to skip the obstacles entirely, making a beeline straight for the sheep instead. The crowd naturally erupted in fits of laughter!

From Juniors to the Main Event

After the dog trials came the first of the races – the juniors, followed by the intermediates, teens, and finally the main attraction: the Shepherds’ Shemozzle itself.

This headline event pairs a farmer with their huntaway (or huntaway cross), racing together through a demanding course filled with mud, hills, and plenty of challenges. The dogs run completely off-lead, relying on training, instinct, and trust to stay with their owners.

Before the race even begins, the famous bark-up sets the tone. All the competing dogs are tied up along a long chain, and on cue, their farmers command them to bark all at once – a deafening, hilarious chorus that never fails to thrill the crowd. It’s a uniquely Kiwi spectacle and the perfect way to kick things off.

This year’s race obstacles were especially creative – and not for the faint-hearted. Competitors started by running through a cattle wash, before charging up a steep trig hill and back down to the infamous food table, where each farmer had to eat a “treat” of sheep balls, proving they’d swallowed it before being allowed to continue. There was, unsurprisingly, a lot of vomiting at that point!

From there, they moved on through more challenges including the bulls’ balls challenge, transferring them from a table to a bin using their mouth only, before eventually finishing the course by diving into a man-made pond to cool off (and clean off) before the finish.

Seeing the trust between dog and owner through all of this was incredible. These dogs are built tough, and their drive to work alongside their humans is something special. While a few looked a little unsure at some of the more ‘interesting’ obstacles, most charged through the course with full trust and wagging tails – the kind of partnership that makes this event so memorable.

Wrapping Up an Unforgettable Day

The day finished with the prize giving, where competitors and spectators alike gathered to celebrate the winners (both two- and four-legged). Then my husband and I were back on the road home – tired, sunburnt, and very happy.

The weather couldn’t have been better, though I’ll admit bright sunshine isn’t always a photographer’s best friend! Still, it was a beautiful day to be part of such an iconic New Zealand event – especially one so focused on dogs.