Sheepdog Trials ~ a game or an art?

What is sheepdog trialing? a game? a sport? or an art? What makes me even think of this, is the recent references of sheepdog trialing as a "sport". IMO, the training of a sheepdog to assist the shepherd, is a art, as the dog has a *real* job, not a "game" to play. 

Adam Telfer and Old Hemp

So why the reference to "sport"? what is a "sport" anyways? Baseball, Football, Golf? Tennis? Car racing? Ping Pong? all are considered and developed as a "game" or "sport" last I checked, and all are something one does for fun and relaxation, some fun competition between friends or as a profession. However, in none of these, other than receiving monetary compensation for those who excel, there is no neccecity in it. I mean, who other than a professional player, doesn't eat if he has a bad game? (there we go again, that word, game!)

If a shepherd doesn't have his dog, the sheep will not be brought in off the hill, the sick sheep not sorted from the healthy, the flock left to freeze, starve or to meet their end. 

The origin of sheepdog trials, was way back at the first trial held in Bala, Wales, over 100 years ago. I can imagine a group of shepherds (not weekend shepherds, the real deal) sitting around the pub saying, "aye, my dog can do that!" and another, saying, "mine can do it better", and the challenge was made. Man being man (of either sex) we are a competitive creature, and sheepdog trialing was born. 

So perhaps there is that competition, born out of something one did "for real", but is it a "sport"? With the final goal being, to win a trial? Or is it, bringing out the best in a dog, developing him to the best of his abilities? Allowing him to be a "useful dog"? 

For me, sheepdog trialing will never be a "sport", a "game". For me, it's an Art Form, born out of what was needed in a real working dog. The trial was set up to test the working abilities that might be encountered on the farm. Drive the sheep to that pasture? Put the sheep you're selling in a pen? Gather them off the mountain and bring them in? Sort off the cull ewes? 

Game? no. Sport? no. an Art? using the instincts carefully bred into a dog? yes. 

Of course, that's just my opinion... seems the usage of the word "sport" has coincided with the growing interest by the "dogsport" crowd who have discovered herding. But common ya'll, Agility, for instance? that's a "game", so in my eyes, it's correctly called a "sport". When I sort off the cull ewes, the lambs, from the goats, is that a "game"? 

One can call it what they wish, but "sport" seems a bit, oh, derogatory or disrespectful to the oldtime shepherds and their wonderfully talented dogs. The Border Collie as a breed endured much hardship to become what it is today, and I spose, I just feel the need to respect that.