But it's not your own dog??!!

A number of people, even those who know nothing of agility, have been asking me what it will be like to compete with a dog that is not my own. It will indeed be challenging, but it is not an unfamiliar concept within the realms of companion animal sports. In particular the format of the Individual FEI Showjumping World Championships brings this into play, as does the Modern Olympic Pentathlon.

The format for the final day of the Individual FEI Showjumping competition at the WEG entails the four best riders from the preceeding rounds jumping their own horses over a set course and then rotating and riding the horses of their rivals over that same course in order to decide the individual title. This format was designed to be the ultimate test of a versatile horseman or woman.

Similarly in the Olympic sport of the Modern Pentathlon (that consists of shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and cross-country running) the equestrian leg is supposed to test the athlete's horsemanship skills by requiring them to ride an unfamiliar horse. The riding discipline involves Show jumping over a 350-450 meter course with between 12 and 15 obstacles. Competitors are paired with horses in a draw 20 minutes before the start of the event.

So the concept of being tested as a rider or handler through your ability to partner with an unknown animal is not unusual at a World Championships or even the Olympics.

But what will the experience be like? Well I can't answer that fully until it is done. Though I know what it means for me is that I will have different goals of my performance at the WAC than I would if I was competing with my own dog. If I was running my own dog my goal would be consistent, accurate and faultless teamwork. My goal in competing with an unknown dog is to demonstrate my versatility as a handler; I will feel successful if I come off that course with the sensation that the dog and I shared a connection out there.