My first run at the World Championships was going to teach or shall I say re-teach me a very important lesson and that was; read the course maps carefully and read the numbers as you do your walk through. I was running on team. Canada was the second team in the ring so I in fact was the fourth and sixth dogs in the event.
Canada's Large Dog Team; Fizz, Feature, Encore & Tanafon
My plan was to watch the “white” dog then not watch the team immediately before us — but get in the “zone” for my own runs. The white dog is a local dog that runs the course so the crowd can see where the course goes, the judge can review her handling path and theoretically, that those competitors that have an early draw can watch at least one dog run so they can “see” the course before they must run it.
Two problems with that is 1) there is no break between the white dog and the first dog. So if you are the first dog you either give up your final mental prep to watch the white dog or you step into the ring cold turkey. The next problem in Germany was that the holding area was a long way from the course and you couldn’t see well over all of the people. I considered running up the stairs to watch the white dog but the stairs were blocked with people just getting to their seats in the stands. So I decided to run my dogs without watching any other dogs run.
As it turned out both the white dog and the first Finnish dogs went off course so it may not have helped me to watch.
I stepped to the line running Encore first. My plan was clear in my mind and I had one question of a serp or a front cross which I would answer as the opening of the course rolled. I ran a great course, exactly as I had envisioned. The only problem was it was the wrong course. My questions of my 5-6-7 serp should have been no question as I had walked 6 as the wrong jump over and over both on the course and in my mental prep. To make matters worse I also walked and mentally prepped for the wrong side of obstacle 9. Therefore I ran Encore with two off courses but no one mentioned the second off course to me as they thought I did it on purpose.
But wait, it gets worse. Even though I knew there was an error 5-6-7 (imagine my surprise when the judge blows his whistle and I can’t figure out why while I am running) I still had no idea that I was planning at obstacle 9 was also incorrectly.
I have no time to watch my team mate Big A (who uncharacteristically also went off course — I think he subconsciously did it to make me feel better:)) so when I stepped into the ring with Feature I still had no idea that I had run obstacle number 9 incorrectly.
Imagine running at the world championships, with a really fast dog and having to read numbers. That is exactly what I had to do with Feature for obstacles 5-6-7. I hadn’t walked it, I hadn’t visualized it and for someone with a learning disability like mine that can create difficulties. I thought I did pretty while sending Feature to 6 and then holding her on a threadle arm and 7 until I could look to see what side of the obstacle the number 7 sat was on.
Now I hit obstacle 10, hear a groan from the crowd and once again a judges whistle and I am thinking, “is this a joke– why is she blowing that damn whistle again?” I had no clue why I had earned another disqualification.
Having discussions with my manager later she said “wow, that is certainly was not like you is it?” I had to be honest and say that yes actually it wasn’t unlike me. If I had to guess I would say I read course maps incorrectly and walk wrong courses about 10-20% of the time. Rarely does anyone know and rarely does it cost me anything. Although, this isn’t even the first time I have done it at a really big event. It cost me a national championship once. You would think I would have learned my lesson before! Apparently not.
I actually even see the number on the wrong side of the jump when I review a course map. It rarely is a problem because one of my greatest strengths as a competitor is my ability to visualize. I catch my error once I see my fellow competitors run the course. I then figure out what is the correct course then I go off and visualize it and when I run know one would know the difference because my visualizations are so real to me. The problem becomes glaring anytime I have to run early in a running order because I don’t get to see another competitor do things correctly.
So after that run it was decided that when the course maps came out I had to point to each obstacle and verbally tell someone what my plans were for handling. I thought it a bit overkill and perhaps a little demeaning but I didn’t complain. I figured I had no right to after what I had cost the Canadian team. The funny part came during the very next course. It was team standard. I get my map and Lynda was going to be my course checker. I am going over the course and I am finger pointing to each obstacle and telling Lynda my plan. When I announce obstacles 13-14 as a 180 Lynda freaks on me like Shrek hollering and Donkey “No Susan No!” It made me smile. She was so upset. It was a good that Lynda caught my error as 13-14 required a pull through the gap not a 180 handling that I saw when I looked at the paper.
Next funny thing was as I went over the course before it was open for walk through, whoever numbered it also put the number 14 on the wrong side of the jump. Luckily the judge caught it as he was wheeling the course. It made me smile.
Many people walk wrong courses, it is often a rookie mistake or sometimes something nerves cause. I am pretty sure neither applied to me. With the other people I have talked to that have a similar problem it looks to me like it might be a touch of A.D.D. (ooh look something shiny:)). Just making assumptions and rather than having your brain actually register what is really there. I really do see the number on the wrong side of the jump when I read the map.
Here is the is the video and walk you though what I am thinking throughout the runs.
So you may think that the lesson I learned was I need to pay better attention and yes you would be correct however, for me, there was a less obvious-but equally important lesson to be learned.
Imagine being Susan Garrett, someone that many people recognize at least by name from your books and DVDs. Thousands of people in the arena are watching and likely tens of thousands more are watch via live stream with great expectations for your run. Now imagine making a seriously novice mistake in front of all of those eyes not just with one dog but with two.
How do you respond. Do you cry? Do you hide from embarrassment? Do you need to walk somewhere for a few hours to be alone? Do you want to quit and not run any more of your runs at the world championships? Do you question why me> Why did this happen to me and why here at this big event? What do you do? Are you devastated? Knowing you must run team standard in less 7 hours or so, how do you recover? Does this event create extra pressure for you for the rest of your runs at the World Championships?
I will leave you with all of those questions. Let me know what you think you would do in the same situation and next week I will write and tell you what I did.
Today I am grateful for understanding teammates, who I am sure where disappointed at my errors but where 100% supportive of me all weekend.
I’ve just been re-reading one of the really great links above, called “Defining Agility Brilliance” posted on 02/05/10.
Also, Susan’s post after last year’s FCI championship on 09/21/09, called “World Championship Wrap Up”.
What she says about agility: “It’s a game I play with my dog and it ends when the run is over.”
But the quote I love the most is, “I have been blessed with so much in my life I can’t see how any single failure or success could possibly alter any of that.”
Great athletes like you learn to have short memories for mistakes. Live, learn, be better on the next round. Your victory in Large Dogs Individual Std proves you are a Champion. Your dog can’t read numbers (well maybe yours can :), but they ran great and as directed which is just what anyone wants in the ring.
Kentucky and Lievin await. Go get ’em.
Marquand
You are so blessed to have had teammates who were so willing stand by you and help. No need to hide when you have such good teammates/friends.
About 10 years ago, at the summer Olympics, the best horseman in the world drew a blank in the middle of the jumping course. Fortunately, he it came back to him, and he was able to finish the course. When I saw that, I figured that if the best horseman in the world could make such a error, then it was okay for me to, and that gave me the courage to finally enter a trial. I had great difficulty memorizing courses (it’s still not a snap, but a lot better!) When I graduated into open JWW, it took me 2 months of trials before I correctly remembered an entire course LOL.
Thanks for sharing your tribulation and how the problem was worked out. Reading the process has given me more tools to remember when things aren’t going right.
I am sure you handled yourself well, and refocused for your later runs.
Your saying “frustration is motivation” sticks out for me…
Too bad you didn’t have time between the girls runs, but again I am sure you took inventory of what is really important and worked through this.
The amazing thing to me is that you were able to continue thinking on your feet as the whistles were blown, and continue running the course for your dogs benefit, good handler!
Mary
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”
Not sure if I read the quote at Say Yes or somewhere else but I try to keep it in mind when my performance is not what I’d planned it to be.
Susan
Thanks so much for sharing your run and your struggle. It actually brought tears to my eyes because bless your heart for recognizing your brilliant dogs and your human qualitys. Gosh I know I suffer from those issues and so many more..but you sure seemed to recover and kept the interest of the team at the forefront. The stress of such a huge event must be tremendous even for someone with your stature. For me when I blow a run and it is always just me and my dog running turning first to my dog for that unconditional love and then to my friends who know I am a bit “nutsy” always sets things right.
Margie
It is all about the journey. It is only about the journey!
What an absolutely perfect statement 🙂
I would never dream of comparing myself to you in training or agility or even in life Susan but I must say this makes me feel a little bit better because I absolutely cannot visualize! The very worst runs I have ever had in agility were all runs where I attempted visualization before the run and did that whole positive thinking thing!!
I know that different people learn better in different ways: visual, oral, reading, doing and honestly it always frustrated me that all you ever concentrated on was the visual but now I see why and I know that it isn’t that I am “wrong” we are just different…but that course WAS wrong goshdarnit! 😉
If I screw up once on my daily walk route picking up dogs it is very obvious to me that my brain has created a new neural pathway which strongly overwrote the correct one because I will make the mistake two or three more times that week before I am able to get back to my usual route.
In this case I would say that neural pathways are kind of like Pavlov always being on your shoulder.
Yes, as a member of a team, you make extra demands & feel ‘you let them down’ but this is something that could have happened to anyone & —- happens! As a great teacher & mentor to so many of us we are humbled by your brilliance & ability to bring forth yet another team for the world championships… & not just with one dog BUT two! You gave this everything you had, quite obviously. You pushed to the limit, asking your dogs for all you had trained & they responded, giving all they had. What else could anyone have asked of you (too late to ask for a non-dyslexic brain;)). Every run was ‘go for broke’ & that is how world championships are won & lost. If I were you I would be sooo proud of my two girls I’d be bursting.
Personally, I sat riveted to the screen awed by the performances. I was proud of everyone who made it through those extremely demanding courses!!… Well done :0}
Thank you for sharing ,you are a wonderful handler and the fact that you do not mind sharing your mistakes with us to me makes you all the more “Brilliant”
As for the question I think I would be a little teary eyed apologize to my dog and team hug my dog and go shake it off somewhere
Thanks so much for blogging about the wrong course and thanks even more for the commentary of Encore and Feature’s runs – brilliant learning opportunity!
As for your questions on “How do you respond?” I HOPE that I would take it well. I would be disappointed in myself for letting my canine team mate down but also I would feel really bad about letting my human teammates down (at least the perception of letting them down, I’m sure they were supportive and not at all disappointed in you). For me that disappointment would not last long. Probably only a few minutes after realising my error. I would probably then have a little laugh with friends over it and promise myself that I will learn from my mistake. This is all fun after all! I do agility for fun and to share that special connection with my dog/s. My dog won’t have cared about the off course… she would have had a blast running. Off course or not, my dogs do everything I ask of them and that always puts a smile on my face.
You must be very proud of both your girls…. they ran beautifully over the whole competition. They ran fast and with confidence, even the “baby dog” on that big stage! Furthermore, watching all your runs on the live stream was awesome. YOU appeared to run with confidence and incredible composure. That clean run with Encore in Jumpers was just SO smooth… it looked effortless!
Congratulations and best of luck at your upcoming Nationals.
Denise
Not exactly lack of attention…
I’m not competing yet, but as I read course maps I have the same problem of seeing numbers wrong sometimes. I used to see them wrong on my math tests as well (as I was studying math – that was not fun). It has cost me before and it will probably cost me again, but lack of attention has nothing to do with it. There seems to be an error in processing certain information and trying hard to get it right next time only makes one anxious, which can make the matters worse. I think the solution lies in developing strategies to catch errors (like you did with Lynda), or perhaps finding a clever way to change how the brain processes course maps. If you find it, please do tell 🙂
What would I do if I were Susan Garrett? It’s a good thing I’m not, ’cause I’m not built for such pressure. I would probably run and hide 🙁
Here is yet another example of why you are the consummate teacher, Susan.
You are grounded in reality,
blessed with clarity of thought,
articulate,
gracious in sharing yourself as you are, and
strong enough to share your journey with those who are interested while not being shaped by negative thought or reaction from those who don’t “get it.”
Nothing about your first two runs changed that fact that you have what you need within you to compete at this level and that your dogs are prepared, so I’m guessing you did what you needed to clear your head and focus on what was coming up next; that you were disciplined enough to focus on your own expectations and not to get distracted by the perceived and ill-defined expectations of the fans (and detractors) that come with being willing to become a public figure.
Thanks for your very brave and candid experience at the World competition. We can all learn from your thoughts and reactions. There’s many a National and Internation competitor that would never dare expose themselves to us like you did. I for one really got something out of your experience, response and reflections and look forward to your next post.
If I had been in your situation, I would like to think that I would have the guts to make a note of my error, try to have the moxie to do the self reflection that you did, make adjustments, set goals and then let it go. I think that the letting go may be the hardest part. :~)
If I am Susan –
I am angry, maybe a little confused or shocked for a moment and then just angry. Not raving luny angry more of a seething frustrated angry. I have a few conversations in my head about how this will just give my haters something to talk about. Then right there in that moment I say no way, I have worked too hard, my dogs have worked too hard, I’m going to turn this around. I stand tall and proud, still hurting a little but determined to make this a stand out victory.
I get clarity about the steps I need to take to be successful. I make mental notes of what went wrong, how and why it happened.
I’m really moving on but that little nagging voice does keep chattering and I have to tell it to shut up. Yes it was a silly error, I got it, I blew it, and I’m not going to roll around in my own mess. I am focused on a more dramatic comeback victory. I’m up to more than this!
Wish I had a documentary team, this is good sports stuff, this should be a reality tv show. Ok, next time, now I need to get focused again…
I don’t have anything to prove but I am going to do it anyway. I love to prove myself. I love to win, and I love to do this sport with my dogs.
I am going to get some help from my team, I’m going to relax and have fun, and I’m going to rock the rest of my runs.
Then when I stand at the line the next time, I clear my mind, and its just me and my amazing dog and we do what we do really well. That’s all there is in that moment. I don’t know what’s going to happen. There are many great teams here. I suddenly have forgotten about the winning part, the reputation part, and I am so ready to run.
That’s how I deal with it if I am Susan.
Me? I’d be a bundle of nerves. I’d be determined to do better and puts lots of pressure on myself and my dogs and chances are we’d be tight on later runs and get wacky results. I’d need a week to recover emotionally, and then I’d get in touch with Susan for some advice…
First, I apologize for my English that I speak little to help with an electronic translator.
I believe that such an event causes pain and frustration. I have personally experienced team in the world of Hamar in 2007 as an unforgivable mistake: because of the tension I get the dog from the table a second before penalizing the team was first in the standings. It ‘was hard! I cried, I felt terrible! But this also served to improve my future performance.
However, Susan has gone six and you’ll always be a great athlete and teacher for me!
How do you respond:
Do you cry?
No. But I’m not really a crier anyway.
Do you hide from embarrassment?
No. Overall, the way that I’d deal with it is, even though it might be eating me alive inside, I’d try to at least pretend it wasn’t. Not to make it seem like it was no big deal; I’d feel bad for making mistakes for my team, but I’d follow the thought that if I just calmly explain what happened, other people would hopefully follow.
Do you need to walk somewhere for a few hours to be alone?
Not for a few hours, no. I could use some alone time to mentally prepare for the next run (especially if I’m not showing my true emotions), but it shouldn’t take that long.
Do you want to quit and not run any more of your runs at the world championships?
No way! It’s not the worst mistakes to ever be made, and it’s still a huge honor to be able to compete in it at all. How horrible would that be to all the other people who dream of the chance to compete there, that you just not run anymore because you’re embarrassed or guilty?
Do you question why me?
No, I think that’s a pretty obnoxious thought. If I thought that, it’d almost be like saying, “I’m above all the other people and above mistakes.”
Why did this happen to me and why here at this big event?
It could’ve happened to anybody. Not making excuses, but without seeing other dogs run beforehand, it’s not hard to see how it happened. It happened at that big event because that’s how they run the big event!
What do you do?
Try to collect myself, in private. Spend a LOT of time with my dog because she always makes me feel better. Watch the other runs and cheer for people.
Are you devastated?
Probably. But, like I said, I’d try my best not to show it. Fake it til you make it, in a way.
Knowing you must run team standard in less 7 hours or so, how do you recover?
Lots of hardcore mental hardening.
Does this event create extra pressure for you for the rest of your runs at the World Championships?
Probably, but not extra pressure to the point where it would be unbearable. Extra pressure as in, I’ll be extra careful to check and re-check multiple times the obstacles and the correct path.
I can imagine that it’s a lot harder making mistakes being as well known as you are. Like you said, tons of people know you. But, I’d like to think that all those people also know that you’re still human. I hope they don’t think that YOU think you’re above making mistakes. It was a hard course, you were one of the first dogs in the ring, and if nobody told you that #9 was a wrong course too, how else would you have known? It’s not the worst mistake or the most novice mistake that could’ve been made.
I can’t wait to hear how you handled it, but I’m sure it was a proper reaction.
Susan, I am so sorry that you felt it difficult and confusing that we clapped when you Went of course. For those who “disker” as we say in Norway, we clap of humble and show our respect to them. We know how much this world championship means ,and how much work you have put into preparing for this awent. Me and my friends “from Norway” wanted to comfort you when you came back and sat down behind us together with your friends. But it is “difficult” to “dare” to talk with you, and I did not know what to say.
But I want to say that I am sorry that you felt terrible when we clapped, we just wanted you to now ,we were so sorry for you:)
I think it was important that you came back with a raised head and sat with the rest of the participants in this World Championship.We love you!
@Lise and the rest of my European friends, the clapping does not bother me — it was what the clapping represented that caused me to even notice. I had not idea I had made a mistake — the clapping told me I had gone off course somewhere. No need to apologize it is all part of sport. I don’t think anyone running the course wants to hear the clapping but not because the clapping itself is bad — just that the clapping tells you there was a big mistake in your run!
And please never be afraid to talk to me. The only time I would say it is a bad time to approach me is just before I walk a course or within 30 minutes of me running a course. It doesn’t matter if my run was spectacular or flawed, once I leave the ring with me dog it is over and talking to me is never a problem.
“It is what it is”
Thank you for sharing your experience with us Susan. We all make “silly” mistakes for one reason or another. It is humbleling. The worse thing in the world is to hold on to the bad emotions & thoughts that can attatch themselves to us when we have a major case of ADD. It is over & done… yesterdays news. All that matters is TODAY, this minute.
Because of what happen this year in Germany will make you even better for next year.
What happen to you, can happen to everybody!
Hi Susan
I will not attempt to shed light on what you should have done differently, I couldn’t. But I will say this…
To me greatness if it is to be real is found in adversity. There is no life without adversity. There is probably no real learning either without it.
The fact that you write here and try to analyze with us what has happened, that you try to really see it for what it is and for what needs to be done in the future to avoid this, is a great lesson for us all and is a reflection of who you are. With your red girls Susan you are amazing. In this situation Susan you were/are amazing. Your actions just show who you really are. It is much more difficult for someone with your reputation to go on, without fanfares and drama (not saying that there wasn’t one inside your chest) and do the work, to care about your teammates of all levels, keep your head up and give support …than for someone who has no experience, no reputation, has not published books..
So Susan Garrett you are still who you were before this. Someone said that it was but a moment and it is. Isn’t it just what it is? A moment? Don’t let this moment shade all of what you are and all of what you did accomplish and are still doing for peoples and their dogs everywhere. I know I am one of them and my dogs are more happy because of you.
And for future competitions we will be rooting for you as always and you will do great as you did when you rallied at the FCI…
Marie-France
In the whole scheme of things, a sense of accountability and the ability to handle such a situation with dignity and grace are probably rarer commodities than phenomenal dog training skills. Thanks for sharing an important life lesson.
It is all about the relationship, and all about the personal journey. Anything else is just a mear distraction.
What could be the less obvious lesson?
– I think it has to do with your dogs and how they did exactly what you asked of them.
The judges who put the numbers on the other side of the jumps everywhere — very technical but not perceptually friendly!!
Well for me this is where the rubber meets the road. CAn you accept a mistake or what others would call “failure”? I think anyone who competes needs to learn to lose without losing a piece of yourself.
I gotta say, reading this and envisioning what you must have felt like made my heart stop.. I would have needed a walk. But I probably would have convinced myself to be even more determined to run my very best in the next runs. I can never know how I would react in the face of this for sure unless it actually happened.
And isn’t this what keeps this sport so multi-faceted and addicting?? There are so many little things that can go wrong that I am surprised that we run clean as much as we do!
How you handled this is money in the bank for your next runs. Reinforcement History is also for humans!!
Kathy
Susan, I think you would have felt disappointment, but in yourself, not your dogs. Not in your training, wow, that goes without saying, you have proven yourself and they work remarkably. I like your comment about the opening, you know your dogs and their ability, no one would question that.
Add to the lessons in life, accept it, knowing that it only empowers you more, and you can only do better, fast forward to next worlds, cant wait to watch!
Lendon Gray (‘Seldom Seen’ Dressage fame) said something like “Fill the bath tub the morning before a big competition with about three inches of water—then see if you can walk on it!! If you touch bottom you lose and don’t have to be perfect that day!!!” So not one of us is ever perfect but Susan Garrett’s attitude is exemplary. The future beckons.
Love this. What a thing to live by.
Disappointment after something like what you experienced Susan is a normal and a human feeling. I don’t think one should deny themselves those feelings. I have certainly felt like crud after some bad luck at trials – I remember you coming up to me after one such run in Belgium a few years ago BUT… it is what happens within the next 30 minutes that separates the women from the girls.
Many people don’t realize that they are a part of 2 or 3 teams at one time (the one with your dog, the one with teammates and the one you have with this sport). I’ve seen people dissolve into tears and go and sulk in a corner with just having a refusal when they are otherwise almost always perfect when they run. They are not doing themselves or their dogs or their other teammates any justice. All the questions you asked above were concentrated on the word “YOU”. To truly understand being part of a sport you cannot just think about yourself and your needs. Instead, pulling that energy away from me and putting it into what I need to do and what I need to concentrate on and letting my 3 teams know I am with them 110% and ready to go! That’s teamwork, that’s a champ, whether you are winning or not!!
Susan, your honesty and guts are what make you the amazing trainer that you are. For you to evaluate your mistakes and allow us all the learn and share with you – that takes guts.
I suspect you dusted yourself off, looked into the beautiful eyes of Encore and Feature and said lets go girlies we have more work to do!
Susan, I must say I was one of those cheering and hoping to see great runs from you. Like you, I dind’t knew what had gonne wrong when everyone started clapping. But the great lesson here, even thogh you made a rookie mistake, you’ve gonne on and had great runs on the rest of the weekend! That’s something we should all learn, to deal with disappointment in such a huge event. Not everyone can do that. Wish you best of luck at Nationals!
If it was me, I’d probably run and hide for the next seven hours. But I am a coward.
If I was Susan Garrett? I would say to myself, “I am Susan Garrett. I have done amazing things for dogs and for people. I have changed lives. I am incredibly good at what I do and very proud of what I have accomplished. This is just a new challenge, a new future accomplishment. This just proves to everyone that we all make mistakes. Embrace it as the learning experience it is.”
We all make mistakes, we are human. You are a brilliant trainer and handler and I have benefited so much from Shaping Success, Crate Games, 2×2, and more of your work.
Just continue to hold your head high as your red girls are two of the BEST agility dogs in the WORLD.
Besides… it would get borrring if you ran everything perfect all of the time. :>)
Tara, Hermes & Leda
Vacaville, CA
You wrote: How do you respond. Do you cry? Do you hide from embarrassment?
Hi Susan,
This is what this post points out to me… You are human, the runs were probably less than 60 seconds of you and your dog’s lives, and stuff happens, even to the best…
The stuff about learning from one’s mistakes does hit home.
My question would be – in a team environment, which most of us don’t participate, should one change the way he/she runs to accommodate the team? Be more or less conservative? It’s kind of a grey area to me, and I’m sure the answer probably depends upon the situation…
Diane
Susan, I very much admire the way that you are prepared to ask these questions in the public arena, and show that whilst being very professional and superb at what you do, you are also human.
What would I so? I would be annoyed with myself for not being perfect, and very pleased with the way that my dogs ran the courses, and I would hope to have the strength of character to rise above it and step up to the next challenge.
Since I first met you and saw you preparing, walking, warming up and running your dogs you have have inspired me to try to be the best I can be in this sport.
To paraphrase your blog endings : “I will always be grateful for the lessons I have learned from your willingness to share not only your successes but also your failures with us, and the lessons they teach you.”
Well it was a hell of an initiation into team management that’s for sure! Thanks for that!LOL!
But as I said to you at ringside later, you handled it brilliantly, you NEVER blamed anyone for it, we took our lumps as a team and came back fighting as a team and we could do that because of your attitude and strength of character and, I think, your general “perspective” on life….yes it was a world championship and yes you are Susan Garrett, but in reality, it is dog agility, the dogs don’t care what course they run as long as we are happy with them, our families and REAL friends don’t care as long as we are all healthy and happy.
Your team mates certainly felt for you and rallied to help make sure it didn’t ever happen again, ya maybe we went a bit overboard but hey….at least we cared!!!!!…..and we learned something about you that few people know.
I promise it won’t happen again at FCI! We got it covered:o)You have “people” and they know what needs to be done:o)
Kim
Nice post Kim!
Great post as always !!
Dear Susan,
Surely you are recognized and had a name in Agility… ¡but you are still human!
Nobody can blame you, neither you.
It’s hard obviously for you and it’s difficult to try to put in your shoes in that moment, because we are all different (thanks God for that).
In the ring you are alone with your teammate and this is not like football, your teammate is your dog.
Yes, sometimes we all have awful errors… but YOU KNOW you are good (this is a fact) and YOU KNOW your dog is good (this is also a fact).
Knowing those facts I’ll sit with my dog, as far as I could from the crowd, scratch his ears and his belly, look deep into his eyes… and said with confidence “we’ll do an outstanding job” (just like you did at individuals, MY GOD !!!!!)
PS: Sorry for my oxidated english :)))
I think the best take away is how you reacted to the whole situation. Staying calm, cool & collected and making sure your dogs didn’t sense anything was wrong was a fantastically professional. Kudos to you for sharing what happened, I know that I hope I can react so well!
Gotta love Lynda! Just another reason the two of you make such a great team!
Once again some of the most inspirational lessons we learn happen when we’re watching you off the agility field.
You would have a margarita?
Susan Garrett, I see shiny things when I walk courses. And lots of other times too. I like to have a buddy out there with me for fact checking of numbers.
What do you do? As someone who has been subject to plenty of such course miscomprehensions:
You forgive yourself, because no matter how others may choose to define us, be that worthless or enviable, we are all just people, and all subject to the same foibles. There isn’t a perfect being among us, on course or off.
If you’ve taught us anything with this blog, its that being a winner can take many forms, and that being outcome focused is not the best strategy for excellence. It would logically follow that those who judge based on outcome must also not be using the best strategy for measuring worth.
I saw both your runs. The handling as well as the dogs you have trained were impressive. Congratulations on what you have achieved, and will continue to achieve! It is an inspiration.
It is an extra challenge when you must work with a condition that makes you learn differently. I “see” and read all numbers as colours, something that has challenged me when following courses.
I am much too inexperienced and know I would not handle an off course at a big competition well at this stage in my agility journey. My answer is to invest in some performance coaching and watch teams I admire so I can learn to deal with mistakes I make on course.
Your honesty about your challenges, how you work with them, and your inspiring teamwork with your dogs makes you a true sportsman.Watching how you handle competing at the international level is a valuable lesson for all your students. Can’t wait to hear the answers to the questions you asked in this post.
I am so impressed with your strength of character, Susan. Strength like that can only be built from having to struggle in the face of adversity … and it has obviously made you ‘Who’ you are today.
Thank you for allowing us to ride through that with you. I think you got through this by being strong, grateful (thankful for the good things) .. and realizing that self pitty would not do your team any good. Your dogs were healthy, sound, well trained and ready to play .. you just had to pull yourself up and get back on.
Yes, there were many people in that arena that were waiting to see your runs because of everything you’ve written and published.
Yes, we were expecting fireworks and an over-the-top performance.
Yes, people were surprised and we couldn’t stop talking about the run and the disappointment – even as non-canadian supporters – lingered for some time.
But then we started realizing that we’re all human, we all make mistakes in reading courses even after running agility for years.
The run with Feature in Individual Large Agility, in all its fluidity and almost effortless perfection, reminded us why we look up to Susan Garrett… And that is not because she ran by far the fastest run out of 120 dogs, but because she demonstrated a bond and an understanding with Feature that few other handlers had. And that – not winning courses – is the real reason why we should all be doing agility.
Me? I have a hard time with pressure, specially in team events, I would have cried! And, I hope, tried harder on the next one.
I am at the edge of my sit waiting for what you did. I expect that you handled it graciously, that you somewhat understood that it was probably a much needed lesson for those of us watching, and a much bigger lesson to us to see you handling a big set back in stride than to see a perfect run.
Today I am grateful to you, for so openly and generously sharing your path and knowledge with the world, for all the people that helped you get there and for the technology that allows me to learn so much, even though I am so far away.
Maybe part of the lesson is that even the most successful people at the top of their game have to rely on others, and there is no shame in that — it’s necessary. Larry pointed out that Tiger Woods relies on his caddy.
I can’t see you pulling a Nancy Kerrigan and crying, “Why me?” 🙂
All each of us can do is give our best, and you set a good example on that front.
First of all: congrats on you’re last run (ind. agility) with feature. that was the fastest run from the field (together with Elena Kochetova but she got one fault)
I saw you’re team run, and I must say I first did not believe you where running the numbers wrong.
Not to point a finger at someone, but isn’t the job of a coach to watch you when you walk the course and warn you when you are going for a wrong obstacle?
And for the rest of it, it does not matter wat people think, it just shows you are human. Only people who have been on a World Championship know what pressure you must face.
For you’re first team run with feature, I totally understand that you made another mistake. I know I would if I was in the same situation as you.
Hi Susan!
Here is a comment from an Agility “AWC-Beginner” from Germany.
My first reaction about your Blog above:
“Oh my god! How could this happen to a “Profi” like you!”
My second reaction was to smile and think:
“Yes, that’s Agility and we are all humans, doing thinks wrong sometimes and sometimes we are brillant.”
I read your Blog since 2009 and didn’t know much about 2×2 Weave Pole-training or Jump-Handling bevore, but I’m so happy, that I found your work about this and can train my dogs this way.
YOU ARE a good dog trainer and handler and you ARE world champion…
I think…what happens to you in this team competition was worse…but you had to go on (like you did last weekend!)
and do better in the next run.
(Agility Individual run with Feature was Brillant!)
Well, I think…you first say “sorry” to your team members and than to start preparing for the next run, to do better.
Thats the only thing a handler can do….for the dogs, the audience, the team and I would do it for myself. ;o)
Head up…and go on!!!
The first time you win, doesn’t make you a world champion and a mistake doesn’t make you a bad handler, team member or competitor…important is:
“Go on your way.”
Good luck for the next time!!!
Greetings,
Ilona
Susan:
My heart broke for you when I saw your runs but I know you well enough to be sure you would recover quickly and keep it all in perspective. Just a moment in a wonderful journey with your dogs.
Do you cry?
Did Encore?
Do you hide from embarrassment?
Would Encore?
Do you need to walk somewhere for a few hours to be alone?
Would Encore want to spend time away from you?
Do you want to quit and not run any more of your runs at the world championships?
Would that effect Encores fun?
Do you question why me> Why did this happen to me and why here at this big event?
Would you want Encore to?
What do you do?
Celebrate the one that brought me there!
Are you devastated?
Was Encore?
Knowing you must run team standard in less 7 hours or so, how do you recover?
Focus on the relationship…the love…the memories!
Does this event create extra pressure for you for the rest of your runs at the World Championships?
Was Encore effected by the little hichup?
In the big picture of the journey, how significant was this hichup?
@michael: you’re totally right.
Gee I am emotional . Your post just brought tears to my eyes!
Michael I cant see how you compare this to how the dog feels, it doesnt transfer to me, the only one that relates is if you went and sulked in a corner, that would be very negative to your dog. Mistakes happen for sure, suck it up, move on, next run. But otherwise, the dog listens, what did the dog do wrong, nothing, she followed directions perfectly really.
The big lesson is for Susan is to accept this disability and be honest about it. There is nothing wrong with getting help reading a course map especially when you transfer numbers. At a team event there are more people counting on you. When you run solo for yourself you can pay the consequences and probably have the luxury of a longer walkthrough, more visibility to watch the course being run. But when it comes representing your Country you just need to own up and ask for help – and support. We are all in this together. Like Susan said, its not the first time its happened. So lesson learned and sometimes lessons are only truly learned when they count. We have all had knocks we have had to deal with and this makes you stronger. So the future brings more promise! As for Encore and Feature, they were trained superbly and we hope to see more of them with Susan in future worlds (with a translator !!)
It is all about the journey. It is only about the journey!
Michael
What an intelligent and understanding response.
Are you a psychologist?
I think everyone who has ever run agility has walked a course wrong at some point, I know I have (I was walking the flow that looked best to me LOL) much to my surprise I watched the dog ahead of me run wondering the whole time why they were running the wrong course….
The best bet in a situation like yours is to just go on, no use getting upset, that would just upset the dogs and nothing can be done at this point, mistakes happen, there is not a perfect person out in the real world….it just goes to show that no matter what someones skill level is “stuff Happens”
Great post Susan. I said it a few times over my week in Germany…’first times at anything set precedent’ which can be a good thing or a not so good thing.
Large Team Jumpers was the first course to run at my very first world championship. Watching Susan’s run unfold was one thing, and it is already fading from memory for me. But watching Susan’s interactions with the team and the comfort she had with herself following that run was burned into my memory bank for good. Susan you defined professionalism and great sportsmanship that morning. You taught me so much more from that run than a perfect performance ever could have. So a big ‘Thanks!’ for setting precedent for me and so many others that day on keeping it together when things don’t go as planned.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. It is a learning experience for all of us too. It couldn’t have been easy.
In answer to your question, I think I would have needed a few minutes to collect myself. At a local level, runs that go less then stellar cause me to need a few minutes, I imagine the same would be true there.
Again, thank you for sharing with us. The clapping would make me cringe, why do they do that?
For those who Went offcourse, we clap for the participants and we show them our respect on their way out. We beeps and shouts to the handler if he/she is not kind to his dog.