Name: Daphne Horsch(www.vanstip.nl)

– residence/country

Central Netherlands

– What do you love about sports with dogs?

The special, strong bond you develop with each other through sports.

What breed of dog(s) do you have and what is/are their name(s)?

I currently have three dogs of the Epagneul Picard breed, mother, daughter and great-granddaughter: Flootje (2010), Meine (2016) and Tighe (2022).

– What sports do you play?

My hunting dogs are of the continental standing dog type, more specifically they are versatile use dogs, true all-arounders. That means the dog works before the shot to find and stand in front of spring game, and after the shot to bring in the retrieve. I bring my dogs out in both disciplines. Multicampers compete in each discipline against the specialists.

Separate competitions exist for all components that have their origins in hunting but have evolved into a sport. The sport is a jury sport for all disciplines. The one who brings the dog out at competitions is called a forager. A forager can be either an amateur or a professional. No distinction is made in this sport.

– How long have you been active in this sport(s)?

I’ve had dogs since 1974 and Epagneuls since 2004 that I train versatile.

– Which part do you prefer and why?

Fieldwork, working for the shot is the main thing for me but retrieving, sweatwork and showing we also do.

In fieldwork, the dog must be very eager to hunt, on edge offside and yet in close cooperation with his handler. Nothing more beautiful than a dog going through the field in great style in harmony with its handler.

– What are your goals for the future in this sport(s)?

As an amateur, it is quite a challenge to get a dog up to level and especially to turn it into a multi-competitor that can compete with the specialists in each discipline. But when it works, the satisfaction is all the greater. With my youngest dog I will take up that challenge again!

– What is your greatest sports moment to date?

That is difficult to choose, all CACTs, in fieldwork, retrieval and sweatwork I found incredibly special to obtain, often there was also a nice story attached to it. The same goes for the participations in the Jan Coldewey Grand Prix (the big pentathlon) and the Nimrod (the NK retrieval). Both my Epagneul bleu de Picardie and my Epagneul Picard Flo were the first of the breed to participate in the Nimrod which made it extra special. A dog is allowed to participate in this competition once in his life, if he qualifies as one of that year’s best 18. For continental standing dogs, there is also the Trophy de Winde to be won at the Nimrod, for the best fieldworker. That honor fell to Flootje in 2019.

– What is the funniest or least funny sports moment to date?

The least fun sports moment was that in 2015, I tore my cruciate ligament during a tying field competition, which prevented me from participating in the Jan Coldewey Grand Prix, the continental dog all-around competition that is held once every three years and requires years of preparation. My dog had qualified very well in preparation, but even the KNVB couldn’t patch up my knee in two weeks.

– Can you give one tip to other dog athletes on what is best to do/don’t do in this sport?

Make sure you have a training plan and adjust that plan as often as necessary. Teach the different parts separately and in the correct order. Think carefully about the different steps and take your time because versatile training is not easy.

– What is your favorite Fastdog product for your dog(s)?

For my first Epagneul, it was difficult to stay mentally and physically fit during long race days, and I tried to cobble together recovery drinks of my own.

Later I discovered Fastdog. In the beginning I mainly used the recovery shake, but now I am a fan of many more products like the hydration-power shake, the energy-bites and the dog-recovery-biscuits which my dogs love. They also tolerate the products very well.