Page 72 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

Newfie

&

Horse

A MATCH

MADE IN HEAVEN

“You could put a saddle on that!” is the comment to let their canine friends plod along beside
I often hear when I am walking my gorgeous them. Sadie and Lola two of the bitches then
team of four Newfoundland dogs. It often makes check each stable in case a carrot or two has
me smile as my Newfies live on our livery yard been left after breakfast.
surrounded by horses and ponies and are so
akin to the equine lifestyle. I get asked if I would As some of the horse owners start to arrive the
be interested in showing, as my dogs come from dogs love to greet all the guests with friendly
a good showing background. Given the dogs slobber and run excitedly to the secret biscuit
prefer to spend their waking hours either on the barrel which our lovely liveries have as a treat in
muck heap, rolling in the haybarn or charging their storeroom. It is not uncommon for the dogs
through the water jump in the cross country field to sit outside the ménage and watch the horses
I don’t think the showing world would be able being schooled whilst waiting for the horses
to cope with the constant smell!! Neither would
I be able to cope with the constant bathing and
amount of shampoo I would need to get through

I am a firm believer that our dogs are given the
freedom to roam around the yard and paddocks
as much as they want to. A typical day starts
with our four Newfies, Gus, Sadie, Lola and
Peggy Sue our 5 month old puppy and Otis our
two year old Cocker Jack [who ironically is the
pack leader] helping, or should I say escorting,
me to the fields as I turn the horses out. All our
20 horses are used to this routine and are happy

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020