Top dog

From bulldogs going schooling to whippets chasing the racehorses up the gallops, there is no end of tricks a yard dog can get up to. Camilla Swift tracks down a few characters from across the country

- Camilla Swift

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that where there are horses, there will be dogs not far away. Well, perhaps that’s not exactly how the quote goes. But it’s certainly true. Horses and hounds – as the title of this magazine suggests – go hand in hand.

But are there certain breeds that horsey types are more drawn to? As with everything, the fashions change.

“Border terriers used to be the must-have eventing dog, but you don’t see quite so many now,” says Rebecca Harvie, who runs Munstead Horse Trials near Godalming, Surrey. “Dachshunds – mini and standard – seem to be the trendy dog now. Labs are still quite popular, as are Weimaraners, vizslas, and ridgebacks. We also see quite a lot of tiny dogs and masses of poodle crosses – but the poodle crosses seem to be more with the spectators than the competitors.''

Dachshunds and terriers of all types do have a distinct advantage if you’re on the road a lot, as many horsey people are: their size.

“I’ve always had Jack Russells; they’re handy as they’re a good size for shows and clean in the truck, as they’re short-haired”, explains eventer Zac Heydon. “Jack Russells used to be the most popular dog at events, but nowadays you see all sorts.”

Speaking of “all sorts” takes us to the Fox-Pitts’ yard, where both William and his wife, racing presenter Alice Plunkett, have traditionally had lurchers. However, three years ago, as she was arriving at Aintree to cover the Grand National for ITV, she received a call from her husband.