For the love of dogs

Horses and hounds” are inextricably linked. Sarah Isaacs speaks to some icons of the equestrian world to find out more about their pet pooch

- Sarah Isaacs

IT is a truth universally acknowledged that where you find horse people, you’ll find a dog or two in tow, and nowhere is this more apparent than on the yards of top riders and trainers. From eventing to dressage, these celebrity canines can be found riding shotgun in lorries, acting as hacking companions or keeping their owners entertained with their exploits.

Most dog owners have an affinity with a certain breed, and equestrians are no exception. William Fox-Pitt may be synonymous with walking cross-country courses alongside a pack of assorted dogs, but he admits one particular type has a special place in his heart.

“I love lurchers – you get a strong bond with them, but they’re also independent and strong-minded,” he says. “I’m on the road quite a bit, so they don’t always come with me, but that’s what I like – if you’re not around, they don’t miss you too much.”

Nostalgia was a big factor in Carl Hester’s acquisition of Noel, an 18-monthold basset hound/dachshund.

“I grew up with a basset hound in Sark and when I’d drive the tourists around in a carriage, he’d sit up front with me – he was a bit of a tourist attraction.”

Noel has joined Carl’s two boxers, Gus and Pru, and he jokes that regardless of breed, he has a tendency to pick a certain colour.

“My three are all tan,” he says. “They like to lie on top of each other and when they do, they look like a big cake!”

And when you love a breed, one dog simply isn’t enough. Louise Bell adores French Bulldogs, so much that she now has a whole pack of them. Alfie, Betty the matriarch, her children Queenie and Teddy, plus honorary member Ronnie the Norfolk Terrier, are very much part of her yard – heading out on hacks with Louise or enjoying toast with toffee apple or strawberry jam with her husband Robert.