Terrier territory

They may have a fierce reputation, but Leslie Bliss discovers why terriers, despite all their “quirks”, are the ideal companion for the horsey set

- Leslie Bliss

“DO you want a signed photo of him?” gushes international dressage rider Anna Ross as she starts to eulogise about her West Highland terrier, Benjy. “This is his moment of glory. Can he go on the cover?”

It turns out her 13-year-old Westie might just qualify on the fame front for this prestigious honour. His worldwide renown is down to a combination of factors – he’s “an absolute escape artist”, hates being separated from his owner and “cannot be trained or controlled in any way”. And there you have a great recipe for a life full of “adventures”.

Anna expands: “He’s cost me a fortune in bunches of flowers – apologies to show organisers – as he has been loose at most major showgrounds around the world. He climbs out of the lorry window, scales his way down the door, then goes off to the arenas to find me. He always ends up being arrested. I have resorted to putting him on a stallion chain as he chews through leads. He basically has to have a full-time minder when he’s away from me.”

Benjy lives up to the breed’s reputation in other ways: “He’s convinced he’s a Rottweiler, he’s so feisty. He guards me ferociously. When my partner Marcelo [Tosi] comes back from Brazil, he has to bribe Benjy with cheese so that he can sit next to me on the sofa.”