The Doggone of Boss the Equine Lot

Words & Photos / Katrina Partridge

Magic Millions met with 6 huge canine personalities who were each tasked with unveiling the (already much known) truth: dog’s rule the roost.

There exists an old quote: Dogs are not our whole lives but they make our lives whole. They stand beside us, rest their nose in our hand when we are stressed, partake in long car journeys with no complaint (unless their designated window isn’t down), take a place at our feet/or next to us on the couch after a long day, elect not to answer back when we are in a mood, and can make us endlessly laugh with their endearing characteristics and playful nature. When it comes to thoroughbred farms, barns and spelling paddocks you will be hard pressed not to find a much loved dog somewhere in the immediate vicinity. Like the equine royalty they share Google Map coordinates with there are many canines who boast vintage bloodlines and faultless conformation. Others point to more blue-collar pedigrees or quirky personalities but despite these differences they have much in common: they all vie with the children on the farm for general favouritism (note - most own more toys and snack boxes than the former), they want for nothing, and the farrier is a universal favourite.

Banjo, Widden Stud

BANJO (8.5yo male mixed breed, rescue dog)

Owned by: the Thompson family, Widden Stud

What’s Banjo’s story: He’s a rescue dog that came from Peat’s Ridge. He has no back hip joint. He got run over by a four-wheel bike and the guy that had him was a truck driver and didn’t want to do surgery. A girl that was working for us at the time - her parents took Banjo on to do some rehab with him as the vets thought he was too cute not to do the surgery. We had had a dog pass away a few months before and she said I think I have found you the perfect family dog! And she did. So, we got him when he was 18 months and he goes everywhere with us. How is he with the children: He loves the kids to death. He spots them at a sports match at school and cries until he can be with them.

Floor or bed: Banjo is a comfort dog - he only ever sleeps on the bed or on the couch. He comes to work with us every day and sits on an office chair. Is he a part of the Widden family: Definitely. Everyone on the farm loves him and he is like everyone’s dog and everyone keeps an eye out for him. He is great around the horses - is very quiet. Occasionally he chases the cows but they have to be on the other side of the fence!

Why do dogs and horses have such a great synergy: Horse people are dog people as much as anything. People who like horses generally seem to also have an affinity with dogs.

Is Banjo scared of anything: He doesn’t do much but he will bark at strangers which helps if one of the horse transport drivers gets lost late at night!

Ziggy, Kurt Goldman Stables

ZIGGY (2yo male Australian Shepherd)

Owned by: Kurt Goldman, Goulburn

Where was Ziggy born: I was at the Magic Millions Sale when the breeder rang me. A pup they had had been sold to Victoria but with Covid they couldn’t get him across the border so the original owners gave him up to wait for the next litter and the breeder then contacted me. I had been chasing one of these dogs for ages so what luck!

What made you choose this breed: I had never owned an Australian Shepherd before. They used to run a big 3-Day event down here at Lynton each year and Australian rider Shane Rose is a mate of mine. He owns one of these dogs and I fell in love with it. Every time I went to Shane’s place where he had around 100 horses in work this little Aussie Shepherd was always lying in the shade and was never in the way and I just loved the type of dog he was so I did some research and it took me 18 months to find one. Very happy that we ended up with him!

Ziggy & Kurt Goldman

How would you describe his personality: He’s always had this wonderful outgoing personality. You wouldn’t know it but he is actually quite lazy. From Day 1 every horse in the stable and on the farm has pretty much had to fit in around him. He is a great dog to have around horses as he has such a great demeanour - he is placid, so quiet and so comfortable around them. He is just such a happy go lucky dog. Some days he will lie in the middle of the barn and sleep and other days he will chase a ball or pull a witches hat out of a stable and run around with it. He does the feed run every day to see the spellers and he loves going on the buggy with the girls as they take loads of photos of him.

Is he photographed a lot: He is 100% more photographed than any horse that lives here!

He seems to really love all your staff: It’s very good for staff having a dog around even though they probably spend more time taking photos and patting him than doing actual work but for keeping people happy he’s awesome; every morning he goes and says good morning to every person that works here and he gets a pat and a treat. He walks around all morning basically just visiting everyone and checking in with them so from a mental health perspective he is great.

Pup & Dan Fletcher, Telemon Stud

PUP (4yo female Harlequin Great Dane)

Owned by: Dan and Rae Fletcher at Telemon Stud, Innisplain, Qld

Did she get her name courtesy of all her childlike characteristics: (There’s a pause as we contemplate her size) Well, I guess that’s a good way of looking at it ?!

What does she love: Me (plus rabbits and possums)

What size winter rug does she wear: It’s not much smaller than a horse rug !

Pup on the rounds at Telemon Stud

How valuable is she: She’s the love of my life. Dogs are more like children than animals.

How would you describe her personality: She loves her food, treats, being with people, riding in the farm buggy. Very much likes being in the front, she doesn’t like travelling in the back like a dog. Very kind, attentive, integral family member, she’s my shadow, good with the horses and will ‘run the gauntlet’ and enter any paddock as long as she’s by my side

Brett & Rachael Howard with Sybil & Daisy

SYBIL (3yo female Dachshund) DAISY (11yo female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)

Owned by: Brett and Rachael Howard, Randwick Bloodstock

Do the dogs get on well together: Yes and no. They sleep on the same bed together unless there is food involved or strangers are around in which case Sybil gets quite vocal.

Do they come to work: Sybil is an office dog and she is in there for most of the day. Daisy is a REALLY loud snorer so drowns me out on the phone so she’s not a good office option!

Have dogs always been part of your lives: Yes. We had a chocolate Labrador when we first got married then a golden retriever then we went to the smaller dogs so these two.

Do the dogs have any quirky personality traits: Daisy is petrified of thunder. We have to now tie her up as she took off for 2 days on one occasion. We door

knocked everyone for a mile in every direction to try and find her. If she hears any thunder she will literally climb into the nearest cupboard with all the pots and pans or cereal packets to get away from it. Luckily, she is going deaf as she gets old so storms are not quite as challenging these days. Sybil believes she’s actually a rottweiler not a dachshund. She is Rachael’s shadow. If she goes out in the horse float or goes to put the bins out Sybil goes mental as she thinks she is being left behind. She is quite high maintenance!

Why do you think there is natural synergy between dogs and horses: We love animals so it works. We also have chickens, a cat, 3 boys ... it’s good to have animals around to teach children to care for things. The dogs are a part of life.

ROXY (11.5 yo female English Bulldog)

LAYNE (4 yo female English Bulldog)

Owned by: Adam and Allira Cook, Kingstar Farm

Tell us a bit about Roxy: Roxy is the calm one who will chill all day. She has attended more foalings in her life than most stud workers. She is deaf so from the age of 8 weeks it was a case of getting her to understand hand or sign language. We taught her to stay away from the horses from a young age as she couldn’t hear them so she isn’t afraid of horses but she keeps her distance from them.

And Layne: Layne needs a bit more attention and stimulation. She loves swimming - with a life vest of course. I don’t recommend swimming bull dogs without a vest ... they sink!

Are both dogs integrally involved in the farm: Yes. They come on a feed run every morning to check the mares and foals. Then they stay with Allira for most of the morning to attend whatever she is working on. If they can’t join in, they sit in the Gator.

Why bulldogs: I chose a bulldog because of their nature. They don’t have the herding instinct and won’t chase horses. Basically, all they want is attention from humans. They chill out at work with us all day, they don’t run away, and if someone is feeling a bit stressed or are down they are there for a pat or a cuddle and they are always up for that.

Are you suggesting there is a mental health element to a dog: Oh, for sure. I recently had a staff member approach me to see if they could get a dog and I said for sure but make sure it is the right dog for a horse farm; we are working on properties that contain very expensive and flighty animals that don’t cope well with dogs running through paddocks. But stud work is very demanding on staff particularly during the season. The company of a good dog who can be there with that person when they get home from work can be invaluable. 56

Whisky, Cressfield Stud

WHISKY (7yo female mixed breed, rescue dog)

Owned by: Wayne and Michelle Bedggood, Cressfield

How did Whisky get her name: Whisky was surrendered to the Scone pound; we then adopted her. As a fan of good quality Scotch I was delighted to learn that she carried the same name; I figure her previous owners thought she was the colour of a fine, single-malt and named her accordingly.

Whisky is something of a local identity isn’t she: Whisky came into my life when I was acting as Upper Hunter Shire Mayor and she fast became known as “The First Dog” and spent a lot of time with me attending to Mayoral duties and attending functions. In fact, weekly Shire radio interiews typically saw the conversation turn from pertinent local matters to the topic of Whisky and what she was up to!

What is her role at the farm: No young horse at Cressfield has any excuse for poor behaviour around dogs as Whisky walks many kilometres beside and running around in front of them at some stage. We feel desensitizing our stock to animals, noises and strange objects is all part of the education process and to this end perhaps Whisky should probably be paid more than just a feed and a cuddle? She rarely misses a yearling parade and likes to overview proceedings from the parade area gazebo.

Michelle & Wayne Bedggood with Whisky at Cressfield

Man (women’s) best friend: Speaking from personal experience, I can say that dogs are magnificent well-being promoters who not only help relieve stress and act as faithful companions, but are therapeutic in their ability to give unrequited affection to one and all.

Do you and Whisky have any common traits: We love every moment turning grey together.