BARN DOGS

MEET LUCKY

This Jack Russell is “lucky” he met KEN BERKLEY and SCOTT STEWART.

BY KEN BERKLEY

The names Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley have become synonymous with gorgeous, capable, horses for decades. As a rider, Stewart has won nearly every hunter title under the sun, from the Hampton Classic to the Winter Equestrian Festival. There are few championship hunter trophies that don’t feature his name. Year after year, Stewart and his partner Berkley bring new strings of top hunter prospects up the ranks. The pair work out of River’s Edge Farm in Flemington, New Jersey, and Wellington, Florida. Not only does their farm house some of the most divine horses in the country, it is also home to another special four-legged wonder—a 17-year-old Jack Russell named Lucky.

Seventeen years ago, one of my friends had a litter of Jack Russells and wanted me to take one of two that were available. She sent pictures, but I was like, “I can’t decide.” I said, “I’ll fy you and both dogs here and meet them.” And so she brought them both to Flemington, N.J. from La Jolla, California. At the end of the week, she said, “Okay, time’s up. Which one do you want?” And I said, “Oh, we’ll take them both. We can’t decide.” She said, “I can’t give you both. I promised one to my girlfriend who’s dying of a brain tumor. I didn’t send her a photo until you picked the one you wanted frst.” So, you know, we scoured the internet to come up with another Jack Russell that was similar in age. The puppies were, at that point, 6 or 8 weeks old. She said she would not tell her friend anything, and she would just substitute another dog. Well, there were no puppies to be found anywhere, so we had no choice but to pick, and we said, “OK, you’re the ‘lucky’ one.”

Lucky has since survived cancer, getting kicked in the face by a pony when he was a baby, and he has had operations on both ACLs. We’ve removed three tumors on his body, neck, and his shoulder. But, at 17, he’s still healthy and runs around like a puppy. He needs a full-time person because he’s spoiled rotten. He’s vocal about every single thing he wants. If he wants to go out, he’s at the door barking until somebody opens the door. If he wants food, he stands at the closet and barks until he gets his food, which is why he’s so damn fat. I tried to get him on a diet, but he’s always hungry, so he just barks. He can’t get off the bed anymore, so he barks for help. He tells you every single thing he wants.

He doesn’t like other dogs; he’s a people person. Every restaurant in New Jersey and Florida knows his name, and he always gets special access. He goes out to dinner every night.

Lucky has a variety of wardrobes: ties, cashmere sweaters, rain jackets; his wardrobe is extensive. He has his Santa Claus outft, he’s got Halloween costumes, he has so many options, but many of them don’t ft anymore, since he’s gotten porky.

He’s always cold, too. I’ll light a fre, and he just about climbs in it. His skin is burning hot, but he loves it.

I know that everybody thinks their dog is so smart, but Lucky really is like a human.

Ken Berkley, Scott Stewart, and Lucky.