Attend any horse show and you will find dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes alongside their two legged owners. They come from all over, traveling with trainers and clients. Some dogs may act as a travel partner on those long hauls, or a guard at the stalls, but most of all they act as man’s best friend. The best horse show dogs know how to handle themselves at the horse show. They can find their way back to the stalls from the arena and can be there to celebrate a big win or lick away your tears. They can be the first face you see in the morning and are often happy to snuggle after a long day of showing.
Dogs can be found at horse shows everywhere. There is the puppy tent at the Congress and the recently created The Paws Cause adoption events including one at the AQHYA World Show. You can learn more about The Paws Cause at the bottom of this story. With so many dogs needing homes, why not have your very own partner? We talked with some exhibitors who cannot go to a show without their other four-legged friend.
Mallory Beinborn–Huck is the best because he loves all dogs. That is a must since it is a given that he will run into many other dogs at horse shows and when I travel to photo shoots. He’s a mutt, but I think he is a mix of a Chihuahua and Miniature Pincher. He never wants to be left behind so he keeps tabs on where I am usually and does
n’t wander too far. He’s also really good at posing for photos in his cowboy hat to pass any downtime we may have. He loves to travel and riding in the car is his fave so that makes him easy to take anywhere. He also now loves to fly. He seems very appreciative of all he sees and does probably because he is a rescue. Huck has become somewhat “famous” through social media. Huck even has quite a few girlfriends who follow his #hucklebuckslife pictures.
Reid Thomas–If you’ve ever had a Jack Russell, you will understand they are the best, and worst, horse show dog. Tommy, who is a rescue from the pound, is the most independent free spirited dog in the world. He will hold any pose for an indefinite amount of time; will run away at every show; find every concession stand and anyone willing to share a bite. Fortunately, he will on his own time, find his way back home! I’ve even found him at the Congress eating in someone’s bus. He lives to travel and is happy wherever he ends up, and oddly enough, loves to sleep with anyone new!
Beth Case–Well, I’m not sure Sam (pictured left) is the best horse show dog yet (laughs). But Rosco (pictured right), who passed away almost two years ago, really was the best horse show dog ever. I never worried
about Roscoe, he always knew where I was. He could get into the stands of any arena including the Celeste and the AQHA World Show pen, and when I came out, he would meet me at the back gate, but he would never go into the arena except when he was a puppy. He was a bad puppy so I’m hoping since Sam is kind of a bad puppy, that when he grows up, he’ll be as good as Rosco was too.
Paige Wacker–My dog’s name is Minnie, she’s a 10 year old Miniature Jack Russell with both a sassy and sweet personality. She is my best friend; she and I come in a package (meaning I take her everywhere I go.) To me, she is the best horse show dog because no matter how bad of a ride or pattern I had, she is not disappointed in me when I’m disappointed in myself. Yes, she barks and occasionally has an accident, but she’s an animal and both humans and animals mess up sometimes. Minnie is my rock, my best friend who never betrays me and doesn’t let a day go by without showing me she loves me, that’s what makes her the best.
Ruth Ellen–My dog Fritzee is a mix between an Airedale and Boxer. If I had to describe her personality in one word, I would say “happy”. If I could use two words, I would say “expressively happy”. Fritzee is the best horse show dog because Fritzee makes EVERYONE smile. She is always in second gear (no walking for her) and always has an expression of sheer 
joy on her face as she either catches up to me or does one of her famous “fly by’s” when she zooms past me. Horse shows are sometimes stressful, but even the most intense trainer/exhibitor cracks a grin when Fritzee comes near. Like the horse show exhibitors, Fritzee is a great dresser. Having been a rescue dog herself, she is always wearing neck gear, tags and tee shirts…made by groups that donate money to dog shelters. Thus, Fritzee’s fashion statements are all part of being an advocate for dog rescue and adoption. Editor’s note: Sadly, Fritzee passed away in May 2015, a month after this story ran. Ruth Ellen, who continues to hold The Paws Cause dog rescue events at horse shows, now has a darling dog named Frankie (pictured right) whom she adopted when she was nine weeks old.
Judy Zeitler–We have hunting dogs which is a bit of an unusual horse show dog but they travel with us everywhere. One of our dogs “Yogi” also known as “Hunting Dog” is the most famous– mostly known for stealing sandwiches and pointing pigeons in the center isle of the Gilligan Barn at the Congress. He stole the judges’ lunch two years in a row at the Michigan Breeders Futurity, so the next year he sponsored the judges’ lunch. He definitely had his favorite shows. We lost him a year ago–he was 12 1/2.
Tammy Dyer–Tido is perfect! I never leave home without him. He is very loving and a momma’s boy. He is 10 now and I have had him since he was 9 weeks old. He is my heart and my love. He loves the horses. He likes to lick them and give them kisses. Tido loves people. He will jump in your lap when you don’t expect it. He also loves to play with other dogs. So, at the horse shows, Tido gets to be very social. We also have Penelope and Doc that are Sharnai’s babies, and we just adopted a new baby, Fantine. Our dogs are great horse show dogs because they are part of our family.
Dana Wetherell–Wilson is a perfect, seven-year-old Labrador Retriever. He does not swim, retrieve or show any interest in birds. Wilson is very devoted to adding to his rawhide bone collection, he keeps around eight to ten with him at all times. Wilson is first in the truck as soon as it starts and attends every horse show his parents go to, except the Congress. Wilson’s soul is what makes him the best horse show dog. He is a constant reminder of how we all should live every day: he greets everyone with kindness (dogs, horses and humans), an abundance of happiness, and doesn’t play games. He is most notable for his “overly excited” ways in which he enters the shows each morning, usually dragging Dana down the aisle at a high rate of speed. He also loves sitting in the chairs in front of the stalls, usually with his butt in a chair and front feet on ground–this is always funny because he picks a chair that is always too small for his 95 pound physique. His favorite class to watch is whatever classes anyone will take him see.
Claire Binkowski–Diva is an Australian Shepherd. She is always happy and ready to play. She wants to go with you wherever you’re going, whether it’s to a horse show, running errands around town, playing on the lake or working in the office. She’s content as long as she gets to go with you. Diva is the best horse show dog because she’s easy to travel with. She sprawls out on the backseat and goes to sleep and she knows we only stop when we need fuel. She gets along with everybody so she loves visiting her friends at the horse shows. Her first stop every morning is usually the Lakins’ stalls because she knows Oscar (Kenny and Ashley’s boxer) always has an enormous bag of food in his tack stall. She’s very protective of her tack stall and trailer but will do her best to avoid a fight on someone else’s turf. She also knows when and how to turn on the charm so it’s not uncommon to find her getting free lunch at the food stand or having convinced an unsuspecting young kid to play ball with her. But what makes her the best horse show dog is that she loves to ride. She’ll jump from the ground into the saddle and ride with you whenever you let her. She’s ridden almost all of my two year-olds after about the first 90 days. They’re not broke until they’re Diva broke.
Lauren Love–I would say Crunch is the best horse show dog ever because he’s so friendly and personable. He loves to travel and surprisingly, listens really well.
Ellen Jost and Rick Skelly–We have three Whippets named Myrtle, Chuck, and Crystal. They are great at shows to keep me company until I am done with all my work and braiding. Each one of them has thei
r own funny personalities so they keep me pretty entertained. We also have Buckeye (pictured right), he is a sixteen year old mutt that we found at the Congress. He is Rick’s dog and everyone knows him. Buckeye is the best because he is thankful everyday he has a home. He loves all the people at the horse shows. Buckeye loves going anywhere, from horse shows to being a barn dog. Everyone calls me the dog lady at shows, and I think it’s fitting.
Tiffany Smalkoski–My horse show dog was a Golden Retriever named Hunny Pie. She had a precious, loving, respectful, caring, and protective personality. I believe that the best horse show dog is raised at shows–learns the ropes early, respects her four-legged and two-legged friends whether they are small or very large. Hunny Pie was always there at my side to share a hot dog or treat. When your children got bigger, she knew when to follow them and look after them. She could always find me in my hunt clothes even when I looked the same as everyone else. Why? Because she knew my horse. But best of all, she knew her way back to the bus from the Gilligan to the Buckeye. Hunny Pie was family. R.I.P. Hunny Pie.
Charlene Weber–‘That is one fine looking Corgi,’ someone exclaimed as I walked out of the warm up pen at Congress this year with Roper. Roper is a great horse show dog because he doesn’t care how I look, how I ride, or what I’m wearing. Sometimes he thinks he is a police dog because when other dogs are rough housing, he likes to run in the middle of it and break it up. Other times Roper is a service dog because we can be sitting in the stands watching the show and he will wonder down the aisle to find someone to sit beside because he is sure they want to pet him or give him a treat.
Michelle Forness–My late dog McKay (pictured left), was 20 when I had to let her go. She was a Blue Heeler/Border Collie cross. McKay was just born older and mature and one of those dogs you would swear understood English. Everyone knew her maybe because she was around so long. She loved the Congress, and I don’t know why but that was her favorite show and she knew her way around. I used to work for Logan’s at that show and she would sit behind the counter all day, or you could tell her to go to the stalls and that is where she would be. She could find her way around th
ere more than most people. The year she passed, we were packing for the Congress, and she got all excited like she knew where we were going, but I just knew she could not do two weeks of the show. The day after we left; I had to fly back for her. I don’t know if it was missing the show or just time for her to go. Stockton (pictured right) is my current partner in crime and is the hell raiser. She is three years old and was born the day McKay passed but a totally different being, all Blue Heeler and she acts like it. She is independent and bossy but seems to win everyone over. She loves to travel in the truck and we can’t leave without her. We bought her in Stockton, Missouri so her name fits.
Jamee Bornstein–Tipper is the eldest. She is a tri-colored Rat Terrier. Kiwi, our middle child is a blue fawn Rat Terrier and Salsa is the baby of the family. She is a Chihuahua. They are great dogs. We take them to every show we travel to, along with our miniature horses. Tipper is the “go get em” outgoing dog. She loves everyone and is super active. She is a typical terrier. She is very loyal and loves to smile. Kiwi is our “alien” dog. She does not play and is happy to be a couch potato. Salsa loves the shows and going to the barn with me. She is super friendly with people she knows but is not outgoing with strangers. I’m so lucky that they travel well and don’t mind being on the road. They love hanging out in our motor home. I could not imagine my life without my dogs.
We would also like you to post pictures of your horse show dog on our Facebook Page and tell us why he/she is the best dog ever!
