Speedy horses and movie-star dogs took centre stage last night at the evening program of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
The dog and horse relay was the first competition of the night, much to the delight of the crowd at the Keystone Centre's main arena.
"It's always lots of fun when you've got the dogs involved and the crowd cheering," rider Gary Brewster said after taking first place in the combined event.
Brewster and his 12-year-old Dutch warm-blood horse Vertigo made an error-free run through the jumping event, then tagged off to Susan Williams and her Jack Russell terrier, Streak.
The wily dog took off running and tore through the course in a blistering time, easily manoeuvering through the tunnels and clearing the jumps.
"He's a very quick little dog," Williams said after the race.
"Small dogs are quicker in the tunnels because they do the inside curve, while bigger dogs have to bank."
Streak was a crowd favourite not just because of his speed, but because of his movie-star status.
The pooch played the lead animal role in the 2004 film, Danny and the Superdogs.
The Streak-Vertigo tandem worked well together on the tight course because both animals are small and agile.
"He's a good little speed horse," Williams said. "If he'd been a dog, he would have been a Jack Russell terrier."
Last night's program also featured a heavy horse to cart event, a calf scramble, barrel racing, a mustang show, four-horse tandem teams, and the single-harness pony event. |
