Showstopping dog loves to ride on the back of a mini horse

By Freddie Noble

Meet the show-jumping dog who loved riding on the back of his owner's miniature horse.

Francesca Carsen, 45, owns 12-year-old Jack Russell, Dally, and a 17-year-old miniature horse, Spanky.

In December 2012, Francesca was surprised to see Dally had got on Spanky's back.

She immediately got Dally off before the wannabe jockey jumped back on, and Spanky started running.

Since then, the duo has practiced show jumping daily and performed live for adoring fans.

Francesca Carsen, an equine coach from Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, said: "She gets excited in front of crowds and loves kids swarming around giving her high fives.

"We do a lot of work for charity and city kids that don’t have the opportunities to be around animals.

"Dally would jump on Spanky's back during winter to sleep on Spannky's fur.

"I couldn't believe what I saw; I was in shock. I was there for everything, including the first jump.

"Dogs love to have a “purpose” - especially Jack Russell's, and it makes her feel important. She also likes to be high up to see more and is more significant than other dogs.

After rescuing Spanky in November 2017, Francesca was in the barn with Spanky when Dally jumped on his back.

Francesca now has two farms in Arizona for the winter, and then in the summer, she is located in Oregon. The animals are more comfortable not being in extreme weather.

Francesca was "worried" because Spanky could be temperamental occasionally, but she realized they had an immediate bond.

She said: "I took her off him because he was dangerous then, but she got back up there.

“I was a bit worried as he was pretty naughty then, and I wasn’t too sure about it.

"He seems to be better with her than other people.

“She was pleased, and then I realized he is pretty good with her, which is nice to see."

Since that day, Spanky and Dally forged a unique band and would ride together once daily.

Now, the pair will put together live shows for adoring fans worldwide.

Francesca said: "We do live shows for people to watch them and do many things.

"They lie down together and go over jumps together - they are insufferable - People love it.

"Dally can stay on forever, and she can sleep on his back.

"It’s very unusual, and she loves the crowd and the attention.”

“They are best friends, and when I go out to feed Spanky, Dally always follows and watches."

In May 2017, a producer at Sony Pictures contacted Francesca, who wanted to release a feature-length movie about the adorable pair.

Francesca said: "I thought it was a joke, and next thing you know, I’m on set with Dencie Richards, Trace Atkins, and two young girls who were Disney Actresses.

"It’s on DVD but not a true story of them.

"It took six weeks to film, but it was a bit surreal."