A week after I’d been to the seasonal lake of Dadin Serki with my dad, Anette and I went back with Sheba. Although the lake has had water since June, I didn’t want her in still water when she was a puppy - and even now, I checked with the vet first who told me that cases of bilharzia in the Zinder area are very, very rare. So off we went, eager to see what Sheba’s first reaction to “a lot of water” would be; as prior to that, she’d only slipped into our kiddie pool and her own 100 liter bathtub.

Sheba did not waste a minute upon arrival,

but jumped right in!

So much water! She just had to have a bath,

…then a swim,

…then stood with her paws in water, waiting for us to join her.

Her joy was made complete when I beckoned Arwen to cross the seasonal lake,

and she eagerly accompanied me to the other side!

Although the lights were fading (we’d ridden out late and had already watched the sun set on our way there), there was still enough light to enjoy!

Over at the other side, Sheba was sure to fulfil her RR duties and had me covered left and right!

She found a suspicious piece of something she just had to investigate. It was just a piece of floating wood, but it could very well have been a miniature crocodile (we used to have those in some of the Zinder lakes, but they were removed and replaced some ten years ago) or a nile monitor.

Had that been the case, I wonder if my 32 kg dog would have stood a chance meeting a large reptile on its home territory, but as with trucks and other danger, Sheba’s courage is greater than her size.

But her muscles are not to be taken for granted either, and all that wrestling has had a purpose.

Then it was time for Anette and Sahara to cross the river,

…and Sheba went out to greet them.

Arwen looked longingly towards the nice expanse of water (even in the evenings, it’s hot enough and a swim would be welcome!) but knowing I’ll be wanting to cross a lot of water in the future, I realised that if I let her plunge in, she’d take a dive with me on her, as she did after the first rains in June.

I saw a young bull and some beautiful purple flowers,

…and the owner of the bull - who’d been watching Sheba while she investigated the nile monitor look-alike and other potential dangers - wanted us to take a picture of him and his bull. We stopped to talk, and while we did, the lights faded.

We ambled home in the dark; both horses, riders and canine protector knowing their way. Before we reached the city, I put on Sheba’s reflex jacket, which make it easier for the horses to see her too (she likes to run in front them and especially to tease Arwen, who for the first time in her life has had to accept that she cannot always be first…). Although I worry still worry about traffic (but not so much, after Sheba has FINALLY accepted to wait for my cue to “cross the road”), the horses have accepted Sheba as a member of the team and make sure to break if they have to.

For more watery stories, click here!