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'Lake Baikal: the very name fills Russian hearts with awe'
Mike Carter, The Observer

Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C

By The Siberian Times reporter
05 December 2017

Even in the intense cold, animals need to drink, but shaggy horse Kunduchene refuses to budge, unless escorted by Umka.

Umka the dog with Kunduchene the horse. Picture: Sakha Press

The unusual scene is from Dyupsya village in Ust-Aldan district of Yakutia, the largest and coldest region in Russia, also known as Sakha Republic. 

One of the oldest sayings in English is: 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.'

But Umka seems to manage both these tasks well with stubborn Kunduchene.

Each day the mixed Central Asian and Caucasus Shepherd takes the disobedient six year old horse across the snow to the ice hole for a drink.

Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C


Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C
'It was impossible to make her move and go, she was such a nuisance - so we taught the dog to help us'. Pictures: Sakha Press


Semen Sivtsev, the horse's owner, said: 'When Kunduchene was a foal, I had a lot of trouble with her, but now my helper walks her to the watering place.'

His daughter Maria Zakharova: 'It was impossible to make her move and go, she was such a nuisance - so we taught the dog to help us, and Umka enjoyed his new mission. 

'At first, the horse did not obey Umka either but he kept pulling her and now they are managing well. 

'Umka is about 60 kg and Kunduchene is 160 kg, so it took them just about two days to understand who is more stubborn, and now they are great friends.

'Kunduchene loves Umka, she allows him to smell her, and she is smelling him too, checking if this is her friend. He is protecting her.'

Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C


Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C


Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C


Dog takes capricious horse to water, and makes her drink even when its minus 50C
Umka with Kunduchene, at home and walking another horse to an ice hole. Pictures: Sakha Press


The horse joins other animals queuing at the ice hole. 

Umka waits patiently while the horse takes a daily drink no matter how cold it is.

The owner says his dog has also started escorting other horses back from the ice hole. 

Comments (6)

You can't lead a donkey to water; but you can lead a "Horse". Well at least Umka can & even waits in the cold to bring him back home. Good on you, Boy.
Jaker, Dundalk
20/12/2017 09:56
0
0
Maybe the horse is losing its eyesight...that might be the reason for its fear/stubbornness to walk on the tricky frozen lake to get a drink of water?
Aj, Minneapolis, Mn USA
18/12/2017 01:41
3
0
God Bless Putin and all the Russians but I think
I'll stay in LA. Thanks anyway.
Craig Adkins, Los Angeles
17/12/2017 11:53
1
0
Oh my God...now the Russians are forcing horses to drink?

Gotta be Putin's fault...or Trumps.

*snicker*
Rich Smith, San Jose, USA
16/12/2017 02:13
3
0
Hi Benedikt, I totally agree with you.
Pamela Tetarenko, League City, United States
05/12/2017 18:11
1
0
animals sometimes have more brain than humans...
Benedikt MORAK, Moscow
05/12/2017 17:08
10
0
1

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