On To New Pastures

Lindsay and Wendy Schmidt both grew up in the rural sector and have spent a lifetime dedicated to farming. Although from different parts of the country, they just happened to meet at a pub in Dannevirke of all places, after Wendy came up from Invercargill looking for work, in 1976.

Born in Norsewood in 1948, Lindsay moved away with his family at the age of 10, when his Father took on a position on a Lands and Survey farm at Foxton, before managing Lakeview Farm, a 4000 acre sheep and beef farm in Levin. Little did Lindsay know at the time that he would return to Lakeview Farm some 29 years later.

After getting married in 1977, Lindsay and Wendy spent the next ten years managing sheep and beef Stations in the Wairarapa, at Bideford and Tiraumea. It was during their time at Tiraumea that they were offered a management role at Lakeview farm in 1987, where they worked for the next 31 years.

In 2008, the Schmidts purchased a 16 acre block of land at Waituna West and over the next nine years, Wendy renovated the house, and Lindsay did all repairs and maintenance outside, whilst still working at Lakeview. When they retired to the property in 2018 they quickly found themselves getting bored with having nothing to do so sold up and purchased a 30 hectare property on the outskirts of Dannevirke.

Although Lindsay has been a shepherd all of his working life, he has also been breeding and training heading and huntaway dogs for the past 45 years; a decision he made from seeing other farmers not have a great experience with their dogs. He will train up to five dogs at any one time, starting at two months of age and selling them when they are six to eight months old.

The pups are taught to lead first and learn manners like coming to you prior to starting the working dog training. “The pups train from repetition,” said Lindsay. “It’s bred into them, and we make it as natural as possible. For it be successful, the pups have to enjoy it. When they get on to herding sheep, the pups think it is good fun.”

Aside from this, Wendy runs a dog apparel business; Wendy’s Dog Apparel, which connects and gels with their dog breeding business. She makes everything herself, from dog coats to beds and collars to harnesses for service dogs, as well as sticks for dog trialing.

“I make a lot of dog coats, mainly for working dogs and I am flat out through the winter from April to August with orders of which most go to the South Island,” said Wendy. “I will make anything; whoever wants something made, I will have a go at it.”

And if that does not keep her busy, Wendy also does amazing drawings of dogs.

When Wendy is not on the sewing machine, she assists Lindsay with the dog training. They each have their own dogs to train and do not have anything to do with each other’s dogs, keeping it to a one on one situation so that the pup does not get confused.

“There are not many heading dog breeders and trainers around,” said Lindsay. “We have never had to advertise; it is just word of mouth, and we have a lot of repeat buyers.”

Lindsay also helps Wendy, being the scissor hand, cutting the dog coats. In the past two years they have made 24 dog trial sticks for the NZ National Sheep Trials Championship, which they both compete in.

The Schmidts have recently moved to a smaller block of land  after Les sold their property at Dannevirke in conjunction with Century 21 Premier.