4-legged friends

2/4/2026

Ashlee Crawford’s two passions are her four-legged friends.

Her dog, Layla, is a 4-year-old black labrador. She rescued her from a breeder who got out of the breeding business. 

“When I saw her, she was the only female. I liked her personality,” she recalls. 

Crawford’s love of the labrador breed began as a child when her family pets were labs. She says her 80-pound black dog can be intimidating for strangers in public. 

“I can see some people get nervous when they see my dog,” she says. “Most labs just want to run up and love on you. They are either lab people, or they are not.”

The best thing she likes about Layla is her loyalty. 

“Labs are high energy. I like their dedication and playing outside. They are committed to people and are always ready to rally,” she explains. 

Layla also shares in Crawford’s other passion of riding and showing horses. When she was in high school, her great uncle gifted her a horse. She took riding lessons and attended college for equine science.

A friend of hers was a horse trainer, and, after college, she started showing horses along with her friend. She shows horses in the category of American Paint Horse and Pinto Horse competitions. These unique horses are bred for color.

Part of the competition is to make sure the horse is groomed properly to ensure the coat is pearly, if it is a white color. She may shave the hair for a cleaner look. Horses are bathed, and the mane is fashioned in a ponytail. 

“There’s a lot of bathing and brushing,” she explains. “We really pay attention to detail.”

Crawford found success as she won the Amateur Cash for Color Walk Trot Futurity Championship in 2024 and an Iowa Pinto Championship for Trail. The category examines a horse’s structure and movement. She says working with the show horses is her passion. 

“It’s a real cool experience, especially when winning. It’s a fun community to be around. The hobby is expensive,” she admits. “There’s a lot of sportsmanship for the individual.”

As Crawford is attending nursing school, she recently sold her horse. She still rides horses and helps with her friend’s horse in her spare time. 

“After nursing school, I hope to get back to it.” 

Meanwhile, Layla is her constant companion and forever friend. 

“There’s a sense of responsibility having a dog. Having that connection with Layla is important. We do everything together. I don’t have kids, so it’s like my kid. It’s not just a dog,” she reflects. “It’s like a bestie to hang out with.” ♦