WITH his one-year-old Jack Russell dog, Lexi, big in the news for her ‘driving’ abilities, owner Cam Zschech has been swamped with emails and calls from a wide range of local and international sources.

For about two months, Lexi has been behind the steering wheel of his Ute after he gave her a go with it idling in first gear across the family farm, seven minutes’ drive north of Hamilton.

Cam said with the driving experience she has gained so far, “we are hoping she gets good enough to get her learners soon”.

“I have received many messages and calls from all over the world wanting to know about her,” he said.

The exposure has even translated to the promotion of a farm clothing company.

With 2000 crossbred ewes on the 1500-acre mixed farming property, Lexi has plenty of room to continue learning and practising the finer points of motoring, although some bad habits might need addressing - occasionally she honks the horn by leaning in a bit too enthusiastically – or maybe it’s a worrying developing tendency towards road rage.

“Lexi gets pretty angry whenever she gets towards gateways, as the sheep never go where she wants them to, so she’ll be blasting the horn and she uses some terrible dog language which we won’t mention,” Cam said.

“She drives about once a week, helping out on weekends when she gets time away from her media appearances.”

Lexi came from a farm near Coleraine, and after getting stood on by an ewe as a puppy, has learned there are less risky ways to chase after mobs of sheep.

Cam also recently decided that a good way to leverage the exposure Lexi’s emerging talent has gathered, was to set up a fundraiser inspired by his sister.

“Riding for the Disabled has helped so many kids and adults that are living with a disability, including my sister when she was younger,” he said.

“She loved the horses as much as anything in life and it was always exciting for her when she got to go riding at the Hamilton branch.

“I’d like to raise some money for new equipment or anything that will help them out.”

You can donate to the fundraiser at gofund.me/dda2bee1.