I gave Mark a call this afternoon to see how Libby did, and verify how much we owe him for her peticure and anything else. He still says $30.00, but I'l going to see if I have a few extra dollars to add to it- he's doing a wonderful thing, and has so many mouths to feed and care for!
First he said she totally freaked out, but nothing else. So then I commented that I hoped she didn't kill anyone, and he said no, she just layed down everytime a foot was picked up, so most of her trimming was done with her laying down.
I guess that probably went a lot better then I thought it would- but again, when I here "freaked out", I think of a rearing, plunging, fighting horse with it's eyes rolling around showing whites.
I want my donkey to come home already... sometime this week though.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Monday, March 21, 2005
On the Road...
Well, today Libby went on a little vacation. She should be back sometime next week, with new shiny feet, and will have been wormed, microchipped, and gotten her shots.
I had sent an email to Mark at the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, asking for a good farrier who will be willing to work with her and get her done gently and well. He instead suggested that he just swing by and pick her up and have her done with the rest of them. The price was right, and having her in the hand sof some donkey people I've only heard good things about might even help her.
This afternoon, the trailer showed up, and Libby came right over to have her lead clipped on, and walked out of her pen. All went well until Drifter, the Arab, dashed by to get the grain I used as a quick bribe and she threw it in reverse. A few minutes later and she was out of the pen, and walking calmly towards the trailer.
WHat made me happy to see is that when faced with a strange thing coming towards her, she went to me for safety, and when in the hand sof people who knew donkeys, even though she was afraid of the trailer, she put on a brave face and thought things out well before doing anything.
When we got Libby, she had been winched into the trailer, then tied tight for almost 24 hours because they camped overnight bringing her down here. This time, she was in the trailer in 15 minutes. The front end went in easy after she had time to look, and her front feet were placed inside. The back half took longer, but then she was in, and able to ride loose and comfortably.
As they pulled out of the driveway, I could see her ears perked forward, as she looked out the side of the trailer, very interested in what was around her. That was good to see too, because if she was looking out with her ears perked, that meant she wasn't cowering or terrified.
Her feet will be done on Wednesday, since they're having the vet out then to castrate some jacks, so she can be sedated if needed. But I think she's going to be just fine, and will enjoy the company of some of her own too.
So I guess I have a good donkey afterall. :)
I don't mean to say she's a bad donkey, but she makes me so frustrated sometimes because I don't reallly know what to expect from her, and what is a good way to see her react. I know slow and easy does it, but how slow is slow? Either way, I'll be very happy to see her when she comes home!
I had sent an email to Mark at the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, asking for a good farrier who will be willing to work with her and get her done gently and well. He instead suggested that he just swing by and pick her up and have her done with the rest of them. The price was right, and having her in the hand sof some donkey people I've only heard good things about might even help her.
This afternoon, the trailer showed up, and Libby came right over to have her lead clipped on, and walked out of her pen. All went well until Drifter, the Arab, dashed by to get the grain I used as a quick bribe and she threw it in reverse. A few minutes later and she was out of the pen, and walking calmly towards the trailer.
WHat made me happy to see is that when faced with a strange thing coming towards her, she went to me for safety, and when in the hand sof people who knew donkeys, even though she was afraid of the trailer, she put on a brave face and thought things out well before doing anything.
When we got Libby, she had been winched into the trailer, then tied tight for almost 24 hours because they camped overnight bringing her down here. This time, she was in the trailer in 15 minutes. The front end went in easy after she had time to look, and her front feet were placed inside. The back half took longer, but then she was in, and able to ride loose and comfortably.
As they pulled out of the driveway, I could see her ears perked forward, as she looked out the side of the trailer, very interested in what was around her. That was good to see too, because if she was looking out with her ears perked, that meant she wasn't cowering or terrified.
Her feet will be done on Wednesday, since they're having the vet out then to castrate some jacks, so she can be sedated if needed. But I think she's going to be just fine, and will enjoy the company of some of her own too.
So I guess I have a good donkey afterall. :)
I don't mean to say she's a bad donkey, but she makes me so frustrated sometimes because I don't reallly know what to expect from her, and what is a good way to see her react. I know slow and easy does it, but how slow is slow? Either way, I'll be very happy to see her when she comes home!
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Libby's going on vacation!
Against some of the excelent information and help I've been given, tomorrow afternoon Libby will be getting picked up by the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue and having her hooves trimmed.
I hate to send her off, as she's not even all that good about anything, but it does need done, and she's not going to have it done for ages otherwise. Also, I'd rather have her done by someone familiar with donks, including abuse and unhandled ones, then someone who just doesn't have a clue.
*sigh*
Anyway, she'll be home in a few days, and hopefully for the better. The sad thing is I keep reading all these posts on the donkey discussion lists I'm on about these BLM/wild donks that are sweet as pie after only a few short weeks.
What kind of donkey did I get here?
I hate to send her off, as she's not even all that good about anything, but it does need done, and she's not going to have it done for ages otherwise. Also, I'd rather have her done by someone familiar with donks, including abuse and unhandled ones, then someone who just doesn't have a clue.
*sigh*
Anyway, she'll be home in a few days, and hopefully for the better. The sad thing is I keep reading all these posts on the donkey discussion lists I'm on about these BLM/wild donks that are sweet as pie after only a few short weeks.
What kind of donkey did I get here?
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Back again....
After our x-week haitis from being worked with, today Libby came back in and was put back in her pen. Tomorrow I need to clean it- something I should have done while she was out.
We were moving goats back into the back pen, moms and kids, and she couldn't take the fact that someone was getting grain and she wasn't. I walked over with a small handful, flat on my palm, and she gobbled it up, then snuffled my hand for more.
So apparently she hasn;t forgotten that I can give her good things to eat on occasion. Hopefully tomorrow she'll also keep in mind that I'm not going to whack her with the rake in her pen..
We were moving goats back into the back pen, moms and kids, and she couldn't take the fact that someone was getting grain and she wasn't. I walked over with a small handful, flat on my palm, and she gobbled it up, then snuffled my hand for more.
So apparently she hasn;t forgotten that I can give her good things to eat on occasion. Hopefully tomorrow she'll also keep in mind that I'm not going to whack her with the rake in her pen..
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