Babysitting Little Donkeys

We've been letting the donkeys out of gated areas to nibble driveway grass for about  two months now.  For the first time last night I was able to corral everyone in by myself.  Up to now it's been a two-person job.  Here's the routine:
1.  As I only have two halters, I pick the two donkeys I think will be the most adept at the getaway and halter them.  Just when I thought Luigi was the most compliant and would willingly follow with just a lead line thrown over him, he decided he'd show me his cowboy routine and bucked away.  (I was so startled I dropped the darn lead.)   OK, that theory down the drain.  Over time, we observed Gabriella generally followed her mom with just a bit of urging.  That still seems to work.
2.  Spend about 15-20 minutes cleaning up the yard and shed of unmentionables.
3.  Sit down and read for the remaining 45 minutes, OR, mow the grass along the driveway keeping between the donkeys and an escape route to the road.  (Don't worry readers -- we have a very long driveway so they'd have to paddle those little feet quite a ways to be in any danger.)
4.  Usually at this point, I would call Rick back at the house and he would come to help corner our three victims.
5.  Find where their wanderings have taken them, grab the lead line (thrown over their back) and try to cajole them back to the yard.  Cookies help.  Used to be if I walked toward them, they'd skeedaddle.  Amazingly enough, now they seem know their hour is up and are more agreeable.

Last night Fran was first back in.  Gabby said she'd follow mom in with only a little bit of pushing required, and Luigi decided the ole cookie ploy was good enough to persuade him.  When I got back to the house without needing an assist from Rick, it was a red letter day.      

Pastures R Not Us

A year ago I never would have thought that the quality of our field pasture would be a hot topic of conversation. The fact of the matter is it's looking a tad poorly.  Rick brushhogged it last weekend, but it may take another year or more of that treatment to allow the grass to overtake the weeds.  As for now, the weeds are winning.

So, the donks get turned out in the pasture to scavenge what grass they can for 4-5 hours and then, on days when I'm able, I let them out of the gated-area completely so they can get some decent grass for an hour or so.  Means babysitting them though to make sure they don't wander.

Problem is they're pistols to round back up.  Today Rick and I cajoled dear Gabby with cookies, shoves and pulls into joining up with Franny back in the donkey yard.  But those feet were planted with utter determination.  Finally she was convinced and all three devils were back inside.

By the way, Dudley is useless as a donkey herder.  Just stands there and let's us do all the work!

A Visit From Bobby

When four-year old Bobby came to visit the donks recently, the high points included:

• watching donkeys poop
• taking a picture of a donkey butt
• feeling soft lips eat out of his hand and giving treats  

These Donks Are So Funny

After bringing a lawn chair into the donkey yard and plopping down, the donkeys gathered round.  We got some real good scratching time in and then Luigi started his famous ever-so-slow-backing-up-so-I'm-invisible move.  That large behind came closer and closer until he was snuggled up to the side of the chair.  Gabby, who is the least affectionate of the three, practically crawled into my lap.  I thought she was going to take both of us down, so sadly I had to shoo her away (as cute as they are, you still have to remember they're 300 lbs).  At one point I was laughing out loud at their ridiculously goofy behavior. 

And then there's Franny.  The perfect little donkeys who loves all kinds of pats, rubs, scratches, hugs, and kisses.

The Ears Have It

Beautiful donkey ears

Cookies and a bell

Knowing we'd be wanting to let the donkeys out in the pasture for only short periods of time early in the season, Rick and I had put our minds at work to figure out an easy way to herd them back in.  He suggested training them to come to us at the ringing of a bell.  So, every night at dinner time I've taken my little bell out with a few donkey cookies. While they're eating hay, I ring the bell and call them by name.  If they venture over to me (standing  few yards away), they're rewarded .  I didn't put much faith in our Pavlovian method, cuz ringing the bell this week while letting them browse grass along the driveway didn't seem to have much effect.

Well, we let them out in the pasture for the first time today for an hour.  I brought my bell and cookies out and gave it a shot.  Would you believe - it worked!  Gabriella (who I've mentioned before is our rebellious girl) came trotting over to me.  Not a casual amble -- a trot.  Got her whisked out, then it was Luigi's turn.  He came right over, eager for his treat.

Who woulda thunk...

Spring Shots -- A First

The vet came out on Friday to surprise the donks with spring shots.  Although everyone was fairly well behaved, it did take some brute strength to stop the twirling with a needle sticking out of a (back) cheek.  Of course the best-behaved was favorite Francesca.  She is my sweetheart (trying hard not to be too mushy).

Dr. Gertsen also checked their teeth -- an interesting maneuver on donkeys who are already a little ticked off.  And he confirmed what we already knew - Fran is a little portly.  We think she's lost some weight since last September when they came to our home, but the girl needs some exercise.  Lungeing a donkey?... hmmmm....

A side note:
While we let the pasture grass get well established, we've let the beasts out on driveway grass the last couple of days.  Ooooh, do they love it.  If Dudley did his job right, he'd help herd them back into the fence, but he falls short every time!