SLOWING DOWN FOR SUMMER

At least it feels like we're slowing down.  Suzanne's granddaughters are visiting for the summer and have pretty much taken over doing the chores.  So John and I are just getting lazier I guess......!! LOL

The donkeys really enjoy children and young people.  The girls have been taking different donkeys out almost every day for a walk on a lead and also brushing.  This time of year brushing is important, when the donkeys with longer hair start shedding, they really look unkempt.

Eat breakfast or come out and play, either one would work for Big Gus.....!!

Cheyenne is pretty sure there is a cookie somewhere close.

The girls out walking Casper and Cheyenne by the blue agave.  We have a few on the property, they don't actually grow here naturally, we were given a couple of them years ago and they are really good at reproducing little baby ones.  Lynn transplanted quite a few babies over by the pens.   This one will die once the stalk puts out blooms, which it will do later this summer..  If you like tequila, this is the plant it comes from.

I think this is Cisco, it's hard to tell with a close up and fly mask.  

Thanks for the pictures Suzanne....!

We've heard from Lynn and Linda in Colorado.  All the donkeys are doing good, and of course last week-end they ran in their first two pack burro races, Georgetown and Idaho Springs.  

Frijolita registering for her first race

 

Rambo and his new best friend Steve.  He did really well and from what we've heard the whole family thinks he is just great.  That is wonderful to hear, he went from problem child to family favorite in one 1,000 mile trip.

 

Georgetown was a rather eye opening experience.   Jacque and Sugar had never ran in a "real" pack burro race.  So they weren't prepared for guns going off to start the race and all the hoopla.  Linda had her hands full with Jacque, I guess he decided if we're all going to run I might as well get to the front.  Linda hadn't been filled in on the plan, and from what we heard she got to go faster than she wanted to, but she managed to hang on.  Lynn and Sugar were ahead and Jacque team caught up with them.  Lynn tried to help Linda with Sugar and they all ended up in a rather tangled mess for a few seconds.  It all sounded exciting, but could have really been a train wreck.  

I guess they've decided in the future when running with novice donkeys, they will have a stud chain as part of the outfit.  A stud chain runs thru the halter either over the nose or under the jaw and gives you more control over a misbehaving equine.  

Idaho Springs went a little better, thank goodness.  They ran with Frijolita and Loki.  This was Frijolita's 1st official race and she was a pro.

Frijolita doing her thing, going up a 12% grade and showing off her BLM tattoo

      Not bad for a flat land desert donkey

We're going to try to go up to Colorado this summer for the race at Fairplay.  It's doesn't interfere with my car races, and Suzanne has said she doesn't mind taking care of the donkeys.  Should be fun, as long as no one expects us to RUN............LOL  

Thanks for sharing Linda........!!