CASPER'S CONTINUING ADVENTURE

Casper now has 2 goat buddies.  The neighbors brought home two free wether goats and threw them in with Casper on 10 acres.  At first he tried his attack mode and I guess they weren't very impressed.  Goats have quite a bit of personality of their own and usually pretty much run the show.  Lara said after a little while everything settled down, and after a couple of days he is letting them eat with him, although I guess the relationship hasn't become close.  But I have high hopes that this will be another species he can be with, as long as the  fencing isn't just barbed wire.  I haven't given up on finding someone with a mare to see if his problem is only with male horses or mules, that will run from him, when he is in attack mode.  I have to admit I don't blame them for running, he puts on quite a show of intimidation, for someone as little as he is.  I'm surprised some larger equine hasn't cleaned his clock.  LOL

Yesterday I got an e-mail, that is sent out to the equine rescue groups in Arizona, when there is a crisis situation, somewhere in the state.  It concerned an ad in the Phoenix area for a mini mule being advertised for roping, and the call was put out for help.  Quite a few rescues jumped in with money, trailer, hauling, whatever was needed, so I basically just watched the e-mails.  About an hour after the 1st e-mail I got a call from woman that needed a companion for her mare, who had just lost her 2 horse buddies.  We don't adopt out horse companions unless there is already a donkey in the family.  But a mule is a wonderful companion for a horse, so I e-mailed her all the info I had.  I know they got the little molly out, but haven't heard anymore.  Hopefully the woman followed thru on the information.  

She looks like she might be a little larger than Casper.  No matter where she ends up I'm really glad she's in safe hands.  

As of last night we are leaving the fly masks on 24/7.  The flies get up in the morning before we do,  and this works out pretty well.  We take them off a couple of times during the week to make sure they aren't rubbing or have some foreign material stuck in them.  But other than that, they will have masks on until late Oct or early Nov.........well except when they lose them.  Right now they are trying to reach the mesquite blossoms in the trees, so we have to look up instead of down, when searching for missing masks.  

Heard from Falena and Selena's foster home.  They were going to foster the girls for a month to see if they wanted to adopt them.  It's been about 3 weeks and they are ready to sign papers, the girls have wiggled their way into the center of the family.  When the girls were in foster for 3 years they were called Momma and Squeaky.  If you ever heard Squeaky bray, you would know why........LOL She sounds like a Model T Ford, trying to start and not doing too well.   Anyway Doug had told them about the name change and they have decided Momma and Squeaky works for them.  Momma has to wear a shoe on a rear foot, because of a contracted tendon, which turns the foot under.  Tim wasn't the least bit put off by the idea of having to make sure she wears that shoe as needed.  I think it will be a wonderful home for these girls, he even wants to use them for overnight packing trips.  With their personalities, they will be more than willing to go out and see new things.  They will also be great ambassadors for donkeys, with any people they meet while packing.  WIN, WIN.......!!

FALENA AND SELENA ARE TRYING OUT A NEW HOME THIS MONTH

Yesterday we took the girls into Tucson to hopefully their new forever home.  

This is the girls getting to know their new friend

The girls going into their pen, being googled by the "neighbors"  The mare with the highest head seems to think she is in charge of the world.  She's like this with the other horses and I guess she will bite you if you stand too close to her pen.  She romped and stomped and lunged the whole time we were there.  I wish the girl's pen wasn't next to her, hopefully she'll settle down quickly to just being bitchy..........!!  I would imagine the girls will just ignore her, donkeys don't do "drama" usually....  LOL

This is their Moab mare on the other side.  She is very sweet and seemed to welcome them to the neighborhood

The people will foster them for a month to see if it will work out.  The pen is smaller than we would like, but they will get 2 days of freedom in one of 2 arenas with their mare every week.  If they're adopted  they will be going to Colorado in the summer, along with the mare.  

A big plus to counteract the less than ideal pen size, is Falena's contracted tendon that requires a shoe.  Tim wasn't fazed at all, when he was told about it.  Most people want donkeys that require no extra care, especially if it costs money.  But he didn't see it as a problem, even though it will be a lifetime commitment.  He wants to train them to pack, which I'm sure will be easy, these girls are really easy to get along with.  

Lynn and Linda will be leaving this Saturday to head back to Colorado for the summer.  We are really going to miss them, they have become family.  For never being around donkeys, they have completely immersed themselves in anything to do with the donkeys.  It's finally warmed up enough to go ahead and body clip Daisy, so that's what Linda and I will do tomorrow, unless something more important comes up.  It's not too hot yet, so we can put it off for awhile, but Linda wants to try everything and this is about the only thing she hasn't done.  

This year instead of putting fly masks on everyone at the same time, we have been observing faces.  If a donkey has more than 3 or 4 flies on their faces or in Frijolita's case gnats, we just put a mask on that one.  I'm sure sooner or later they'll all be wearing masks.  Yesterday was time to put one on Gizmo, the mini mule.  I don't think Gizmo has ever had a mask on before, to say he was less than impressed is an understatement.  Had to put him in a redneck squeeze.  This morning he wasn't overly cooperative, but he did let John put it on without having to go into the squeeze, after they danced around the pen a few times.  John opened the squeeze as a threat, and he said Gizmo decided to give up.  Anyone that thinks these animals aren't smart and don't think, hasn't observed them very long.  

Speaking of Gizmo, he's dived right into the animal cracker way of life.  He presents himself at the front of the pack, whenever crackers might be available.  He has so much personality, and seems to really like people.  I don't carry crackers and he will still come up to me to get scratched.  Of course he usually doesn't stay long without the crackers. LOL  He also spends time over by the fence between Burroland and the 10 acres Casper is staying on.  They both have made a trench in the dirt from pacing back and forth one on one side, the one on the other. 

RIP Nicki.........!!!

Today was a rough day.  Lynn and Linda went with me to take Nicki into Adobe Vet Clinic.  They evaluated him and found out he did have feeling in the rear leg we were worried about.  It had a puncture wound that was sore enough he wouldn't put weight on it and actually didn't react when I poked his toes with scissors.  

He was dehydrated, so they gave him a liter of fluid and said they felt he should have 24 hour care, which they don't do.  So we packed up and headed for the 24/7 specialty clinic. Years ago we had a cat named Misfr with eye problems and we took him there for a round of treatment.  So we not only knew where it was, we were prepared for the estimate.  

He was 12 years old which is a worry for knocking him out to suture the wounds and also they were afraid he might be septic.  I guess bite wounds are bad, no matter what mouth they come out of.  I always heard people bites are worse than dog bites, probably an old wives tale.  

They delicately discuss how far you want to go to save your dog, because they have all the bells and whistles, I would imagine they have the same machines as people doctors.  I told them I'd like blood tests, and x-ray to see if he might have some broke bones or any internal problems.  They said it would be about an hour or so.  

We went to lunch, came back and waited, and waited and waited some more.  It was about 5pm when they finally called us back and we got the good news, no broken bones and the bad news, he had lung cancer.  The tumor was about 1/2 the size of his heart.  

The vet was talking about surgery and chemo and I don't know what all.  She said with the surgery and chemo, he'd probably have a year or so.  Without treatment, if he survived the fight damage without infection and whatever else might happen, less than a year.  

I have always said I would not put one of my animals thru some of the horror stores I've heard people go thru to keep their "fur" kids alive.  I didn't change my mind, he was euthanized before we left the clinic.  

John had a jeep tour this evening and I knew there was a couple coming out to possibly adopt Falena and Selena.  As the day progressed we found out, just as John was leaving the people showed up, so Doug got to show them the girls, and they are interested in adopting them.  We'll have to do a home study, so we'll see how it goes.  I have to call them tomorrow, got in too late tonight to be calling people.  

Also as John was leaving, he happened to notice that Casper was outside the fence, eating the icky hay John puts out for the range cattle.  I guess Casper took off and showed John where he had gotten out.  As the day progressed I guess Doug got to put him back in 3 or 4 more times.  He doesn't seem to go anywhere, he hangs around, he just likes to challenge the fence I guess.   He's small enough he can either go under it, or thru it, depending on his mood.

John also got to show the people a rattlesnake, he said about 4 1/2 feet long, by the pens.  That would be a big Western Diamondback.  That's the 1st rattlesnake we've seen in a long time, and the 1st snake this year.  Wonder if it's the one that lived in the well house all winter? 

Sacred Datura

This is a patch of jimpson weed on our property.  We actually have quite a few patches of it.  It's a member of the nightshade family, consequently it is poisonous and also is an hallucinogenic.  The Indians called it Sacred Datura, used it in their religious ceremonies and unfortunately it has been discovered by people that like to get high.  I guess it is quite dangerous, but that isn't always a deterrent.  It's dangerous to animals too, but the donkeys stay away from it.  If they were hungry they might try it, but believe me this bunch are not hungry. 

 The "fatties" are still staying in the pens at night, much to their disgust.  The beans are just about gone on the 10 acres, we haven't went over to Burroland to see how things are going over there.  We haven't really heard that many cows over there, hopefully they have been sneaking over there quietly.......LOL

The weather cooling off is helping with the skin problems, I'm down to Boaz, Rosie and Coquette needing to be doctored.  The salve Dr. Lindsey sent is still working.  I asked and she said I could use it on Rosie, so I'm trying it on her belly, so far, so good.  

I've got my fingers crossed the fly masks last till the season is over.  We only have one new mask left and some of the ones they are wearing are getting rather ragged.  

Falena is walking very good since Tyler opened up her abscess.  Unfortunately she has a big gouge missing from the side of her foot, and it is going to have to be covered for the foreseeable future, to keep it clean.  I'm pretty good at making a gorilla tape boot, but in our rocky soil, they don't last but a few days at best.  I dug thru my stash of foot covers and dragged out one of Jenny's, she wore after her hoof resection.  It's lightweight and would be perfect, BUT, Jenny was a mammoth and Falena isn't.  Even with the diaper wrap, ETC, it's still pretty big on her foot.  It does stay on, but it gets turned.  I don't know if it bothers her to be turned or not.  It's really hard to find boots that will stay on donkeys anyway, their feet is not shaped like a horse or pony, and they can just walk out of a lot of them because their foot is so upright.  

When Tyler was here last week to open up Falena's abscess, he also shod her rear foot that keeps trying to turn under.  He also put a shoe on Gigi's crooked front foot.  It's really made a difference in her ease of walking.  I'm not a fan of shoes, but have about decided that Gigi will probably have to have a shoe the rest of her life.  I'll see what Tyler says the next time he comes.  We've tried giving both of them chances to go barefooted, but after a few months their feet get wonky again. 

I'M REALLY REALLY TIRED OF HEAT AND HUMIDTY

I hate to whine, but I'm really ready for our normal hot dry desert weather.  LOL  I don't really mind it, but it's terrible on the donkey feet.  Falena is still recuperating from her abscess.  Gus probably blew an abscess a couple of days ago.  And Gigi is really sore on her crippled front foot.  Unfortunately when they have an abscess or that's what you think is the problem, you can't give them any bute.  It would slow the process of the abscess opening, which in the long run would make the process last longer.  I've left a couple of messages for Tyler, but he hasn't called me back.  He will when he gets time, he stays pretty busy. 

Gigi isn't the easiest thing to work with, but this morning I decided to try to soak her foot in warm Epsom Salts water.  Got all my toys together and out we went.  I mixed the water in a small bucket, but took an IV bag, planning on putting her in the redneck squeeze, because she has been known to kick like a machine.  

John opened up the squeeze and started trying to get her to go in it, but she didn't want to move much.  She got to where we tie her up when Tyler comes to trim her feet and she stopped, wouldn't go any further.  I gave John the halter and she let him put it on her.  She likes him better than me for some reason.  Tied her there and prepared for a rodeo.  She wasn't much interested in me picking up her foot, but when I did I decided to try putting it in the bucket rather than the IV bag.  Wonders of all wonders she left it in, tried to take it out a couple of times, but for the most part stood very good.  We only did 10 minutes, didn't want to push our luck.  Then she didn't want to take her foot out of the bucket.  Tomorrow we'll try it again, with warmer water and a longer soaking time.  

I'll be racing tonight.  For the first time this year the Hornets will be qualifying.  That means we will run 2 timed laps and our time will be used to line us up for the main event.  After tonight we will only have 2 more point races for end of the year points.  I am in 7th place right now, but within striking distance of 5th place, if I have 3 good races and 6th and 5th place drivers don't.  I'm not wishing them any bad luck, but 5th is better than 7th.........!!!  LOL

They are also going to have a trailer race.  That means they can use any car or truck as a tow vehicle, and any type of trailer.  They paint them all up gaudy, last year they had a full size house trailer.  They aren't allowed to hit the tow vehicle, BUT, the trailer is fair game.  It really makes a mess, when it's over, there are trailer parts strung all around the track.  Needless to say, that's the last race of the night.....!!! 

ANOTHER ABSCESS?

Sure looks like it.  Gigi, the one that has been crippled from birth is not putting any weight on her bad front foot and laying down a lot.  The problem with her is she is really difficult to work with.  I sent Tyler an e-mail, so hopefully he'll get a chance to come out and evaluate.

All this rain and humidity isn't good for feet that are use to being dry.  Falena seems to be doing good, still a little ouchy on the foot Tyler dug on, but moving around and not laying down.  He said he had seen one of these homemade boots stay on for 3 weeks, so I guess we'll keep it on as long as possible.  I put one of the old boots I had for Jenny a couple of years ago.  It's way too big for Falena, Jenny was a mammoth, but it is just a flimsy material, so I wadded it up and did my best to get it as tight as possible.  Put it on yesterday morning and it's still on.  It's just a barrier to keep her from walking on the gorilla tape, so if it comes off, no big deal, except to try and find it.  

The drill now is, if individual donkeys don't eat their hay at night, they don't get out of the pens until noon the next day.  They only get 5 hours out on the 10 acres a day that way.  No one is going over on Burroland at all.  

Yesterday John heard some cows in the area, he took the golf cart down on Cattle Drive and saw where they had walked past the gate.  So he opened the gate and we took a salt block down to put in the gate opening, to encourage them to go thru the gate.  

This morning we heard cows bellowing in 2 different places, one sounded like on our neighbor's property, and the other one sounded like it was on Burroland.  We needed to go over and open the other gate on the east side of Burroland anyway, so off we went.  Sure enough there was a Charolais cow on Burroland, one half grown Angus bull and 3 or 4 of his friends on the neighbor's property and the little bull was yelling at the cow, and she was yelling back.  She couldn't be his momma, so I don't know what was going on, but there was no way for them to get together.  We went ahead and opened the other gate, and right after we went back in the house they shut up.  Not sure if they got together, they sure couldn't go in a direct route, but I guess they figured it out.  

With the 2 gates open they can wander in on one side and wander out on the other.  Hopefully eating beans as they mosey along, at least that's what we hope happens. 

EASY NIGHT OF FEEDING TONIGHT

Unfortunately we had a real gulley washer right at feeding time.  High winds and rain going every direction and of course the mandatory wash run.

It was really nasty for about 1/2 an hour or so, and of course the donkeys were all hunkered down for the duration.  We all went out looking for them and a more uncooperative bunch I've never seen.  So I told John and Doug we wouldn't be feeding tonight.  Most of them haven't been interested in hay or mush for quite sometime anyway, so it seemed rather silly to kill ourselves rounding or trying to round them up, just to have them stand in the pens and ignore their lovingly prepared dinner.  I am hoping in the morning they will have a change of heart and maybe appreciate being fed.  They aren't going on Burroland now, so they don't have access to as many beans, although the wind blew down some more.

Tyler came last evening figured out where the abscess probably was and started cutting away at the bottom/side of Falena's hoof.  Sure enough, he found it and it didn't pop, but did start oozing.  He had his helper Jake, make up a poultice, wrapped it in Gorilla tape and went on his way.  He was here and gone in about 15 minutes, must be nice to know what you are doing.  He said he'd be back in a few days to reset her shoe, she's starting to turn that rear foot backwards again.  On a scale of 1-10 yesterday being a 10, this morning she was probably about a 5 and tonight a 1, just a little hitch in her git-a-long, so hopefully we won't have anymore of those.  Not instant relief like when they pop, I guess.  

A friend lost her cat and asked if we wanted her cat tree.  When John and I got home this afternoon Doug had delivered it and it was in the great room..........with a cat in it.  I guess Nigel decided it was his, he's been in it and as far as I know, no one else has had a chance.  It's a nice one, so many are rather flimsy, probably made for kittens.  But this one is pretty sturdy.  

ABSCESS ANYONE?

Given an option I wouldn't opt for one either, but it looks like Falena has one.  Yesterday morning John and Doug came in and said she was laying down and of course the first thought is laminitis, because of all the mesquite beans.  I checked her, no heat in the front feet, didn't mind having her leg or foot messed with, but I went ahead and put her feet in some ice water, which she didn't seem to mind.  But she was really lame and as the day wore on I could tell the right side was what was bothering her.  

I've been lucky over the years to only have a couple of abscesses and they popped by themselves.  She's been laying down most of the time, and by this morning my latest  guess is an abscess.  When she does stand, she has no weight on that foot at all and holds it out in front with the toe pointing.  

Dr. Lindsey sent me an e-mail to let me know she hadn't heard back from Boaz's biopsy and of course when I answered her, I had to tell her about Falena.  The problem with an abscess is it's not that easy to treat.  Especially if you can't find a soft spot or heat.  It's in that hoof somewhere, but no way to know where.  

Dr. Lindsey e-mailed back to soak her in warm water with Epsom salts, so I did.  I also got in touch with Tyler, since he has worked on her feet for years.  She's the one that has to have a shoe on one of her hind feet if it starts to turn backwards.  He said Epsom salts and he will try to come out after he gets home tonight.  So I've done all I can for now.  Hopefully if he does get out, he'll be able to find it.  The thing about an abscess is, they are extremely painful, and as soon as the abscess opens either on it own, or if you are lucky enough to find it and open it, they are instantly sound.  Keep you fingers crossed.

Since we had the laminitis scare at first we have decided that Burroland is officially closed for the season, which will probably not be until the end of September.  They will have to get by on the 10 acres, which hopefully they will have cleaned up sooner rather than later.  They are really unhappy right now.  They know the drill, and they know that gate is suppose to be open.  They also know we are somehow involved, so every time they see us outside, they yell at us.  

I just hope by the time the last bean falls off the tree, that the old beans laying on the ground have lost their luster as a food source.  Time will tell, I guess.

MULES ARE DELIVERED

REBA AND RUSTY IN THE DRY LOT

            

These two are so "been there, done that", loading and hauling was no big deal.  Got to Kris' place in early afternoon and Ruthie started yelling when she saw the trailer.

This was later when Kris put some hay in the mangers so Reba and Rusty would know this is a good place.  Ruthie after the initial nose thru the fence and a squeal or two, was more interested in what Kris put in the manger.  

 Rusty is really interested in the grass around the edge.  Wait till he gets out on 20 acres of the stuff...!!

Rusty and Reba in their stall

Ruthie and Reba in the barn

I'm sure they will all get along just fine once they are out together.  Hopefully Ruthie will get over missing her mustang friend quickly.

This morning Falena, one of the girls that just returned from foster care a few weeks ago, came in limping and laying down.  I checked her feet and they weren't that warm, but she sure is acting like she is foundering.  I gave her some bute and we soaked her feet in IV bags of ice water.  I HATE MESQUITE BEANS......!!!!  And this year we have so many of them.  There aren't enough range cattle in the area to clean Burroland if John opens the gates, but we can't let the donkeys go over there I'm afraid.  It's like playing Russian Roulette, will they or won't they eat enough beans to cause laminitis?  I'm afraid if we continue to let them over there, they will.  So.........Burroland will be closed and most of them will only have access to the 10 acres, which isn't exactly lacking in mesquite beans either.  Noticed I said most..........some of them are already overweight, or have been foundered in the past, or in the case of Falena, might be a good candidate for foundering now.  Those will not be allowed out of the pens for however long it takes to get control of the mesquite problem.  They might all end up in the pens, and we'll be out on the 10 acres with a rake and wagon, raking up beans....which doesn't sound like much fun at all............!!

The donkeys usually aren't interested in the beans once they fall on the ground and lay for awhile.  The beans start turning dark and usually get worm holes in them.  I am really hoping that once we let them over there, if there are old dark wormy beans laying around, they won't bother them.  

We'll probably ice Falena's feet again this evening, hopefully we caught it early.

Penny seems to be back to normal, after her couple of days of acting sick.  

GIGI IS DOING PRETTY GOOD.....!!

Tyler is still out of town, so we can't get  her shoe reset, but even on feet that are longer than they should be, she's walking pretty good.  It will probably take a year or more of having an elongated shoe on that right front foot, but hopefully after time she will be able to walk on that foot without the shoe.  It worked with Falena aka Momma, but her's was a rear and wasn't anywhere near as bad as Gigi's.  We'll just have to see how it goes.   She seems more comfortable on her rear feet, when she first came here, she kept them underneath her in the founder position, to take weight off her front feet, which is really a good thing.

I took a good look at Rosie this morning and she is actually looking less huge.  She is carrying a lot of weight in her belly area.  This morning it looks like that is tightening up a little bit, more round and less bulky.  She isn't really a food whore and seems satisfied with the amount she gets, which makes this whole diet thing a lot easier.  John is giving her 5 pounds of hay a day, which is what most of the standards get.  Don't see any reason to drop her down below that, as long as we are headed in the right direction. 

This was yesterday when we delivered Honcho & Simmons to their new home.  As you can see they were very upset & frightened at this new happening in their lives................NOT......!!!  "Oh! boy new people with treats, life is good.........!!! "  Copper came over to their pen, laid his ears back a couple of times & once he found out people would pay attention to him & give treats, he didn't seem to care one way or the other about the donkeys being there. 

That is GRASS underneath their feet & it didn't take them but a few seconds to put their heads down & start nibbling.  They planned on leaving the boys in the small pen for a few days.  I think Cindy said she is off work tomorrow Tuesday, so I would imagine it will happen then.  I don't foresee any problems, I'm sure Copper will lunge at them with ears back a couple of times, & they will show him their hind feet & that will probably be it.  Not much drama..........!!! 

Friday we took Simmons & Cheyenne to the vet.  Simmons at some time has got his face caught on something that pulled a piece of flesh loose.  When it healed it stuck out like a skin tag & if you put a halter on him, of course it usually got hung up.  It was rather small & looked like it would be easy to "sneak" up on & nip it off quickly with either a scalpel or sharp scissors & I was tempted.  Glad I didn't try it, when she clipped it, blood shot out about 2 feet, she said she thought it was right over the main vein running down the side of his face, when she saw it.  She didn't want to put in a stitch because it would leave a "dimple", so it took awhile to get it to stop.  It looked pretty good by Sunday, & I gave them some thuja zinc oxide to keep on it, so the flies don't think it's a fly feasting area.  Which right now the flies are absolutely horrible, thank goodness for fly masks, I can't imagine how miserable the donkeys would be with all those flies in their eyes. 

Cheyenne is one of the minis, in fact she is the smallest about 32 inches tall.  Lately she has been quidding & losing weight.  Actually her weight is about perfect, but we're so use to seeing "chubbies" she looks thin.  Didn't find much wrong, she has a few sharp areas on her teeth but not enough to cause problems.  So I had a blood workup done, just to have a base line in case we need it later.  

Saturday we went to a surprise birthday party.  Considering his birthday was almost a month ago & there was nothing celebrated then, he was definitely "surprised"..........!!!!  He was too nosy at the time, so the party was put off for awhile.  LOL  He says he will get even............hmmmmm..........!!! 

We got to see Selena & Falena, aka Squeeky & Momma.  Falena is now out of her special shoe, & walking just fine.  Tyler had said it would take about a year, & that's about how long it's been.  They absolutely adore the girls, it is a wonderful foster home.  They would adopt the girls in a minute, but by law they still belong to the state as strays, even though the state never called me back.  If they were cows or horses they might get more involved, but burros............??  Not worth their valuable time. That's OK, the girls have a perfect home, with people that think they are great, so who cares if the paperwork isn't right? The state sure doesn't. 

Thursday, Georgette & I are heading out on a ROAD TRIP to Colorado.  We'll only be gone 5 days, poor John will not only have the donkeys, but will also be feeding Mother 6 times a day.  It's not really difficult, I have a list of "available" foods & she will tell you which one she wants. He's worried about it, but I've already told her she will have to be involved & anyway she won't starve in 5 days, I don't think........!!! LOL 

We're going up to visit Kathy Dean at Longhopes Donkey Shelter.  Kathy has an outstanding rescue/sanctuary & utilizes her resources wisely & Georgette & I don't really need much of an excuse to hit the road anyway.  This trip had been planned long before Mother decided I wasn't too bossy & she'd come live with us. John said he wanted me to still go, & the great thing about John is, he really means it.  I'm not sure I'd be so generous in the same position..........!!!!  LOL