THE HURRIER I GO THE BEHINDER I GET......

This is the MEGA shelter Mike, and Tony have been working on the last few Sundays.  All that's left now is the metal roofing and it will be sun shelter for the summer, if they don't get around to getting the sides on anytime soon.  I'd like sides before next winter, but they aren't really important for now.  

I'm glad this month is over, although next month is starting to look about as busy.  Next week we have a tour on Tuesday of 53 people, I think that might be a record.......!!! LOL  Rather than try to do a tour, we've decided to put clipboards on each pen with information about the donkeys in that pen and just turn them loose, for the most part.  The last time we did the clipboards, during an Open House, some of the clipboards ended up with big bites out of them.  Donkeys don't do too well with boredom, as long as there is people passing by that's OK.  But if there is a lull in the entertainment, the donkeys will amuse themselves however they can.  

This tour is a bunch of people that have no clue where they are going.  I've never heard of Mystery Tours before.  There are companies that put on these tours.  The people pack their bags, get on a bus and have no idea where they are going or what they will be doing for "X" amount of days.  This group are going to be seeing donkeys as part of their mystery.  Hope they enjoy it.  

Today we had a real nice couple here from Colorado.  Today was her birthday and she wanted to see some donkeys.  They are going to be in the area for about another month and want to come out to volunteer.  So we're trying to think up something that needs to be done.  

We usually like to have the donkeys in their pens for tours.  It just makes life simpler, and that way we can make sure everyone gets seen. The people said they would be here about 10AM, so when they hadn't showed up by after 10:30, John started letting the donkeys out.  They can whine so pitiful once the hay is gone and there's no action.  He hadn't been outside 5 minutes and they called to say they thought they had gone too far down the main road.  Got them headed the right direction, went out, yelled at John, but of course most of the donkeys were already out.  

Actually the tours are more fun when they are out, the people usually end up surrounded by donkeys to pet.  As long as food isn't involved they are very well behaved.  The people brought carrots and horse treats and John brought out some of the treats in a bucket to see if they would behave themselves.  NOPE....!!  But before it got too wild, Tula actually took a treat from both John and I.  She will take treats from John outside the pens at night when he lets them out at bedtime.  But I think this is the 1st time she's ever taken treats in daylight, I know it's the first time from me.  The last few months she's been taking treats on tours from some of the people, when she's in her pen.  They have to stand very still and stretch their arm out as far as it will go.  But it's progress for her.  She will come into the herd surrounding the people out of the pen, BUT, she keeps one of the other donkeys, usually Frijolita between her and the people.  

My best friend growing up, whom I haven't seen in 30 years is coming next week also.  Her husband just retired at the end of January, so now they can travel a little.  Lynn and I were thrown in the yard together at the age of 3 and have stayed friends all these years, even though we haven't visited much.  We have a lot of catching up to do........!!

WHO IS THAT....??

This is Bonnie watching as we brought Pancho into view.  Right after this she went into her shelter, so she wouldn't have to look at any of us.  She's not been worked with much and is still quite reluctant to deal with humans, if she doesn't have to.  

John and Pancho getting ready to go into "her" pen.

Let's see if playing hard to get works

Smelling poo is a good way to introduce yourself, I guess

Well, you're rather cute

No fireworks, Bonnie kicked in his general vicinity a couple of times, just to let him know he wasn't going to come in and take over, and he seemed just fine with that.  Teresa spends a lot of time with her animals, and Pancho loves attention, so this should be a great home for him.  

Come to find out Teresa raced a factory stock race car at the old Corona Speedway here in Tucson many, many years ago, long before we got here.  She said she told them she wanted to race and they said she could race in the Powder Puff races and she said no.  So Friday afternoon she got a phone call telling her if she wanted to race, she would have to get a pregnancy test.  She asked them if the Powder Puff girls had to tested and they said no, but she did.  So she scrambled around and found a doctor to do a pg test, so she could have the results in time to go racing Saturday night......!!!  LOL  Said she finished 6th out of 32 cars that started the main event.  She also said then some of the car owners wanted her to drive their car after that.......!!   Well at least I've never had to go to those lengths, although not being allowed in the pits, but being allowed on the track, always seemed a little weird.  

Goodbye Pancho, hope you have a GREAT life in your Forever Home

We had to get home before Courtney got here to evaluate Gus' front feet. That's not a problem, Courtney is always late......!!!  LOL  She has good intentions, BUT, reality gets in the way, as the day wears on, she gets farther and farther behind and we're always late afternoon, because her next appointment doesn't get off work until 6pm.  That's OK, but I was afraid the one and only time we weren't here she'd be on time.  Not to worry......!!!!  

She was just going to trim his heels down a tiny little bit.  With him it's always teeny-tiny, any normal change can cripple him for weeks, if not months.  Unfortunately she noticed a crack at the coronet.  It's only about  3/4 an inch long, but it's at the top and looks deep.  Soooooo, time for another artificial hoof of casting material.  The inside of his hooves are such messes, she didn't think we could take a chance on it, since it was all the way into the coronet.  We are running out of options for Gus unfortunately.  Unless they come up with something else, this is just about the last "fix" available for him.  He's actually walking pretty good right now, which is one reason she doesn't want this crack to cause more problems.  

I think Tula actually was looking for Pancho last night, either that or expecting him to jump out of hiding and attacking her.  I would imagine Boaz will be glad he's gone, they didn't get along at all.  

Saddik will probably miss him, they had some sort of cross species relationship and were always playing thru the corral panels when Pancho was waiting to get fed, or Saddik would reach thru the panels to grab any pellets Pancho dropped.  

Saddik is going to have a lifestyle change starting this week-end.  Doug is flying to Michigan to visit friends and family.  Like a lot of Arizonians, he's from somewhere else.  Saddik has spent a lot of time with Doug in his RV and sleeps on Doug's bed.  For the next week, Saddik will be roughing it, probably staying overnight in the feed room with Nicki sleeping on Anubis' old bed.  I'm sure he's going to think he's being punished..............LOL

John is catching mice in the feed room on a regular basis.  Now we need to figure out where the little monsters are getting in.

This is Miss Grumpy Penny

Penny is probably not going to like any of us for awhile.  Between the worming a couple of days ago and Tyler coming this morning to do "pedicures" she is in a real snit.  Her rear feet grow long in the front.  Tyler told me the name of it, the back of the coffin bone is actually lower than the front, he said it's probably genetic, as if the poor girl doesn't have enough problems, with her broken jaw and hunchback.  Tyler said she should be trimmed on a regular schedule, which won't be a problem because Gigi has to be trimmed regularly too.  And since both of them seem determined to keep their independence, especially Penny, I'll have Tyler come out for them.  He always has a helper with him, Courtney is by herself, so she doesn't need the adventure.

He didn't have to reset Gigi's shoe, just had to trim more off on the outside of her front hooves than the inside.  He says she has some nice looking growth coming out, much fuller and "normal" looking.  So hopefully with the passage of time, her feet will get better.  I'm afraid her shoulder will always be "wonky" from walking crippled all those years, but if we can get her feet straight without shoes, that will be one less thing for her to have to put up with. 

She wasn't too bad at all, and little jumpy, but not bad.  Penny on the other hand was a little kicking machine.  She's fast and she fairly accurate, but this isn't Tyler's first "rodeo" and he managed to keep 1/2 step ahead of her, except for one REALLY close call.  

When he was done, we all left the area, so John could take the halter off and let her out with the others.  He tried really hard to get her to take a cookie from him, but she wasn't having any of it, if looks could kill he would have been a goner..........!!!!   LOL 

Finally got the final 3 wormed yesterday morning.  I had 2 leftover biscuits in the freezer and thought that would be really good for the 2 mules.  I lovingly prepared a molasses and biscuit sandwich, with wormer.  Tula had to settle for 1/2 a hot dog bun.  Took it out, Reba and Tula grabbed it and looked for more.  Rusty let us know that he wasn't going to be taken for a fool, as soon as it hit his mouth, he dropped it an accompanying dirty look.  So it was halter and lead time, I told Doug to snub him up, which he seemed to think might not be necessary.  Hmmmmmm Rusty was his usual obnoxious self to try to stick something in his mouth, but John and I got it done.  Doug took his halter off, and Rusty took off with a kick in the air, as he hid behind Reba with a wounded expression on his face.  They can get some of the saddest looks on their faces, considering they don't really have the muscle system for a lot of expression.  He kicked up his heels a couple more times, before he allowed himself to be "caught", petted and loved on.  Brat....!!

Going up to the Phoenix area to pick up Gus and Quilla tomorrow.

As I always say............WE ARE NEVER BORED.........!!!!   LOL

SOMETHING NEW HAS BEEN ADDED

Yesterday a friend that likes donkeys and was looking for a place to park his RV, pulled in the middle of our circle driveway and is setting up housekeeping.  Well he's trying to, there was no electricity or water there.  Today Doug and John are running electricity.  So far I haven't heard a big bang, so hopefully things are going well.  Last night we went out to dinner with some friends and when we came home, he was using an oil lamp for light.  Hopefully tonight will be "brighter".....!!!

He's learning the feeding drill and today he got to help with worming.  Amy was here cleaning pens, so she got to help too.  Not only that, we had a real nice couple from Alaska visiting for the 2nd time in the last week or so, they got to watch the circus.  You can't say we don't entertain people.....!!!  Amy got more entertainment than she wanted, one of the minis took affront at this mistreatment and tried to rear.  Amy had a hold around the neck, so the rebellion didn't last long, but he tried, maybe it was Justin, not sure.  He's usually a pill, but Cheyenne can be too. 

Doug had to help with Penny.  We have to put her in the redneck squeeze to do almost anything with her.  Even then she can be a handful, throwing her head, which of course is where the wormer is suppose to go.  Doug got a good hold over the top of the corral panel and I got it down her.  If they are really fighting, you don't want your arm thru the panel, or it might get broke.  

Still have 3 to worm, Tula, and the mules Reba and Rusty.  Tula is a given, she isn't going to allow you to stick anything in her mouth, although I must say she actually let Willis the man feed her some animal crackers today.  She's been getting closer and closer to visitors, trying to build up her courage to take something from them and over the years has taken treats from 4 or 5 people.  But it was always on her terms, long neck, stretched to the maximum, grab it and back up quick.  Today there was a certain amount of that, but she took it and came back for more.  

Rusty is an absolute pill about worming, you'd think it was hot acid, Reba not so much, but she isn't really thrilled either, soooooooo,  tomorrow they will all get a bread sandwich, probably with a molasses "filling", hopefully they will eat it without wading thru the filling to see what is in it.....!!

This Wednesday we will head up to Waddell to pick up Gus and Quilla.  Claire got in touch and said the grass is growing fast and green.  Gus just can't be on grass, he's got lousy feet from chronic founder, and it's a real balancing act to keep his feet comfortable.  Fresh grass would send him right over the edge.   Patti's going with us, Doug and Amy will take care of the donkeys, so life is good....!!!  

Except for the fact that we haven't seen Hobo, one of the outdoor cats for 3 days.  It took us 3 years to live trap her for a trip to the vet to be spayed.  For those 3 years she was having 3 litters of kittens a year and the coyotes were getting them.  While we were trying to catch her we did catch 3 tomcats, which went to the vet for "corrective" surgery.  Don't know if they belonged to anyone or not, but if they did, they were walking different when they went home.

The other outdoor cat is Julius from her last litter, we also have Snooky from that litter indoors.  There were 2 females, we had spayed and found homes for.  We also have Sunny in the house, the only survivor from her next to last litter.

We can't imagine what happened to her, she spent most of her time in the back yard, where we feed them on the back porch.  John would occasionally see her going over to the neighbor's, but she had done that for years.  Not sure how old she is, maybe 9 or 10, just guessing which isn't that old for a cat.  We very rarely see coyotes on the property anymore, too many donkey feet stomping around and donkeys really don't like coyotes and aren't afraid to show it. 

GETTING COLDER......!!!

 CUTE BABY WITH MOMMA

It was 16 degrees this morning.  I'm sure there are people in other parts of the country that get tired of hearing my whining, BUT.......... I'm a desert rat, I have neither the clothes or the thick blood for these temperatures and I'm not going to be silent about my displeasure........!!!  LOL 

The donkeys aren't willing to come in when it's cold.  They find a spot that gets early morning sunshine and there they stand, no matter how many times John rings the bell.  Usually we go ahead and feed the ones we have and then John goes out to rout the hold outs away from their nice warm spot.  Tula is particularly irritating.  She will ignore any efforts to get her to come in until the last minute.  Then she will show up, run in her pen, turn around and start yelling at you.  We haven't figured out if she is yelling to say, "here I am", or if she's yelling because her food isn't waiting for her.  Grrr.....!!!  

This morning Cisco didn't show up at all, even after everyone else had been fed.  That was worrisome, Cisco usually doesn't go very far and shows up pretty quick.  So John went out looking for him.  Finally found him standing in a nice warm sunny spot.  Cisco's got real bad legs from being a roping donkey in a roping school.  He gets along pretty good, most of the time, but I would imagine these cold mornings make his legs hurt.  He was moving pretty slow.  Pepper's not walking much better.  I'm sure they both have arthritis along with all their other problems.  

John's started cutting up hay for Cheyenne again.  For months all she's been getting is mush, but she started picking up little pieces of the other mini's hay when we'd let her out of her pen.  So John is giving her a handful each feeding.  All she does is chew it up and spit it out as little quids, but I guess she enjoys it.  Someone comes along and eats them later................YUCK!  

Still putting fly masks on about 6 of them that the flies bother.  There aren't many flies left thank goodness, but the few still around prefer those donkeys eyes.  I even had to put Cisco back on benedryl, his sheath got warm and he started scooting on it, which makes it bloody, etc, etc.........!!!  Two days of benedryl and everything is good, well except for doctoring the scooting scrapes.  

LOOKS LIKE AUTUMN IS FINALLY GETTING HERE

How do I judge that?  That lack of stable flies in my fly trap.  For some reason those particular flies seem to have a season.  I don't know if they need the protein for reproduction or what, but that would be my WAG if I was guessing.  With the reduction of stable flies, I'm starting to remove leg coverings and using Swat or Thuja Zinc Oxide instead.  I think we're all looking to the day when the fly masks get washed and put away and no more doctoring.  Not there yet, though.  

This time of year we have plants that have seed pods we've always called stick tights, probably because they travel around by sticking tight to anything they come in contact with.  We have at least 3 types and each one seems to have their own time to be a nuisance.  Obviously there is something tasty where this type grows, it might be the plant itself, I don't know.  Reba has had her nose buried in them for quite sometime, judging from the vast number of the little monsters on her mask.  The fuzzy material obviously is a great gatherer.  They have to be picked off..........one.....at a time..........SIGH!

This is one of the new masks Michele brought out to see how they will work.  The material is really slick and hopefully not as "friendly" to the stick tights.  So far, so good, she comes in with a few, but nothing like with the other mask.  The mask had ear covers, but I had to cut them off.  Reba has more ear than a horse would.........LOL  Besides she's not a fan of having her ears messed with, I would imagine at some time in her life her ears have been used to control her. Love the design..........thanks Michele.

Have a woman interested in coming out to visit with Pancho and Pepsi.  She recently lost a donkey she had for 15 years and said not only does her family miss him, but the neighbors too.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Right now Ruthie, Ruger and Wister are out on weed control duty, but the way our weeds are drying up, it probably won't be long until they come home.  So if we find a home for the 2 boys, we won't have to put up another pen, right now the pens are full. 

Pancho and Pepsi, dropped right in the herd, like they had never left.  Pepsi actually moved in with the other 3 minis.  They were a herd for years and he remembers.  Pancho hangs with them sometimes, although he also hangs out with some of the jennies.

Speaking of jennies, this morning Pepper was up on Penny trying to figure out what he was doing up there.  How the old buzzard can even get up there is amazing.  I asked John how he got down, we're always afraid he's going to fall and break something.  John said he just sort of slid down and his legs held him up.  He's in a good time right now, eating good, moving good for him, laying down on his left side, so he can get up.  He is such an interesting study, lately he's been coming in almost every time with the "A" team.  That's the fast movers with Tula in the lead.  It's a loose knit group, always Tula, Frijolita, Daisy and usually at least one of the boys, BlackJack, Boaz or Quilla.  It's amazing that Pepper can keep up, he's usually in a rear, but he hangs in there. 

THIS HAS BEEN AN "INTERESTING" DAY.......SO FAR.......!!!

John was suppose to take our neighbor to town this afternoon, she doesn't have a car.  I needed to go take care of some paperwork, and get a blood test, so we decided we would both go to town......just in different vehicles.

So off he went in the van and I took off in the pick-up.  We decided to meet for lunch after he let Donna off at Wal-Mart.  By the time I got to the restaurant, the pick-up was squealing like a pig under a fence.....!!!  I asked him if I needed some belt dressing, but when he looked under the hood, I really needed a serpentine belt tensioner.  No, I don't know what it is either, but if it freezes up, it complains very loudly.  Our "go to" mechanic is right across the road from the restaurant.  John limped the truck over there and the parking lot was so full, he couldn't find a place to park.  Not a good sign, but they said they'd try to squeeze it in.  So off we went, I dropped John off at Wally-world to do the shopping I was suppose to do, while I took the van to do my errands.  Got back to Wal-mart and they both were shopped out and ready to go.  Went back to the mechanic and the truck was ready, won't tell you what emergency work costs, let's just say it rates right up there with emergency vet care.....!!!  

It had rained in Benson, and our main road home and the washes had ran and were still running in some cases.  Got home and it had barely wet the ground.  When time to do chores the rain that hadn't got here yet hit with a vengeance.  Right before we went out to get wet, a friend called and asked if John could come into Tucson to pick up her car that had decided to quit.  He said he would, but after the gulley washer, our wash ran bank to bank. 

John managed to get all the donkeys in except for Tula, and Boaz, had no idea where they were.  Of course when it's raining in sheets, the donkeys aren't the least bit interested in eating, and we weren't very interested in serving them anyway.  Just as it was about to quit, Boaz came waltzing by the feed room.  I went out to put him in his pen, and found out he could care less.  In fact when John and I both started herding him, after I chased him around for about 15 minutes, he decided we weren't going to leave him alone.  The last we saw of him, he found an spot where he could cross the wash without getting his knees wet, and was headed for Burroland.  Never did see Tula, so we assume she is over there someplace.  

When we got the call about the car, John looked at me and said, "don't you dare say it".  "What?", I asked......!!!   Usually when a day goes like this, one of us will say, "well, we aren't bored", guess he didn't want to hear that......!!!  LOL

This morning was the first morning we had done much with Penny since her dental appointment and Tyler came out yesterday. He actually came to reset Gigi's shoe.  But she has a big chunk missing from the front of that foot and he is afraid we might not get the nails to hold.  He said to call him if the shoe comes loose, and we'll have to figure out what to do.  I didn't want him to have a wasted trip, so asked him to trim Penny.  Her front feet wear pretty good, but her rear feet are real underslung probably because of her hunchback.  She was not a cooperative victim, let's say.  Even with a scotch hobble, she let us know she was not happy. 

THIS MORNING AFTER OUR POLO WRAPPING PARTY

This morning I needed to rewrap her front legs, the polo wraps had come loose.  I found out she holds a grudge, she whizzed a rear foot past my ear twice. One thing about donkeys if they want to kick you they will, so I think she was just letting me know her displeasure. 

Tonight, just about the time we got the hay delivered to the pens, it quit raining.  But the wash is now higher than it was earlier, because of the run off.  A lot of time, the wash will run and we won't get a drop of rain, but southeast of us got plenty.  

We have no idea when the wash will go down enough for John to get out with the trailer.  So it's probably going to be a long night. 

PEPPER IS STARTING TO SCARE US...!!

He was down again last night when John went out to let everyone out.  John had taken down the wall that got in the way last time.  This time he was positioned in such a way that if we turned him over his hind legs would be up against the back wall of the shelter.  

So we had to use ropes again to get him scooted around.  He had been down quite awhile, which of course is really hard on his bones and legs.  It took him a lot longer to finally stagger to his feet.  Then he seemed disorientated and really was moving slow, didn't seem particularly lame, but not interested in walking either.  He finally got down to one of the pens a couple of gates down and stood facing the panel where his gate would have been.  I think he was confused on where he was.  We tried to figure out the shortest route to get him out of the pens and I used animal crackers to motivate him.  He moved for awhile and then laid down again.  I think both of us were thinking the same thing about that time.  

We came in the house for awhile, went back out and he was out eating weeds.  Of course that leaves us wondering what would transpire this morning, would he be up or would he be down someplace.  This morning, he came toddling in with the Tula group, slower than a snail, but hanging in there. 

His pen is one of the smallest pens, so we've moved Coquette into that pen and he will be using her larger pen, so hopefully if he gets down, at least he won't have to contend with walls and posts.  

Everyone else is doing pretty good.  Still got skin problems on quite a few of them.  The other day I sent John out to find something for skin problems.  He called me from the feed store and said he was looking at MTG, which stands for Mane, Tail, Groom. I had used it years ago, but had forgotten about it.  It really is pretty good stuff, so I told him to bring it home.  It's really helping with the dry, flaky, scaly stuff that eventually will break out in wet hairless sores.  So between that and the Underwood Horse Medicine, I think we are starting to get ahead of the skin problems.

Still have the stable flies on their legs, which I'm using the men's crew socks and polo wraps for.  No one has any great big nasty sores, so I'm not complaining.

I put out a new fly trap this morning.  It's a solar fly trap made by Arbico.  I was amazed at how flimsy it is and rather disappointed.  Then I read the instructions and after mixing up the bait, you have to let it work for 7 days before using the trap.  Jeesh!  I just want to kill flies, not learn new skills......!!!  This morning I poured the bait into the little cup in the bottom and had about 4 or 5 flies helping me........hmmmm that's promising.  Checked on it about an hour later and there were already about 20 flies dying in the sun.  Well, maybe this is going to be a good deal after all.  One thing they said is, if the temperature is above 95 degrees, the metal is too hot for the flies to land on, so you have to set it in partial shade.  I have it in the sun now, but probably should go out and move it into shade, because I'm sure it will be above 95 this afternoon.

Tomorrow we will take Penny to have her teeth looked at.  She is missing a lot of teeth and has teeth growing every which way in her mouth.  This should be fun, Dr. Debra has drugs which will help, I hope.  We have been trying to get Penny use to fly spray.  That has been interesting, she is not bothered by either kicking with her hind feet or striking out with both front feet.  She has been so abused that I doubt that she will ever be trustworthy, but she does need to learn not to be quite so reactive.  She is much better than when we got her, but she does bear watching.

QUITE A FEW HAPPY DONKEYS TODAY

Today was grooming day for about half the donkeys and Rusty the mule.  Janice said she had never groomed donkeys before, but she seemed to have a good time and of course the donkeys thought it was great.  I think Quilla wins the prize for the most hair brushed off.  The ground in his pen almost looked like it was covered with snow.  Rusty the mule, is shedding quite a bit too.  Must have something to do with being white, since both of them are mostly white.  She said she would be back, I'm sure the donkeys are hoping she makes it...........!!!! 

I've been trying to get Daisy's annual  body clipping done for the last week, but it hadn't happened.  I figured if Janice could brush I should be able to clip, so I got out my toys, dragged Daisy out of her pen, to the feed room, and went to work.  

This is before I started.  Because of her Cushings disease she does not shed at all.  If I didn't clip her, she would go thru the hot summer with all this hair.  

 ONE SIDE DONE

 BOTH SIDES DONE

FINISHED.............LOTS OF HAIR ON THE GROUND 

I know one of the 1st things you are suppose to do when clipping is make sure your victim is clean.  Most donkeys, I would say all of ours do NOT like water to touch their bodies, so I just grit my teeth and clip whatever is there.  When I got done I came in and ordered a new set of blades...........!!! LOL  I brushed some of the rocks, gravel and dirt out, but there was still quite a bit.  Now I will have 2 sets of blades, once I get the old ones sharpened again.  I had them sharpened last year, but they don't stay sharp long if you don't take care of them.  

Poor Daisy, by the time I got done, all her buddies like Tula and Frijolita had disappeared.  First she had to scratch and bite all over her body.  I guess getting the hair off made it easier to scratch itchy places.  Then she started yelling to find her friends.  The problem is, when the donkeys yell to find the others, the missing ones never answer them, same with the mules.  Jack the mule use to yell for Rusty and I don't think Rusty ever answered him.  Now if Rusty loses Reba he yells for her, same deal. 

WORMING DAY........!!!

 

Not exactly the type of face that presented itself for worming this morning.  Although Rosie and Gigi surprised me.  I figured they had never been wormed, but judging by the way they grabbed the wormer tube and hung on, I think they knew what was going on.  Thank goodness they were getting the apple flavored instead of the "ugh" flavored cheap stuff.  When our Tractor Supply opened a few months ago, they had a lot of specials.  One was good tasting wormer at more than half price off, so I got all they would let me buy.  Unfortunately their limit didn't cover the amount of animals and mules we have.  So I had to pick and choose who got the good stuff.  The others got double cookies afterwards.  

I have heard that mules are a conflicted animal from birth, they aren't horses and they aren't donkeys, so they have an internal battle all their lives.  We knew Rusty was going to be a pain, he always is, but when we walked in the mule pen, Reba almost knocked John down getting out.  Unfortunately for her, she only ended up in Tula's pen next door.  John really needs to stay light on his feet and pay attention to his surroundings or he's going to look like road kill one of these days.  Reba's big enough to make a dent......!!! LOL 

Justin is always a little pain in the butt, we have to chase him around the pen about 5 or 6 times, then he hides his head in the corner and I put the halter on him. 

Penny had to go into the squeeze, and while she was there I had to adjust her legging.  It is almost impossible to wrap a leg above and below the knee with a polo wrap effectively and she has fly damage above the knee unfortunately.  She doesn't mind the polo wraps thank goodness, putting them on with her on one side of a corral panel and me on the other, is a good way to break a hand or wrist if she decides to freak out and act stupid.  But she stood still, although afterwards refused to take an animal cracker from me.  Guess she wants to keep her independence.  No problem with Coquette, we couldn't hardly work with Penny in the squeeze, because of Coquette outside the squeeze.  I ask her if she was a nurse.  She had already had her wormer and really thought she should continue getting cookies.......!!

Starting tonight Ruthie is going to be eating with her boys, Ruger and Wister.  She is not holding her weight being with Frijolita at feeding time.  I thought they both ate at about the same speed, but guess not.  Frijolita is a real "Hoover" when it comes to food. 

A BREAK THROUGH, MAYBE?

Gigi and Rosie daring me to come any closer.....!!!!!

Last night and this morning Rosie went in her pen with hardly a hitch.  We hope this is a new way of doing things from her point of view.  Unfortunately, we put her in a "redneck" squeeze after she finished eating this morning.  She didn't think much of it, especially when we had the audacity to "touch" her.  She's not as squirrely as Tula, but almost.  She had an area on her belly where the hair was messed up and I wanted to see if it was a wound.  Doesn't seem to be, last night she was acting like it was bothering her, but it isn't anything except the hair is messed up.  Probably after being so mistreated, tonight she'll be back to her "catch me if you can", attitude.  

We might have to take Cisco up to the clinic in Gilbert.  He had a choking incident a few weeks ago and we took him to Adobe Vet Clinic in Tucson.  They got him cleared and since then we've only given him mush, no hay.  So he's started cribbing on the upright wooden posts in his pen, probably because of no hay.............or something else.  Before he choked he had been coughing when he ate, hasn't done it since.  That leads me to believe that there is something going on in his mouth, or esophagus that needs to be looked at.  Over the years we have learned that rather than start locally with what might be a little unusual, it's better in the long run to just go to Gilbert. 

MOLLY AND JACK WILL BE LEAVING THURSDAY

The woman that came out to see them never got back in touch with me, so I assume she isn't interested.  Thursday we'll haul them to Terry for fostering and possible adoption, IF, they behave themselves.  Actually Terry has told me about some of her other animals and it sounds like they'll fit right in.......!! LOL

Terry use to come out and groom every week, before she got so many animals of her own.  She also took Rusty as a friend for her old mule Zeke.  Zeke hated Rusty guess he saw him as a competitor, so Rusty came back.  She even took Tula one time to see if she could get Tula more people friendly.  Didn't work, and while Tula was there she turned Terry's 2 donkeys wild.  For some reason all the other donkeys see Tula as the head jenny, doesn't matter where she is. 

It will be a great place for Little Jack Horner and Miss Molly Brown and they will get more attention than they would here.  Now if we could just find homes for Ruthie, Wister and Ruger.  They are about the only ones we have adoptable, unless someone might be willing to take on a project.  

This is Boaz's knee as of this morning.

This is Gigi this morning, when we doctored her bed sore.  Tyler thinks she is improving much faster than he expected, especially on the right front, that has the elongated shoe.  Tyler and Nancy were talking about doing a tendonectomy if she couldn't walk on that foot flat.  But she seems to be able to use it very well.  She's spending more time up and less time down, and I am giving her less bute each day.  Once she is off the bute, we will start letting them out of the pen.  Can't wait for the fun of trying to get Rosie back in the pen, she is the "squirrelist" donkey we have ever had, yet she will come up and get right in your face. 

I HAVE A PROBLEM

A very nice woman named Marion came to the Open House and took a video of Boaz "singing".  Actually he was begging, he's found out if he flaps those lips, people pay attention to him and might give him a treat.

I can play  videos, I can play DVDs, I can get sound off my computer..............BUT...........for some reason I can't play the sound from this link.  Actually I have another one of Jonathan Winters doing a comedy routine about a stick I can't hear either.

Let me know if you can or can't use either of these links.  I know just enough computer to stay out of trouble most of the time.

Everyone has forgiven us I guess, they are coming in at feeding time like they usually do.  Unless Tula decides they don't need to come in........!!!! 

BRATS.........!!!

Well, I must say round-up Friday night was "interesting". Most of the herd were over in Burroland and not the least bit interested in coming in to eat hay.  John went over, found some of them, got them headed to the gate, and they circled around him and disappeared.  

I went over and pretty much came up empty handed.  Went I came back, I almost got ran down by a thundering herd, headed for the gate.  John had found them and once he got Tula headed the right direction, the rest followed.  Wished I had the camera, they were running, bucking and having a great time. 

Somewhere in the melee Coquette lost Penny.  Talk about a crisis?  She absolutely panics if she doesn't know where Penny is.  John got her in their pen before she really fell apart, so then she just paced and yelled.  When Penny showed up you could almost see the relief in Coquettes eyes.  Coquette would be adoptable, she's healthy and has had training.  But her attachment to hunchbacked, fearful Penny probably means they will both stay here.  I can't see most people wanting to give Penny a home, although she is very sweet, she is not what most people want in a donkey.  Sad............!!!!  Unless Coquette gets over clinging to Penny, we won't ever separate them.  They weren't even in the same pen up at Milagros, I guess this attachment developed on the trailer ride. 

John had ran across Pepper, so we knew he was up.  But we couldn't find him, everyone else was finally in their pens........no Pepper.........!!  We had not planned ahead for such a problem getting them in their pens, so by this time it's getting pretty dark.  I went over to look for him, and finally came back to go ahead and mix up my feed pans, while John went over to look for him.  John said he walked the complete 20 acres, never saw hide nor hair of him.  Was almost to the gate to come back over here, said he heard a noise behind him, and there was Pepper, looking at him like, "you looking for me?"  

We've seen him laying down twice lately on his left side, which is great.  He can get up pretty easy from his left side, not at all from the right.  I don't know if he puts any thought into the repercussions when he lays down.  My personal thought is his right leg and hip are weak from the hip being cracked and the left leg, while not all that strong anymore, is stronger than the right.  So when he tries to lay down by collapsing his hind quarters, the stronger leg, stays up longer than the almost useless weak one, and the right one gives out first and down he goes.  Maybe the right one is getting a little stronger, so he actually has a little bit of control of which side goes down first.  I'm sure after 3 years of us having to roll him over, he knows what he needs to do, but it doesn't always work out like he'd like it to. 

Yesterday was race day, so they didn't get to go over to Burroland, but we'll let them out this afternoon for a couple of hours.  Hope it doesn't take longer to get them back, than they are over there.......!!! LOL

Finished the test for my "safe driving" award.  What a waste of time and effort, remember I said I was learning more than I ever wanted to know about Speed Racer?  After spending 4 hours studying driving safety with Speed Racer questions thrown in for comic relief, the final test of 25 multiple choice questions was all Speed Racer questions, like "What is Speed Racers favorite animal at the zoo?" or 

"What is Speed Racers favorite snack?"....!!  Afterwards they asked for a critique of the class, so I did my best.....!!!!   Don't think they will be using it as a testimonial.......!!! LOL

Racing has gone better.  The heat race was OK, but in the main event, I got a flat about the 2nd or 3rd lap.  They will let you stay on the track with a flat, unless it is the right front.  Mine was the left front, so I stayed out and managed to stay in the pack, until coming in contact with another car, flattened the right front, so I had to pull off.  You might know, there were a lot of hornets for a change and only a couple of them had fell out, even though it was late in the race.  So I got scored at 15th....!!!  That's my lowest finish this year.  Too bad it wasn't one of those nights when only 10 or 11 cars show up....!!! LOL.  We have 5 more races, two of them the same night as a make up race for a night this summer when we got rained out.  I trying to hang on to my 5th place for end of the year points, it's going to take more than 15th place finishes to keep it.  Hopefully this was just a bad night and not the start of something else.....!!!

I'VE HAD BETTER DAYS.....!!!

 Nigel watching an unhappy male tarantula yesterday

Jill settled in nicely last night, enjoyed her supper and was busy eating her hay when we came in from chores.  When John went out to let everyone out, didn't have to let her out, she had taken care of that little detail herself.  

The 6 panels John used to make her pen were mismatched and it isn't easy to get them put together at the corners, when they have different types of latches & hooks.  

She didn't go anywhere, she was standing beside the pen and came right up to John to see what he was going to do interesting.  He came to get me, I put a halter on her (thank goodness she is a very well trained young lady), we threw Boaz out of his pen.........well he was going out anyway and put her in there for the night.  

I went back in the house and a few minutes later, John came to tell me little Wister was 3 legged lame.  Sure enough, not putting that foot down on the ground, lame......!!!  Since he and Ruthie had been in their pen, and he was just fine when he went in, I think she probably stepped on his fetlock, when he was laying down.  He expects everyone to walk around him when he's "resting", and doesn't bother moving at all.  I guess she miscalculated her step, poor little guy. 

This morning Jill was still in Boaz's pen, which is good, but Wister was still 3 legged lame.  I put a halter on him & checked his leg out better than I could in the dark last night.  There's no swelling but it is definitely sore.  

I wasn't sure about giving him Banamine since he is just 7 months old, but as usual if anyone of them are going to need a vet it will be on a week-end or holiday.  It didn't take very long before he was walking almost normal, which can be another problem.  If it isn't bothering them, life goes on & more damage can happen.......!!!  So he is having to stay in the pen today and for the 1st time in his young life momma isn't with him, we let her out.  She comes by every once in awhile, which stirs him up.  But as long as she is out of sight, he seems to forget about her not being there.  

Remember the 7 donkeys we hauled from the auction area in Buckeye?  One of the jennets has not done well.  She was the one that was definitely PG & had not been eating or drinking much if at all.  Thursday they got her to a vet & she had internal bleeding, infection, high fever really a horrible situation for all involved.  She was euthanized yesterday.  What a sad ending for a very pretty girl, that up until a month ago was running wild & free with her family, until the state decided they knew what was best. 

When the workers were trying to load the donkeys in our trailer, they had them all crunched at the back of the trailer, with a gate closed on them, so they couldn't even move unless it was to jump up into the trailer.  One of them went down on the ground and stayed down for awhile.  I'm wondering if it might have been her and while she was down, she got kicked or stepped on by some of the others?  I was not impressed with the way the state people did their jobs up there and this just adds to my displeasure. 

One little ray of sunshine was Lynn, Jeff and their daughter and grandson came out this morning to groom on the donkeys. They've been coming out about once a month and groom anyone that wants it.  They walk thru the pens with grooming supplies, if the donkeys walk off, so be it.  Most of them not only don't walk off, but will stand really still as long as someone will groom.  BlackJack almost fell over he was so "into the moment"........!!  Tula of course never participates, Penny wasn't interested, but most of the others thought it was great....!!!  They even brought apples & animal crackers......!!!  

Everyone is getting their rations cut, except for Jill, because she's not going out.  The others are all eating mesquite beans like there is nothing else on the planet to eat.  John has cut a pound of hay each day for each and everyone of them, much to their disgust.  Judging from their poo I don't think they are quite as hungry as they would like us to think they are.  Sure don't want to have to pen them. 

DENTAL DAY.........!!!!

Dental day is always "interesting",  & this time we knew we had some nasty mouths.  Both Reba & Penny have let us know their mouths had problems.  And of course we had others that had not been here the last time Bert came thru.

First of all I have to compliment all the mules & donkeys, they really did great, even Penny.  I had warned Bert that she is a fear kicker, but she didn't kick once.  She's really so much better than she was when we got her about a month ago.  

 

 PENNY WATCHING COQUETTE'S APPOINTMENT

 

 OOPS.....SHOULD HAVE DISAPPEARED WHEN SHE HAD THE CHANCE

 

 LITTLE CHEYENNE & TALL, TALL, SIMON

EVEN JACK BEHAVED HIMSELF

Out of 22 animals, only 5 needed work.  Tula was not checked because the only way you can work with her is to put her in the squeeze.  Then if she did need teeth work, the corral panels would be a real obstacle to try to work around.  Bert said the reason their teeth are in such good shape is because they are out here eating brush, mesquite beans, (Yes tiz the season we're starting to find a few beans here & there in poo)  & chewing on sticks & tree trunks.  So I would imagine her teeth are just fine.  And Wister won't need to be checked until he's about 15 months old Bert said.  His teeth are perfectly aligned, unlike Tucker's were.  Tucker had a significant overbite, although his molars all lined up like they were suppose to.  Don't know as he has gotten older if his lower jaw has grown longer or not.  I'll have to ask his Mom next time I talk to her. 

Reba the big red mule had some nasty hooks & waves, Quilla needed a little bit of work.  Little Cheyenne, has been having trouble eating, even though her teeth had been done by a vet not long ago.  Two of her molars were enlarged & deformed.  Welcome to the world of minis, the smaller they breed them (she's only 32 inches tall) the more problems they have.  Simon took off some of the deformity so she can move food more easily around in her mouth.  The way it was, the teeth were up against the inside of her mouth & it was trapping the food.  That is probably why she has been turning her head in an odd way when she eats.  

Lynn had some sharp points & then there was Penny.  I doubt if she has ever had her teeth done.  She had hooks & displaced teeth, ramps, steps, waves. almost a perfect example of all the things that can go wrong in an equine mouth.   Dr. Weaver had said her mouth smelled that she probably had some abscessed teeth.  Bert said the teeth were fine, but all the hooks had chewed into her cheeks & he could even feel the back of the hair follicles, it had eroded that deep & was infected, poor little girl.  Got her all cleaned up, so hopefully once the inside of her cheeks heals, she won't have anymore trouble.  I can't say she appreciated all the attention, but she really was pretty good.  

Bert is a teacher in a equine dental school in Idaho, when he's not on the road.  He goes from Oregon to Texas on a circuit & has for years.  He said he spends about 2 weeks at home out of 2 months.  He doesn't ever tie them up & uses no drugs.  A lot of dentists work at with a vet & the vet automatically gives them drugs, whether they need it or not.  The animals all love Bert, he said he has a camel that is in love with him, that throws a fit as soon as he sees Bert..........how funny. 

Some vets still float teeth & I assumed that when they are in vet school they might get a week or two of training on doing teeth.  Let's face it, vets learn a little bit about a lot of things in school, & probably don't spend a lot of time on any one subject.  I'm sure they are expected to fill in the blank spots of their education on their own as best they can.  Bert said they usually spend about 8 hours on dental, & that includes dogs, cats, equine, etc...........!!!  Wow....that's not much when you figure they are actually learning about different species in that 8 hours.  

Some vets resent equine dentists, I guess they don't want the competition...........BUT.......... I would think there is enough work out there for all.  I certainly can't call a vet & have them show up immediately, whether it's for medical or dental, it's going to probably be days before I can get an appointment, unless it's an emergency.  So I don't understand the logic, they should appreciate the dentists & what they do, I'm sure some do, but some don't. 

De-worming Day!

Well, we've had a fun filled morning.  Today was worming day..well for everyone except Rusty the white mule, & Tula the Wild Child.  They will be wormed later in their feed, because it's not possible to worm either of them with a tube wormer...trust me.......!!!  

I got on my smock with big pockets, filled the pockets with wormers & away we went.  John follows behind me with cookies, so it's not a big deal.  At least that's what I thought until I got to Gus.......!!!  He smelled that wormer & became a Dr. Jekyll......!!!   Talk about shocked...!!!  Gus is about the most mellow laid back guy you could ever meet, but there was no way he was going to just stand there & be so ABUSED.....!!!!  John got the halter & lead & we finally had to tie him up & even then it was a hassle.  Surprised me, most of the guys just stand there at liberty & it's over in a second.  

Headed on down the line to the minis.........hmm........Pepsi is a good boy the other 3 not so much.  Lysa got here to clean pens just about that time, which was good, because the halter John was carrying was too big for a mini & he's never learned how to make a halter out of a lead.  We got Lynn first, not too bad, Cheyenne was pretty good once we got her, Justin.........not what he had planned today.  Lysa finally got the "lead halter" on him & he took off like a race horse.  Lysa isn't one to give up, she hung on, managed to jump over one of the hay feeders that was in the way, but he finally got away.  She got him again & this time we had him in a corner.  One thing about donkeys they know when the "jig is up", he just stood there like it was his idea........!!!!!!  LOL

We saved the best for last, Jack & Molly the mini mules.  We figured they would be a real rodeo.  I think Lysa was disappointed, I know I was shocked.  She put the lead halter on them & they both were really good.  In fact Jack kept getting in our faces to see if we had more...........well I think he was really after the mandatory follow up cookie. 

Ruthie is such a pretty girl & a good momma too...!!

The weatherman says, Tucson has had their last night below freezing.  We'll see if he's right for a change.  We usually run about 10 degrees cooler than Tucson, so that would put us in the 20's, which is better than the 18 it was this morning..!!!

Made an appointment to get Boaz's knee looked at again.  It's been debrided or scraped 3 times I think.  It is so close to being healed, but just won't finish the job, & now has developed a small lump on the edge........proud flesh?  Doesn't really look like it, so it's time to have someone look at it again.  I was hoping it would be healed by fly season, but I've already received my first batch of predator wasps from Spalding.  Poor little things, I doubt that any of them survived their outing into the cruel cold world.  That's OK, flies haven't been a problem yet, although I doubt they've all frozen, unfortunately.  

Looks like a couple of the girls will be going out to a new home soon.  

Daisy & Frijolita have both been here for years.  They are bonded, at least Daisy is bonded with Frijolita.  They are going to a home that already has 2 boys in it, one of which is Jacko, one of our alumni.  Daisy has Cushings disease & has to have daily medication, which Laura is willing to furnish.  Laura's animals are her "kids", so this will be a good "forever" home for these girls.

I don't know what Tula will do, the girls are the main members of her herd.  We have talked for years about Tula going to Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, in Texas.  Mark has leases, that are monitored daily, but allow the donkeys access to hundreds of acres of freedom.  They are rounded up periodically for worming, vaccinations, & general check-up & then can return to their freedom.

Tula has been here about 8 years, & still has a fear of people.  We can put a fly mask on her & work with her somewhat in her pen.  BUT, it is always on her terms.  Emotionally she will never accept people into her life unless she has to.

Being in a "wild" setting would be the best possible life for her.  PVDR has different leases, some for geldings, some for old jacks off the BLM range, & some are for unadoptable jennies, which would work out very well for her.  Mark said bring her whenever we want to.  We'll see how she does after the 2 girls leave.  If she misses them, we'll probably go ahead & take her to Texas, so she can be part of a herd. 

Ruthie, John & the neighbor's dog Boofer entertaining visitors at the Open House this week-end

The weather was great, we didn't have as many people as we have had in other years, but everyone seemed to have a good time,  & the donkeys got lots of attention.  One man brought his own apples, which were a huge hit with the "fur" kids.  Jenny got to the point where she wouldn't take timothy pellets, if that's all they had to offer.  When the man brought out the apple, she had no problem taking that.........!!!! 

I want to thank, Linda, Georgette, Ian, Patti & Mae for all their help.  Couldn't have done it without you guys.  Besides we don't ever see enough of ya'll, it makes a good time to visit in between people coming to see the donkeys.  

Ruthie started yelling as soon as she saw people & Boaz learned to trot from one side of his pen to the other, as the people moved along.  Most of the people were more than willing to give him more treats or pet him, which he figured out real quick.  

One woman came that was here a couple of years ago, & got Tula to take a treat from her hand.  I think over the years Tula has done that 3 times, always from a woman.  But she wouldn't do it this time.  

I got a big surprise, when I looked up & saw a friend from Missouri, Ellyn & her husband Dick.  Ellyn was our bridesmaid when we got married 51 years ago......!!!  They've been out here before, but we didn't know they were coming this year.  They've gone on quite a few adventures with us, picking up donkeys or hay or whatever else we're doing.  They are more than willing to jump into the fray, so to speak.  Tomorrow they are going to go with us to do a home study for Pancho & Ruger.  If the home checks out, which I think it will we'll go pick up the boys & haul them to their new home, which is pretty close to where they are being fostered.  The people are horse people so they know what shelter & fences means,  I'm sure there won't be any problems.   

You might notice the blog looks a little different...............FINALLY.........!!  I have been ready to do some changes with the blog for a LONG time, but didn't know how to do it & was afraid to mess up what I already had.  After we got thru with the Open House, got the animals fed, & had something to eat ourselves, Patti, worked on my blog to bring it into the 21st century, so to speak.  I doubt that it will ever be "nifty neato", but it looks a lot more interesting now, & she showed me some things I can do to make it better.  

Everyone was glad to get out of their pens tonight, but I would imagine tomorrow they will be expecting more Open House with people.  It doesn't take them long to settle into a new routine, especially if food is involved, but I'm sure when the gates open, they'll be more than happy to head out for a day of munching on the mesquite trees. 

 

 Moogee hasn't figured this move out yet, thank goodness

Well, I think Boaz & his partner in crime BlackJack are trying for a world record for losing fly masks.  It's become a daily occurrence for Boaz to come in without a mask.  John has spent a LOT of time looking for them.  I even went out this morning looking, hoping a different way of searching might turn at least one of them up............NOPE 

A nice couple that came to visit this summer, obviously thought some of the masks needed replacing, & sent 5 brand spanking new ones.  Two of the ones Boaz lost are those, & I refuse to put another new one on him.  This morning I went thru the masks I have laying on the sewing machine awaiting repairs from a hard summer & picked out the one easiest to fix.  Now it's out there too, & I guess I'll dig out another one tonight to put on him tomorrow.  I could get in touch with Renee at Colorful Equine, but if I can get thru this year with what I have, I'll order a supply of masks in the spring for next year. 

It wouldn't be so bad, but he is one that really needs a fly mask, because of habronema damage below his eyes.  When he comes in without a mask, his eyes are all watery.  You'd think by almost December the flies would be gone, especially after a couple of nights earlier this month of 19 degrees.  But there are still plenty of them flying around.

The weather this week-end for the Open House is suppose to be sunny & in the 70's.  Last year it was cold & miserable, so Mae said she would bring hot apple cider this year.  I called her & told her as warm as it was going to be, hot cider probably wouldn't be as appreciated as it would have been last year.  

This afternoon John FINALLY got the concrete poured for the rubbermaid water trough to sit on.   Lysa & I have been after him for a year, & he kept saying he'd get to it.  I think we'd given up or maybe he was just waiting for us to quit harping about it.  When we went out for chores tonight, someone had gouged a couple of divets out of it.  Donkeys don't miss anything & if it can be messed up or even better, totally destroyed, that's what will happen.

I'm having a hard time adjusting my feed.  Jack ate over half of the mush I mixed up each feeding.  So far I'm mixing up too much every time, so I put what's left in the refrigerator till the next feeding.   I don't want to not have enough, but at the rate I'm going that's not going to be a problem.

Rusty seems lost, he just stands around usually around the pen area.  Boaz didn't have a shelter in his pen, so we moved Daisy to Jack's pen, down by her girlfriends, Frijolita & Tula.  John took the corral panels down between Daisy & Boaz, so now not only does he have a shelter, he also has the largest pen.  I hope we can find Rusty a mule buddy.