PUTTING OUT A CALL FOR HELP..........!!

I'm not exactly much help these days with my bum knee, & we have a situation that needs to be made better for 4 donkeys.  

We went out this afternoon to figure out the situation.  The woman said a man had come out & said they were not salvageable, & he could butcher them on the spot if she wanted.  OMG.........!!!!  What kind of people are there in the world...........some of them are obviously on a parallel planet that I never want to be on.  

The couple had gotten in touch with us & I told her we were full, but this situation started us figuring out who could move & what pens could be used for 4 donkeys, actually 2 pens for 3 jennies & an intact jack.  

All 4 of them are unhandled, never haltered or led, never had their feet picked up, nothing.  They are friendly enough in fact I think it was Louise latched onto John & I think she would have gotten in his hip pocket if she could have figured out a way.  Of course her feet are about 12 inches long.  Thelma's feet are flared all around like a plate.  But neither of them look like they have been foundered, they just haven't been trimmed & are on soft ground.  

Beau's feet aren't bad, although he does need "brain" surgery, he's just a little over 2 years old which is just about the time the jacks really start feeling like they are the answer to a maiden's prayer.  Which is why I told the people that they might have 4 donkeys on the ground, but they probably actually have 7...........!!!!!   I've always said I wouldn't have a jack on the property, but it is too hot & too many flies this time of year to geld him.  But we'll figure it out, he'll probably go in Max's old pen, it's the best pen we have.  

That leave poor little Mocha, she's also about 2 years old, the older jennies were PG when the people got them, & they didn't even know it.  She probably was born with some foot or joint problems.  One front foot is really clubbed, & the other 3 are knuckled over with her walking on the front of one of them.  Poor little thing, if they had just got her some care when she was a baby, a lot of the problems would  have been taken care of & she wouldn't have to have a lifetime of being crippled.  

The couple have agreed to let us have all 4 of them.........but we're going to have to take corral panels to make a chute, which means we'll have to take 2 vehicles..............& I can't drive.  I also won't be able to help with the "roundup" much..............so if anyone is close enough to Benson, & would like to do a good deed by helping get these donkeys into a better situation, let me know. 

RACING IS OUT FOR NOW.....!!!

 Went to the orthopedic specialist yesterday & was told if I was a good girl for 4 weeks in an immobilizer knee brace, I probably wouldn't need surgery.  So I guess I better be good & not push the issue.  He wants no weight bearing on it at all & I doubt that pushing on a gas pedal & getting bounced around would pass muster.  He also didn't approve of the brace they put on at the emergency room & now I know why.  The new one goes from ankle to thigh & is about as graceful as carrying around a log.  Very awkward to say the least.  

I'm still helping John feed by mixing up the supplements & driving with golf cart when he feeds hay.  I've learned how to drive it using my left foot.  

So I'll miss 2 race days, luckily we don't race then for 3 weeks.  I tried to talk John into driving it & he said why should he make more work for himself..........!!! LOL  I just thought he might like to see what it's like out there.

The animals don't seem to miss me, right now they are finding quite a few mesquite beans to eat & aren't all that interested in coming in & eating.  Quite a few of them are showing lots of beans in their poo, so far none of the fatties.  But it's about time for some of them to be in pens until the beans are gone.  We're restricting them from Burroland at night.  They're out about 12 hours at night & about 9 hours during the day.  So John closes the gate at night, which cuts down on their eating time over there.  If that doesn't cut down on beans in poo, in the pens they will go.  Hate to do that, makes more work for John & makes for cranky donkeys that think they are being mistreated. 

DEXTER BREED OF BOVINE  33.5 INCHES

Just got back from the emergency room.  When I got up this morning my leg at the knee & below all the way to the toes, looked like an overstuffed sausage casing.  I helped with chores as best I could, but when John got done, he dragged me kicking (well not kicking very high) & screaming to the emergency room.

To make a long story short, after x-rays the doctor came in with the good news, that my knee is broken.............!!!!  It's some little bone on the outside, I think it's the tibia, that has the head snapped off.  So I came home with goodies, like crutches & a knee immobilizer.  The first knee thingy the nurse brought out was so big I could have lived in it, so told her we might do better with a child's size, if they had one.  I've never used crutches before & to say there's a learning curve is an understatement.........!!!!  Frankly I think they are more dangerous than the 2 canes I was using, I tend to over balance on them.

So I guess I'll find out what is next. This is when it would be real helpful if we had a couple living on the property in their RV.  I'm helping do chores as much as I can, but the bulk of work, John has to do.  Everyone is doing pretty good right now, hope it stays that way.  

We don't race this Saturday, but we do race next Saturday.  I already know I can push with that foot from driving the golf carts around, so if I can get in the car, I should be able to race.  John says he can cut the door down about 4 inches to give me more room to squeeze in.  This is information you don't share with the doctor.  My position is, if he doesn't tell me not to do it, I'm free to do it if I want to........!!!   It was bad enough to see the look on the nurse's face when I told her how I hurt my knee...............!!!! LOL

UPDATE

The P.A. took one look at my knee & said she wasn't even going to x-ray, just send me to an orthopedic doctor that will probably want to do an MRI.  Not sure if this is good or bad......!!! LOL  Can't see the orthopedic specialist until Tuesday, so I have an Ace bandage, Aleve & Tylanol Extra or whatever it is to get me thru.  Actually I helped John with chores this morning after I limped out to the feed room with my 2 canes.  I mixed the supplements,  drove the golf cart, & filled water buckets, so I helped a little.  He was more help when he broke his arm I think.  And we had a neighbor that helped then too, but he moved. 

OBTW Pepper seemed back to his old self this morning & even insisted on getting out in Jenny's pen to help her eat her hay.  Tonight John said he wasn't as pushy as he usually is, so he might still be a little wore out from his adventure.  

NOW I'VE DONE IT..........!!!

Last night Pepper didn't come in for feeding.  After everyone else was fed John went over on Burroland & when he didn't come back I went over &  them.  Pepper was down in one of the dust bathing areas & couldn't get up, although he had been trying.  

He was a long way from "home" thru some rough country & it was getting dark.  What to do, what to do.........???  We finally decided to get some straps & the tractor & see if we could get him lifted enough to get his feet under him.  When John went back to get everything he also called Joe from the Oasis Exotic Bird Sanctuary to see if he could help.  Joe said he'd be right here, & John came back on the tractor.  I had been standing behind Pepper to hold him up on his breastbone, rather than laying out flat, which is how he was when John found him.  All of a sudden he tried to get up & when he flopped backwards my leg got caught under his body, which bent my knee backwards, with accompanying snap/pop sounds.  

I wanted to give him a shot of banamine, so John went back & got the golf cart so I could drive it over to the house.  When I got back from getting the banamine, Pepper was up.  We had turned him over on his other side, which sometimes helps them get up, & he made it, but was very weak.   Just about that time Joe & Ben showed up.  We were afraid he might go down again, so the 3 of them marshalled him back & mentally he was willing to go, although he wasn't very steady on his feet.  Got him back to his pen, & he immediately dived into his mush.  This morning he is perky & "P.O.ed" because he had to spend the night in his pen.  

As for me & my knee.............hmmmmm...........will call the doctor later.  We've iced & moist heated & it really isn't very swollen, at least not as much as I think it should be, considering what it feels like........!!!! (G)  

We were suppose to go check on a rescue situation this afternoon, but I think we'll have to take a rain-check.  I'll let you know more about it later.  Over the phone it's sounds like a real mess, & of course as usual we're full up...........!!!!  SIGH...!

"DANG, SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CAMERA......!!!

Just going to the vet for x-rays didn't sound like a "Kodak" moment, so I didn't. 

Since we had an appointment to take Gus in for x-rays, when we picked up Falena with her turned under hoof, I called to put her on the schedule too.

Her x-ray showed no joint damage, in other words a good looking foot, that just happens to turn under when she walks.  Nancy said she had just seen Tyler a farrier than has done some trimming for me in the past in the area.  She called him & he was there in less than 5 minutes ready to put a shoe on her.........!!!!!   WHAT?  I'm about as anti-shoe as they come unless they are being worked a lot on rough ground, & that's usually for horses, certainly not for donkeys.  He said he has seen this quite a lot in donkeys, & in fact has a little mini with both front feet turned under, poor little thing.  He said that little guy will always have to wear shoes, but he walks normal with them on.  And he said sometimes they can wear shoes for awhile & walk normally once the shoes are removed.  

Worth a try, so he went to work.  He put a shoe on that was longer in the front than her hoof.  Then he used an epoxy that mixes in the tube, comes out hot & when it cools off is as hard as hoof material.  Being long like that she can't turn her foot under very easy & ends up walking on it normally, with just a little hitch to her stride.  He said sometimes they actually end up not having to wear the shoe, but not always. He'll check her in 6 weeks & see how she's doing.  I'm sure willing to give it a try if it might give her a chance at a normal life.

I sent copies of Gus' x-rays to Courtney, but haven't heard back yet on what she thinks of them.  They don't look much different than his old x-rays to me, but then again I don't do very good at reading x-rays anyway.   

Had a couple of "horsey" friends visit yesterday.  Even though they both have "ear challenged" equines, they enjoyed walking around & visiting with the donkeys.  The donkeys of course didn't realize they were my friends rather than being an organized tour, & crowded around to see if they might have treats.  Even Falena & Selena figured it out real quick.  Actually I haven't noticed them missing much that goes on around here.  They are still staying by themselves most of the time.  Gus seems to have given up on hanging out with them, although Quilla still checks them out periodically. 

After we visited with the donkeys, Patti & Joyce wanted to see the race car, so I asked them if they wanted to go for a ride.  They're both the adventurous type, so I took each of them out to the mail boxes on the main road & back.  They both really had fun, although they did complain about having to crawl thru the side window opening.  They both managed to make it though, I told them if they do it a few times it really helps with flexibility.........!!!!  (G)

GIRLS ARE OUT.....!!!!

Falena & Selena went out yesterday morning.  Gus' friends from Phoenix came down to visit him again & were here for the "outing".  I opened the gate & they blew past us like we weren't even there, didn't even check us out for treats, which for these girls is unusual.  They definitely known what treats are, but I guess freedom is more important......!!! 

Gus spent most of the afternoon hanging out with them, except when Sheryl would entice him to come to her.  It was really hot yesterday, getting ready for the over an inch of rain we got last night I guess........!!!!  YIPPEE!  

Of course the rain started just about the time John went out to start the round-up.  It's always "interesting" to get the new ones back in their pens the first time.  Not a problem in these girls case, they saw John, here they came & followed him right in.   

I don't think they've made it over to Burroland yet.  One time we heard thundering hooves, & they were running like something was chasing them.  Sure enough Quilla was hot on their trail.  I don't know if he ever caught up to them or not, he was losing ground fast when they came by us.   Falena might have a deformed hoof, but it certainly doesn't slow her down. 

Of course with the rain, nobody wanted to come in.  John finally got all but 6, & by the time we were ready to feed hay, 4 of those had shown up.  All put Tula & her handmaiden Daisy.  Daisy use to hang with Frijolita & Jenny, but lately she's attached herself to Tula.  Went ahead & fed, & they still hadn't shown up.  It was getting dark, so John went over & did a quick walk thru, didn't see them.  So I went over for one last shot, & found them about 30 feet from the gate.  Told Tula to get moving & they went thru the gate.  Instead of going across the wash & to their pens, Tula took a left turn behind the chicken pen & of course her slave went with her.  By this time it was dark enough that I lost track of them.   I guess they double backed on me & went back into Burroland because we never did find them...........!!!! 

Of course this morning they came in with everyone else.  I hope they were hungry all night long...............  I know that didn't happen, the mesquite beans are starting to ripen & fall, so I'm sure they were very happy out there.  

We're watching poo for beans, so far Jenny & Rusty are eating beans.  They are the tallest ones, so we figure they are picking them off the trees before they fall.  When the beans start falling, we'll have to put the ones proned to foundering in pens until the others gets the beans eaten.  Believe me that makes for real cranky donkeys............!!!

OBTW, the livestock inspector hasn't called me back, are you as shocked as I am?  I'm sure 2 stray donkeys  don't rate very high on their scale of importance.

HOW'S THIS FOR A PRETTY SIGHT.....??

This is Smokey & Tom behind the gate, their first day of "driving".  Tom said he took to it like it was no big deal............well except for the "WHOA" part, they're still working on that.  Tom said he's got backing down pat & turning also pretty good.  He even looks like he's enjoying it. 

Tom said he can't put him out with all the mules at one time, they beat up on him, even the mule at the bottom of the pecking order.  But he said it works pretty good just putting him in with one at a time, so Smokey is getting rotated thru the herd with a different companion every day.  Hopefully he'll find his place.  

We picked up the girls yesterday as planned.  They sure are nice girls, jumped in the trailer with very little coaching & have settled in nicely in a pen.  We'll give them a couple of days to get use to the place & turn them out.  

 

 Justin met the trailer, but lost interest pretty quick.  Quilla is absolutely smitten & has set up camp outside their pen.  Selena tried to kick him thru the panel, which didn't deter him at all.  This morning he was still there & judging from the poo, had spent most of the night there.  

This is Falena's bum foot, it's been this way for awhile, the hoof has some deformity to it.  She can put it down solid, but most of the time it flops & she walks on the front.  When we take Gus in for x-rays next week, she's going too.  It might be something that would be better if it was surgically fused in the long run.  

I called the livestock inspector yesterday, left a message & haven't heard back.  I did talk to another livestock inspector that isn't in the Douglas area.  He said they are classified as strays & after holding them for 7 days the state sells them at auction.  He said usually no one shows up to the auction.  I guess if the other inspector doesn't call me back, we'll just press on like we know what we're doing.  

They are very nice mannerly girls, so someone has worked with them.  I still might put an ad in the paper, I'd hate for someone to be looking for them after they turned them loose during the fires or some scenario like that. 

 

By the time we got on the road the weather was getting a little iffy.  We drove thru squalls 3 or 4 times.  Actually they were deeply appreciated, since it was pretty hot, & the rain or threat of rain, cooled it off quite a bit.  

Found the place, asked the lady if she had seen them today & she said no.......!!!  So we started figuring out our plan of attack, with T-posts, barbed wire, & corral panels.  The area is about an acre fenced in with chain link.  Of course the pine trees weren't together, so we had to fence 3 areas.  

John just happened to look down the road to a grassy area & look what he saw?  

 It was about 1/4 mile away, so I took off with my camera & a container with Strategy in it.  I took this picture when I got close, I figured if they took off I'd at least be able to show they existed.  (G)   When I got a little closer I shook the container & here they came......!!!!   Me thinks, they've heard that sound before.  They came right up to me & expected to be fed, thank you very much.  And we hadn't even been formally introduced........!!!!  

I turned around & headed back down the road towards the house, looked around & sure enough, they are right behind me.  An occasional sharing of the Strategy kept them right with me.  

John said he looked up & here I came like the Pied Piper with my little following of two.  They were going to go wherever that Strategy was that's for sure.  So in the gate we went.  We had brought a bale of hay but there is plenty of bermuda grass growing everywhere, so I don't think they would have cared for our offering.  They did like the salt block though..

It took about a 1 1/2 hours to get the trees fenced in.  Unfortunately John has all the lightweight  panels protecting some of our trees, so the 6 panels he took are HEAVY ones.  All the time we were carrying them & wrestling them thru the grass, & over hill & dale, we kept saying, "you know the way things turned out we could have brought the stock trailer instead of corral panels & probably had them loaded & gone in a lot less time".  SIGH...!!!  

So tomorrow after chores we will head out again, only this time with 2 vehicles, the stock trailer, & the car trailer to bring back the corral panels.  Actually we've hauled panels in the stock trailer before,  but can't do it if you have animals in it.

We were thrilled to find out they are 2 young jennies about 2 to 3 years old.  If they don't have a name I like to name them on the way home.

Falena

Selena

 They are in good shape & very pretty girls.  Don't think much of ropes so they might have been used as roping donkeys.  Stuck their heads in the halter.  In fact they pushed each other's head to see who would get it on first.  It's really difficult to put a halter on 2 donkeys at the same time. .......!!!   So I'm hoping tomorrow they also know how to lead & will follow the Strategy into the trailer.  If not we have the corral panels there to make a chute with.  

Falena has a deformed foot on the left rear.  It looks like she's had it for a long time, when she walks it turns under & she walks on the front of the hoof wall.   But it doesn't keep her from going where she wants to & doing what she wants to do from what I've seen so far.  

Tomorrow I will call the Livestock Inspector & find out what I need to do to make sure, I don't get accused of "rustling" in case someone does show up & says they are their donkeys.  I doubt it would happen, unfortunately  there are people that have taken advantage of the fire & evacuating to get rid of animals they don't want to feed anymore.