OSCAR HAS SETTLED IN

 Well, he was a little hesitant at first, of course Casper the little white mini mule had to act like a brat and let Oscar know, he wasn't welcome.  Casper always does this for a day or so, I guess it's a mule initiation of some kind.  Only Casper seems to know the rules....!!  LOL  

Of course at the same time the girls are trying to catch the eye of the new guy and Beefy and Boaz are trying to keep the new guy away from "their girls.  The word chaos comes to mind. There would be mass squabbling going on and then things would quiet down, then someone would bray and it would start all over again.  

After the first day or so, Oscar decided he was still interested in the girls and and let Beefy and Boaz know in no uncertain terms he was in the fight.  He's very quick with his hooves and I'm pretty sure the bite on Beefy's neck was Oscar's contribution to the fun.  After one day of intent attention Boaz removed himself from the battle.  That was about the time Suzanne headed for California with 10 donkeys for the RUN WITH THE BURROS event put on by California Breakfast Burritos.  She took 4 of the girls with her, which cut down on the available girls to chase.  

It finally came down to just Beefy, Oscar and Tula for the most part.  Last night at roundup time, John got Tula in her pen and Beefy and Oscar decided they weren't leaving her pen area.  About 1 1/2 hours later, we managed to get Beefy in his pen and Oscar in his pen.  Beefy wasn't really a problem, although John would get him within sight of his pen, Tula would bray and he'd run back to her pen.  Don't know how many times they did that, but John wasn't amused.......!!! LOL

In the meantime I'm on the trail of Oscar, all over the 10 acres and a couple of side runs into Burroland.  With donkeys once you start you have to finish, or they win.  Of course I couldn't run with him, but I certainly could keep him in sight and let him know I was back there.  I don't know how many times we got all the way to his open gate and he'd mosey past like it wasn't even there and around we'd go again.  I'm proud to say, I didn't fall over rocks or tree branches enough to fall, which hasn't always been true in the past.......!! LOL

This morning he followed Susan one of our volunteers into his pen like he'd always done it that way.  I'm really glad, I didn't want to do it again at least for a day or so........!!!  Usually once you walk them down once or twice, they realize they aren't in charge and will cooperate.  But if you give up, in their mind they won and next time they expect to win again.  

Suzanne has reported in from California, she's had a great time, except for the wind.  One of the pleasures of spring I guess.  She said there were gusts of 50mph which can get pretty miserable.  

Here are some pictures from California to share

Don't know for sure but think this is waiting for the race to start

 Siggy and Mamacita

A closeup of stuff on the table between wind gusts...LOL

A customer with his new best friend, have no idea what it looked like by the time he got it home.  I think it's probably an indoor type of donkey.....!! 

Harley is trying to tell his team mate, the trailer and hay is that direction

Wonder what Siggy is thinking about?  Judging from the tightness of the lead and the set of his ears he might be thinking, this isn't what I had planned for today........!!! LOL