Fergus and Nigel are making remarkable progress during their first few days at Morning Bray Farm. By Monday, Fergus was taking carrots and apple slices from my hand.
On Monday afternoon, he was coming to me out of curiosity. (Thank goodness I’ve since been able to remove his eye boogers.)
And let me touch him for the very first time.
On Tuesday afternoon, Fergus allowed Don to brush him.
And even permitted a hug. Nigel is still never far from Fergus.
It was also Tuesday when Nigel took his first apple slice from my hand. No picture because I didn’t want to freak him out with the camera, but I was doing the happy dance in my head.
Yesterday morning, I looked out the window and thought, “Oh look, Bernard and Ellsworth are playing.” I had to do a double take. It wasn’t Bernard and Ellsworth, it was Fergus and Ellsworth! And Bernard and Nigel!
April 22, 2010 at 4:19 am
WOW … everyone has come a long way in such a short time. That’s truly wonderful!
Love the video of them all playing.
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April 22, 2010 at 5:47 am
Nice to see the boys all getting along so well. Donkey party! Yahoo!
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April 22, 2010 at 6:21 am
Wonderful post! I’m not sure there is a feeling comparable to knowing and experiencing the moment you feel the trust factor kick in from one of these guys.
We adopted/rescued a mini horse and mini donkey from a sketchy situation. We treat ‘the boys’ as family. To feel the love and trust in the relationship I have with them is one of the greatest experiences of my life! Donkey/Burro hugs are the BEST!
So glad your boys are having fun with each other and mingling. 🙂
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April 22, 2010 at 6:32 am
Jenny,
Thanks. We couldn’t agree with you more. 🙂
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April 22, 2010 at 6:25 am
Awwwwww. Aren’t you glad you got two?
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April 22, 2010 at 6:31 am
Duffylou,
Yes, absolutely yes!
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April 22, 2010 at 7:12 am
I can picture the doubletake you did when you looked outside and saw the unexpected matchups – how stinkin’ cool. So what should we expect tomorrow? A halter on Fergus? Or maybe you’ll be picking out his feet? Nothing would surprise me at the rate they’re both progressing.
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April 22, 2010 at 7:58 am
So much progress in such a short time…wow! I love Fergus’ little mohawk!
Great video. So peaceful and exciting at the same time.
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April 22, 2010 at 7:59 am
Oh that makes me smile this morning. Your boys have all found their way to Donkey Paradise and are already starting to show you their love. How are you ever going to get anything done around the house with such fun going on outside?
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April 22, 2010 at 8:21 am
Goodness, what a beautiful video, complete with birdsong and dancing Burros. Just lovely – and a wonderful way to start my day, thanks.
Christina / South Valley Girl
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April 22, 2010 at 8:45 am
I want burro’s…I want burro’s… I want burro’s…. dang! It didn’t work! So glad to see them all playing together. Between yours and Carson’s blogs, I swear I am ready to quit my job, totally uproot my entire family, move to the country and live the life I’ve always dreamed of. Thanks for sharing.
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April 22, 2010 at 10:46 am
How adorable to see them playing. I can hardly wait to be there to see the old and meet the new grandchildren and all their running around during my stay!
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April 22, 2010 at 11:18 am
Burros and donkeys…oh, my! Gosh they look so sweet!! I am a amazed at how trusting the wild burros are and so appreciative at how loving the BLM people are with them. What sweet, playful guys they are.
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April 22, 2010 at 12:23 pm
How wonderful that they are all getting along so well, so soon!
You’ll have them both in your back pocket in no time. 🙂
Question time:
Were the boys tamed a bit by the prisoners before coming to live with you?
Can you help me tell them apart? Obviously, Ellsworth is Ellsworth.
It looks to me like Bernard and Nigel are both gray–but Bernard is shorter? Fergus is a coffee/chocolate color??
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April 22, 2010 at 3:04 pm
CeeCee,
As far as we know, the burros at BLM are not worked with other than for health requirements; vaccinations, Coggins, gelding, etc. I think we just got really lucky with Fergus. And, I think Carson is right… Fergus and Nigel are watching Bernard and Ellsworth to see what’s okay and what’s not.
Yup, Ellsworth is Ellsworth. Both Bernard and Fergus are gray – Fergus has a little more brown in him than Bernard though. And yes, Bernard is the shorty in the bunch.
Nigel is the coffee/chocolate colored baby. 🙂
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April 22, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Happy donkeys! Great video, your herd is well blended now.
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April 22, 2010 at 2:15 pm
What a wonderful start to my day! Almost enough to make me forget it was 45 degrees and raining!
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April 22, 2010 at 5:18 pm
They’ve got good mentors. I love to see them loping around!
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April 22, 2010 at 6:25 pm
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April 22, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Glad to see everyone is bonding so well with both the two and four-legged animals!
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April 23, 2010 at 8:54 am
Awwww. What a lovely bunch of boys.
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April 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm
EEEEK!!!
I just recently discovered your blog via 7MSN and Woof Whinny Whisper (she is my BFF) and I am smitten with your herd of lovely donkeys!
The video of them playing made me laugh out loud! I hope to one day add a pair of little homeless burros to our herd and this video made me more certain than ever!
I will be visiting regularly to oooh and aaaah over the perfectness of your long eared herd 🙂
Please give everyone a kiss on the nose (well, maybe you can kiss Fergus and tell him to pass it on to Nigel until his is less shy?)
Many whinnies and woofs from my herd and pack to yours!
Sue
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July 31, 2010 at 10:37 am
This is delightful! In a way it makes me sad, though, because I’ve been around animals all my life, even did volunteer work with the critters at the Catoctin Zoo in Maryland, but I have never been close up and personal with a burro! One of these days….
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