Fergus’s front feet are a teensy bit too long.
It’s not earth-shattering, nor is it an emergency, but from watching the way he walks, I know he’ll feel better once his feet are trimmed. He walks like you’d walk if you had shoes on that were too big.
So, we’ve been working on rubbing his legs and touching his feet this week.
Yesterday afternoon, I was in the corral hanging out with the boys and figured I’d give it a shot.
Other than putting his head down as if to say, “Umm… excuse me?”, he really didn’t seem to object. The jerkiness of the video and the abrupt ending came along when Bernard decided he wanted to pay homage to the hockey playoffs by coming up behind me, taking the hem of my shirt in his mouth and trying to pull it up over my head. ♥
In any case, you are now an official witness to the very first time one of Fergus’s feet was picked up.
April 25, 2010 at 3:48 am
That’s amazing! It won’t be long til Fergus will let you trim those hoofs! I had to laugh over Bernard’s silliness, although maybe you didn’t find it that amusing at the time …..
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 5:52 am
Fergus is so sleek, healthy & happy compared to the sad looking donkey’s we get here. I’m glad that he didn’t make too much of a fuss having his feet picked up and touched !
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 6:07 am
Wow, that’s so neat to see how their trust in you is growing every day. They were wild last month! Good job with your kind and gentle handling of the new boys. They are so lucky to have come home with you.
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 6:07 am
Well done! And with your camera in the other hand! Only a blogger would ever attempt that. Shorty will be so stinkin’ impressed – I know I am.
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 6:25 am
I haven’t found too many things that mine won’t do if there are cookies involved. We call those crescent-shaped apple treats horse crack. Lift your feet, walk through fire, no prob.
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 8:09 am
Each step of this getting to know them process builds the bond, doesn’t it… ❤
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 8:39 am
Looks like he is going to do fine with foot trimming day when it happens. He’s such a sweetheart.
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 9:14 am
Kudos to Fergus for being such a good boy, and kudos to you for being talented enough to hold the camera AND pick up his foot!
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 11:22 am
We need to practice that with Jack. He does not like to have his feet messed with at all. Plus he is quite the kicker.
Fergus looks like he will do just fine.
Have a great day.
Loved the video and pictures.
Pam
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 11:45 am
I love it! Bernard, you little stinker! (You’re my kind of critter!)
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 12:12 pm
If he got your shirt off you would have been ejected! haha!
Are you trying clicker training at all or just bribes?
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Kate,
We’ve been doing a little bit of clicker training, but I’ll admit probably not enough. Bribes usually come in the form of extra attention and scratches, which works extremely well so far for everyone except Nigel, who is still leery of being touched.
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 1:59 pm
How wonderful to be moving so quickly with Fergus. Nigel will come around soon enough. Each time he sees that you terrifying human creatures don’t eat his brothers, he’ll learn a little lesson. 🙂
LikeLike
April 25, 2010 at 3:18 pm
He is a sweet boy. And a good example for Nigel.
LikeLike
April 26, 2010 at 6:46 am
Yay Fergus! He’s acclimating so fast…
LikeLike
April 26, 2010 at 7:39 am
Amazing how quickly Fergus has come to trust you. I would have loved to seen the video w/Bernard – bet that was a hoot! Does anyone ever say that anymore?
LikeLike
April 26, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Look at the trust you’ve built with Fergus already ((applause))!! I can tell you and Don are having the time of your lives with these boys – and I can *so* relate! 🙂
LikeLike
April 27, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I sure hope his letting you handle his hoof is a good sign. We had no real experience with how unpleasant untrimmed hooves could be until we “rescued” some goats and sheep whose owner could no longer adequately care for them because of a back injury. Some of these poor critters were obviously favoring their sore hooves and many a one was starting to curl. Needless to say this was the first thing we did for them, some were okay with the attention and some were definitely not. I can’t imagine how difficult it could be with a big boy like your guys. Anyway, good luck with your effort. Ken and May of Fancy Fibers Farm
LikeLike