We were hoping we might have Fergus in a halter by the time our farrier came around on Saturday.
Not yet, but that’s okay.
Okay because Shorty; our farrier, said the difference in Ellsworth this time versus last was night and day. It was only last time Shorty was here he was able to trim Ellsworth’s back feet.
Don bought a new (smaller) saddle cinch for Ellsworth and we tried it on for size later that afternoon.
Everything looked good, so we gave Ellsworth a test drive. Our gentle boy walked me around the corral several times. I never asked Ellsworth to move, but he did turn and stop when we asked him to. I couldn’t believe I was actually riding Ellsworth! ♥
I finally got pictures of one of the boys with their pink donkey tongue left sticking out as they tend to do after they have their drinks of water. It was Bernard.
Love you, love you, love you, love you Bernard. Okay, so here’s another secret. My nickname for Bernard is Buhbee. I don’t know why.
And then, after the post last week about mutual grooming, guess who I saw grooming each other? Ellsworth and Nigel!
Morning Bray Farm 
May 3, 2010 at 4:16 am
I am still amazed at how well all the boys are getting along in such a short time … I think they all love, love, love you two!
That last picture is priceless, and the tongue ones are a hoot!
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 5:34 am
These pictures of First Times of anything with these boys . . . the foot-picking-up, the saddle . . . I can tell they are paying attention with their whole bodies.
Here’s a question born of complete ignorance: Don’t your feet kinda drag on the ground when you’re riding these little guys?
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 2:43 pm
June,
If it were any of the other boys, my feet might be close to dragging the ground. With Ellsworth, no. I’m kind of short, and therefore quite lucky to be able to ride Ellsworth. There’s no chance that Don would ever be able to ride one of them because he comes from a race of giants (the Dutch).
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 5:45 am
Congrats on riding Mr. Ellsworth. That is so cool. Will any of the other burrito brothers be big enough to ride? Perhaps someday we’ll see photos of you and Don out on a trail ride with your boys, ponying the extra two along? (A burro parade.)
And the sippy lips pictures were adorable!
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 2:39 pm
C,
It’s not looking like any of the other brothers will be big enough to ride… a burro parade would be so much fun, wouldn’t it? 🙂
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 6:49 am
Love the pic’s. I honestly believe Ellsworth will do ANYTHING for you! He really looks like a gentle soul. Have a good week.
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 6:50 am
So here’s my theory on the sticking the tongue out after they drink thing. Alan and George do this ALL them time. I think it’s a survival thing – they slurp up all the water they can fit in their mouths, hold it in with their tongue, then stand up to look around for predators while they swallow it.
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 7:01 am
Carson,
I think you’re on to something. I do notice they have a mouthful of water when they’re doing this, then I hear them sucking or slurping it down and the tongue disappears.
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 10:26 am
What a wonderful weekend, too! You said the farrier noticed such a difference in Ellsworth between this time and last time. Do you mean behavior-wise or foot-appearance-wise?
Oh, and Ellworth’s halter looks like it fits him so well – help meeeeee, I’m having a heck of a time. The one’s I’m finding that actually fit, then feel too heavy…you know, made for a horse, not a donkey.
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Farmgirl,
Behavior-wise for Ellsworth. He only initially “kicked” a couple of times on each back foot and then just stood there for the trimming; a really nice change for the better. Bernard was actually a big difference appearance-wise… his frogs were HUGE! That was the first thing Shorty (the farrier) noticed before he even picked up Bernard’s feet.
Both boys have nylon halters. Ellsworth’s is actually a small horse halter. Bernard’s halter is a donkey halter, which we ordered online. On both of them, because the halters started out being too big, Don heated up a nail with his torch and burned extra holes at all of the adjustment points until they were small enough. (Heating the nail causes the fibers to melt in place.)
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 11:55 am
Nigel is fast becoming my favorite. Shhhh,don’t tell the other boys since I don’t want any hard feelings.
DI
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Ah the halter thing ! It’s so much better when you can start when they are two weeks old insted of two years old! Looks like your doing it right. Dont rush it, wait untill he is ready, then on the nose and right back off. dont buckle it untill he is fine with it.
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Thanks, Mel! 🙂
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Love seeing your beautiful burros, they all look so nice and tame!
LikeLike
May 3, 2010 at 7:41 pm
My rescued cats all have nicknames: Booboo (for Little Bear) SparkleMilarkle (for Sparkle), Bean (for Simba) ScooterPie (for Scooter). Only one cat has no nickname because her name fits her so perfectly. MacyGray (yes she is a grey cat)
LikeLike
May 8, 2010 at 6:26 am
I tie Sam in a collar, not a halter. Works well – easy on and off.
To get a halter that really fit, I finally had one custom made. It’s a side pull. It’s perfect and helped me ever so much with walking practice with Sam, who is 16 hands at 2 years and quite the headstrong donkey-girl.
LikeLike