Bernard has internet access. That’s the one explanation Don and I can come up with for what happened on Monday.
Only one of the boys has a fly mask on in this picture. Surely you can name the masked wonder…
And why don’t Ellsworth and Fergus have their fly masks on, you ask?
It was Monday morning. I had literally moments earlier posted Shoo fly, don’t bother me on the blog when I walked downstairs and looked out the window to see something amiss. Fergus didn’t have his fly mask on! But we had put it on that morning… Then I looked for Ellsworth. No fly mask on Ellsworth either.
That could only mean one thing. Bernard had read Aunt Linda’s comment on the post.
carson Says:
July 5, 2010 at 11:03 amI remember the first time I bought a fly mask…going in the feed store and trying it on to see how much my horse would be able see once he was wearing it.
I’m very impressed that your boys are not trying to rip them off each other’s heads. (Later highlighted for emphasis.) They must realize how much better off they are with them on.
I continued my scan of the corral to find Bernard dragging one of the destroyed fly masks across the ground. Oh Bernard, you are so cut off from the computer. I mean, heavens to Betsy… Don bought the fly masks on Thursday morning. That gave the boys most of the day on Thursday, all day Friday, all day Saturday and all day Sunday to have their fly masks on without incident. Why now?
If you had been here, you would’ve heard words and phrases straight from an episode of Deadwood being muttered once we discovered the carnage. (Bernard separated the velcro from the netting on both of the destroyed masks, and we’ve since tried to sew and/or pin the velcro back on to no avail because Bernard has discovered a fun, new game called Rip the fly mask off the donkey!)
We’re back to fly spray, we have fly predators (thanks, Leah!) and new fly masks on order (they were much cheaper online than at the feed store) and are planning on trying the other remedies you’ve suggested.
Meanwhile, Bernard is grounded. No more internet access for you, buddy. It’s a good thing you’re so darn cute and we love you so. ♥
July 7, 2010 at 3:36 am
That’s like blankets at our house. I always blamed Jaz for being hard on his blanket. Then we hosted Scorch and I bought him a really nice blanket which was torn up in less than 24 hours. Poco and Bernard should not be allowed to play together.
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July 7, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Leah,
Definitely, totally agreed. Deal. Hugs to Poco though. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 4:22 am
They all certainly LOOK sweetly innocent!
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July 7, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Lynette,
And they all are innocent, except for the heathen child. 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 5:47 am
Oh, that’s too funny! I have trouble keeping them on the horses, so wondered if you were going to have more success with your boys. Guess not. At least you know who the culprit was.
How about another round of fly masks and also a grazing muzzle for Bernard? ha-ha. Keep him from grazing on the velcro.
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July 7, 2010 at 9:33 pm
C,
Without a doubt we know who the culprit was. 🙂
Hmm… a grazing muzzle… 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 6:23 am
One of my guys ripped the fly mask off his buddy UNTIL I found the ones that have the DOUBLE velcro closure~ you know, you velcro once and then another flap velcroes in the other direction over that one. They so far haven’t been able to rip those off. One has told me in no uncertain terms he doesn’t want to wear one at all, but I get it on him when he doesn’t protest too much and it stays on all day, SO FAR!!!
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July 7, 2010 at 6:48 am
S/C,
Ellsworth and Fergus did have the DOUBLE velcro closure masks. 🙂 Bernard was able to rip those off. No one minds having them put on now (except for Nigel of course), but Bernard is having a blast ripping them off.
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July 7, 2010 at 6:39 am
I think Bernard might be unjustly accused here… Cover your ears Justina, but it MIGHT have been Nigel….He’s the only one that didn’t have one and I think he didn’t want to be the oddball out.
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July 7, 2010 at 6:40 am
Oh – by the way, how far away are you from hugging Nigel?
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July 7, 2010 at 6:50 am
Nancy,
No recent major breakthroughs with Nigel. We continue to be patient and allow him to make his moves based on his comfort level.
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July 7, 2010 at 6:49 am
Nancy,
My money is still definitely on Bernard. He’s the only one who still had his mask on after all…
Sweet, sweet Nigel isn’t a troublemaker. 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 6:40 am
I can just see the mischief in his eyes 🙂 My children swear our animals have another life when we’re not here :):)
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July 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Patti,
I’m absolutely sure your children are right. Without a doubt. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 6:43 am
Bad Donkey, Bad!
He doesn’t look like a mask eating donkey in that last picture. It’s always the cute ones.
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July 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm
CeeCee,
It is, isn’t it? It’s a good thing he’s cute. 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 6:52 am
Oh dear. I have a suggestion on how to keep the fly masks on, but I’m almost afraid to post it here for fear Bernard might see… Maybe you’ll want to delete this after you read it.
You might try putting the new fly masks on inside out. This will put the velcro straps out of the range of Bernard’s teeth.
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July 7, 2010 at 6:59 am
Carson,
That’s a brilliant idea! Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙂
If you’re reading this, Bernard… Bring it on. 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 6:59 am
I use this product on my horse’s blankets to keep them from being chewed by his friends:
McNasty Anti-Chew Spray
http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=6064
It works really well!
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July 7, 2010 at 7:02 am
Heidi,
Thanks! I’m laughing right now imagining us with an entire arsenal of anti-fly and anti-chew paraphernalia in a cupboard somewhere…
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July 7, 2010 at 7:13 am
Oh what a sweet, innocent, who-me? look in that last photo!
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July 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Shirley,
You know that looks can be deceiving! 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 7:34 am
Oh, too bad. And kinda funny.
Maybe Bernard was trying to figure out how to get one for Nigel, since you so OBVIOUSLY forgot to get him one.
Hope the inside out thing works.
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July 7, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Cathy,
Sure he was… 🙂 LOL.
We hope so too.
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July 7, 2010 at 7:35 am
Oh I’m laughing all the way out here. After raising 12 horse foals, I learned how fast those $20 bills can get chewed up by equines just wanting to have fun. My horses love wearing their fly masks once they get a little more mature. Donkeys? I’m not sure they will ever be mature enough:-) But I’m sure they are thanking you for the new toys! They do look pretty pleased with themselves.
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July 7, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Denise,
Exactly what we were thinking on Monday… “Why don’t we just hand Ber-NARD $20 bills?!” 😀
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July 7, 2010 at 7:47 am
I wonder if they would include you in the game if you walked into the corral with a fly mask on too?
Di
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July 7, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Di,
I know Bernard would… 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 8:27 am
Gosh, I think “take the fly mask off the donkey” sounds like a blast! I certainly would play.
They need to make them with zippers. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Winter,
Believe it or not, Don found masks with zippers… they had “ears” though. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 9:02 am
What a clever rascal. He’s all so “What…?” Love it. *snort*
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July 7, 2010 at 9:03 am
Have you tried duct tape…? *grin*
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July 7, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Carolynn,
It’s tempting… 😉
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July 7, 2010 at 9:25 am
I was wondering how long it would be until they figured out that game. I wish I had a video camera. My little mini donk loves to pull the fly masks off of my horses. He then runs away with it swinging it around like crazy. Once he’s done playing with it he stomps on it to make sure it gets nice and dirty! Funny thing is-the horses never take his off. LOL
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July 7, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Rosanne,
Sounds like your boy has quite the personality too! I can just picture him running off with the masks swinging them around like crazy… that sounds eerily familiar…
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July 7, 2010 at 9:36 am
I, too, was going to suggest nasty-tasting stuff on the masks.
There are a ton of different nasty-tasting sprays — if one doesn’t work, another might (thus filling up your cupboard of anti-fly, anti-chew stuff…………… 🙂 🙂 ).
The nasty-tasting sprays I am familiar with are for dogs (or — are “against” dogs rather than “for” them?????). One kind didn’t bother Wilbur when we were encouraging him to leave his stitches alone after a bump removal, but the other had him leaving them strictly alone.
— Vicki, who remembers putting Tobasco sauce on a baby gate when first corgi Molly was a puppy and chewed on the gate. She LOVED the hot sauce — licked it off and looked for more……… 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Vicki,
Hugs to Wilbur. L.O.V.E. him. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 9:42 am
I have been lurking here, enjoying every donkey post and more. I just adore donkeys but have never had the right location to own one. That being said I have had Saint Bernard’s and I will share with you….uuuuugh not so different as far as “how in the hell did you do that” factor. Our Willow would always “help” Murphy off with whatever he had on, be it collar, muzzle, kerchief, cone when he had surgery….she was like Bernard…”but Mom, I was only being helpful”, as she bats her liquid pools of mischief. I live in Burque and enjoy your photos of everything you post. The Olde Bagg
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July 7, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Linda,
Sounds like Willow was an absolute gem. 🙂 I love your “…liquid pools of mischief.”
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July 7, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Awww, he sure does win the prize for “cute little bugger” doesn’t he? Kind of redeems his naughtiness a bit!
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July 7, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Michelle,
Yes, we’ll definitely give him that prize. 🙂
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July 7, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Ber-NARD! How could you?! You cheeky little donkey you!
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July 7, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Jane,
Yup, that’s exactly how I often speak his name (with love, of course). 😀
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July 8, 2010 at 7:58 am
Bernard reminds me so of my Jack! I just can not imagine Jack wearing a fly mask but he sure could use one. The flies are terrible around here. Jack hates the powder we use and you have to sneak attack it on him.
I just can’t get over how clean all your fellows look! They are so pretty.
Have a great day.
Pam
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July 8, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I’ve decided fly masks are for single donkey households 🙂 I have thought about making up a whole batch of them though.. plenty for replacements. I’ll let you know how that goes. I make lots of plans, and only accomplish about half of them 😉
Bernard is one savvy donkey!
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July 8, 2010 at 10:33 pm
as I come back and read more comments….a thought comes to me……wouldn’t it be fun to see the boys in those Australian fly hats…..the hats with the corks hanging off of them all around! hee hee! those would last about – oh……a second
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