We’ve had a wonderful week of firsts at Morning Bray Farm.
On Saturday, Ellsworth rode with his new headstall, bit and reins for the first time. One day later, Patrick was wearing his first fly mask and loving it. Then, on Monday, Ellsworth and I had our first riding lesson together. We even got him ever so briefly up to a trot.
Despite all of the excitement and activity here, Don and I always make it a point to spend time with every one of our critters every day… even if just for a few one-on-one uninterrupted minutes.
For the very first time on Tuesday, Nigel let me really brush him. We’ve brushed him before, but he never allowed us to brush him for more than a few minutes… and definitely not all over.
This time, Nigel allowed me to brush him until the comb ran cleanly through his hair… about 20 minutes. We took a medium-sized dog’s worth of hair from him.
I throw the boys’ hair over the fence so that the birds can nest with it, and so Bernard doesn’ t eat it.
Yesterday, Nigel graduated to a dandy brush and the FURminator. Again, he stood quietly while I brushed and brushed and brushed him.
It looks like he has a gorgeous black coat underneath all of his old, dirty hair.
Being that Nigel is four years old this year and this is the first time he’s accepting regular grooming, we can’t wait to see what the boy underneath really looks like.
Beautiful, for sure. ♥ ♥ ♥
June 23, 2011 at 5:33 am
AH Nigel, slowly but surely moving forward! 🙂
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June 23, 2011 at 5:50 am
If this keeps up, Nigel will be chasing you around with the brush in his teeth.
“Brush me! Brush me!”
It must feel so good to get all that itchy dead hair off! The bonding is a pleasant side-effect.
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June 23, 2011 at 7:19 am
Sounds like a really productive week. I’ll bet the brushing felt really good.
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June 23, 2011 at 7:26 am
So glad Nigel is relaxed enough to let you brush him. He surely realizes just how good it feels and also it’s not a bad thing to get attention from the humans. You must be so pleased. 🙂
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June 23, 2011 at 7:32 am
I bet that Nigel thought to himself, I should have allowed you to do that long time ago since he must felt so good from all the brushing! 😀
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June 23, 2011 at 7:43 am
Slow and steady wins the race. 🙂 How wonderful for you, Don and Nigel. It’s always amazing what a little love can do to a worried (donkey) heart.
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June 23, 2011 at 8:21 am
What a wonderful week! 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what happens next! 🙂
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June 23, 2011 at 8:32 am
How lovely for all of you….just one more baby step towards Nigel claiming his total Nigel self. “Being loud, proud and Donkey, hear me bray” says the beauteous boy.
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June 23, 2011 at 8:53 am
Nigel will be as beautiful on the outside as he is on the inside, in no time at all.
….Bernard eats the hair….? *pained expression* oh boy…
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June 23, 2011 at 10:47 am
Such wonderful news about Nigel! Happy tears and a little happy dance from me!
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June 23, 2011 at 12:36 pm
how wonderful that you got your first ride on Big Red, and that’s great about Nigel! His defenses are crumbling…. slowly…. donkey style….
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June 23, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Yay Nigel and Yay for you and your first lesson! Would so like to hear more!
Long live the donkey furminators! You and 7MSN have got to be the first! LOL
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June 23, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Yay Nigel!! It must feel good to be brushed so well. Love to you and your brudders.
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June 23, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Sounds you all had a great week!
Good boy, Nigel! You are very beautiful!
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June 24, 2011 at 6:43 pm
How sweet!
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