Burros

Archived Posts from this Category

June 21, 2010

A day with Carson

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: Carson |
[20] Comments

We always look forward to Carson‘s visits.

Carson has the patience of a saint when she’s working with the boys, and she’s a great teacher to me.

I was thrilled on Saturday when Carson wanted to work on clicker training using the chucker. Even Nigel got into it.

It didn’t take but a few minutes for Fergus to catch on.

He was all too happy when he realized if he touched the glove, he was going to get one of the peppermint candies Aunt Linda brought for them. I was all too happy when I saw first hand exactly how clicker training works and how it’s going to help us with other things, such as getting Fergus to lead.

Of course, Carson was practically accosted by young Bernard once he realized she had peppermint treats.

Peppermint treats or not, the boys wanted to be wherever Aunt Linda was, and I had fun being able to take pictures of Carson taking pictures. When does that ever happen?

Nigel is so close to letting us really touch him.

Of course the boys enjoyed their butt scritches and took full advantage of the fact that Aunt Linda was doling them out.

This was the first time for Carson to see Fergus and Nigel since the day after they arrived at Morning Bray.

They’ve come a long way since then.

Carson loves spending time with the boys just as much as we do. We think that’s super cool.

Bernard couldn’t agree more. I so wish I had gotten a picture of Bernard wrapping himself around Carson. She said she felt like she was being squeezed by an octopus. Mind you, Bernard doesn’t do that to just anyone… only the people he loves. ♥

June 10, 2010

Oh how they play

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: playing |
[14] Comments

Just about every evening as the sun starts to set, the boys come alive with play.

I think they relish the departure of the intense sun.

Sometimes they play in pairs.

Sometimes it’s all four.

Oh how they play.

And play.

June 9, 2010

Happy Dance for Fergus

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros | Tags: Fergus, halter, Happy Dance |
[18] Comments

Would you care to join us in doing the Happy Dance for Fergus?

While we were browsing at the farm supply store on Sunday, Don mentioned something about trying our rope halter on Fergus because maybe it was the metal buckles on our other halters that were spooking him.

Sure enough, using the rope halter last night made a world of difference. Just like that, no spooking and no resistance. Fergus even thought it was okay to continue eating his dinner.

I am so happy. This means that most likely Fergus’s feet will get trimmed when the farrier comes later this month. Our amazing boy has done such a good job of letting us pick up and pick at his feet these last couple of weeks. Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance!

June 8, 2010

Hanging out with the boys

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: burros, Don, donkeys |
[16] Comments

June 7, 2010

Exgooberance and another first touch

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, chucker, Jolly Ball, Nigel |
[27] Comments

First, for Mel in N.Y., here’s Bernard modeling the chucker a la Morning Bray Farm. Thanks, Carson!

Now, on to Bernard’s exgooberance for the poor, poor Jolly Ball.

Don came home last week to find Bernard stepping on and shredding the Jolly Ball.

Poor, sad Jolly Ball wasn’t jolly anymore. Of course Don immediately took it away from Bernard for fear that he would swallow a piece of it.

A trip to the farm supply store yesterday morning brought us home with a shiny new Jolly Ball. Bernard was very skeptical.

Upon further examination…

Bernard determined that the new Jolly Ball was worthy of his attention. Hmm… same technique though. We’ll have to keep an eye on Bernard and his new Jolly Ball.

Meanwhile, we have some other extremely exciting news to share! Nigel let me touch him for the very first time yesterday morning. Back-to-back scritches on his forehead… we’re totally okay with baby steps buddy. Love you. ♥

June 5, 2010

Vying for scritches and hugs

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: Ellsworth, Fergus, mom |
[22] Comments

On Thursday, after seeing the Hairy Hacienda madhouse, Carson asked if you all could see what happens when MeeMaw gets ambushed in the corral. I wouldn’t say my mom was ambushed, but Fergus and Ellsworth definitely vied for her attention, scritches and hugs.

This was the first time for my mom to meet Fergus and Nigel. Fergus instantly glommed on to my mom. Interesting.

Ellsworth knew from her visit in October that my mom was good for scritches.

As always, there were a few aww moments. Look at Ellsworth’s head on Fergus’s back. You can see Nigel dutifully standing behind Fergus.

And Ellsworth rubbing his face against my mom’s back…

Fergus willingly accepted a hug…

And so did Ellsworth.

If you happen to be wondering where Bernard was during all of this, he was busying himself with trying to eat the camera and wrapping his pretzel self around me. I think he might be turning into a momma’s boy. I find myself totally okay with that. ♥

May 27, 2010

Peace

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, burros, donkeys, Ellsworth, Fergus, Nigel |
[10] Comments

May 26, 2010

Cookie monsters

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family, Recipes | Tags: burros, donkeys, recipe, treats |
[18] Comments

Last week, in an effort to help us connect with Nigel, C in WI was kind enough to share a recipe for Paco’s favorite treats. Paco is C’s shy, rescued Peruvian Paso. According to C, these treats bring Paco to his knees begging. Hmm. Would they have the same effect here at Morning Bray Farm?

First, here’s the recipe for Paco’s favorite treats:

1 c. bran cereal
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. molasses
1 1/2 c. flour.

Mix together. Put teaspoon full dough on greased baking sheet. Flatten with fork and sprinkle of sugar (like Peanut Butter cookies). 350 for 15 min.

We were fairly certain what the outcome of our baking experiment would be. Not surprisingly, we discovered we have four cookie monsters.

Bernard thought taking a picture of the treats was a ridiculous waste of time.

Ellsworth thought they were delish and immediately asked for a second.

Fergus thought he had died and gone to burro heaven. Keep in mind during all of this I was hollering at Don, “Wait, you all are going too fast. I need to take pictures!”

Oh, sweet Nigel. Would you like a cookie sweetheart?

Paco loves them, so you will too. Better hurry though, before Fergus gets it.

Oh dear! It fell on Ellsworth’s butt. (This place is a madhouse.)

Let’s chase that puppy down before Ellsworth runs off with it, okay?

Here you go, buddy. I then heard Nigel exclaim something about a par-tay in his mouth.

Meanwhile, I turned around to find Ellsworth still pleading with Don for a second cookie. As was Bernard’s, Ellsworth’s upper lip reach was quite impressive.

After everyone had their second cookie, Ellsworth got to lick the plate. I noticed something else going on then too. Look at Bernard’s mouth. He’s savoring that molasses goodness.

They all did it. Too cute, I tell ya.

Dear C in WI,

Thank you so much for sharing your recipe for Paco’s favorite treats with our mom. We loved them and think you and Paco ROCK. Hugs to you and Paco from all of us.

Love,

The Boys ♥

May 23, 2010

Sunday Cinema – Suppertime

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Sunday Cinema | Tags: burros, donkeys, eating |
[27] Comments

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit in the bottom of a feed tub? Just in case you have, The Boys of Morning Bray Farm present Suppertime.

Call me eccentric if you must, but I think I could listen to the boys eat all day long. ♥

May 20, 2010

It’s all about Nigel today

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros | Tags: burro, Nigel |
[22] Comments

The other day Carson and I were talking about how when we blog about a particular burro, cat, dog, donkey, goat, horse, pig or sheep, it often happens that particular critter becomes the resident star at 7MSN or at Morning Bray that day.

For example, yesterday I found myself actually telling Bernard that he made Cat snort her Diet Coke, Duffylou loved how his legs were crossed, C in WI thinks his mug belongs on greeting cards, Ken and Mary Berry thought his picture would make a great book jacket picture (by the way, he immediately began writing his memoirs), and June thought he might like using the rake as an Awful Good Buttscratcher (Bernard also thought that was a fabulous idea).

In any case, mostly due to his shyness, poor Nigel really hasn’t had his chance to shine, so it’s all about him today. He’s a gorgeous boy.

I know I can’t rush it, but I so badly want to hug him and brush him. And wipe away his eye boogers. He still won’t let us touch him, but he does seem to be more and more comfortable with us as each day passes.