Donkeys

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April 14, 2010

Daddy’s little helpers

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, Don, donkeys, Ellsworth, pampas grass |
[18] Comments

According to the boys, pampas grass is delish. With the new fence giving them access, the boys were able to chew our once beautiful plants down to a nub.

Yesterday, I asked Don if he would put up some wire to give the grass a chance to recover. In the interest of helping Don turn a mundane task into something challenging and fun, the boys decided to help.

Here’s Ellsworth providing suggestions for how to begin the job.

And checking in on Don’s progress a few minutes later.

Bernard really wasn’t into how Don got the job done. He was more interested in tools and materials, and most specifically, what each tasted like.

April 13, 2010

Riding Ellsworth

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: donkey, Ellsworth, riding, riding gear, surcingle, The Donkey Companion, training |
[18] Comments

After talking about this for several weeks, Ellsworth and I have reached an agreement. Our goal is for Ellsworth to be my trusty steed before summer’s end. I’ve been doing my research and I think we can do it.

A lot of my reading has been with The Donkey Companion, written by Sue Weaver. Sue says that, “Because they’re intelligent and affectionate, and they aim to please, everyday pleasure-riding donkeys are incredibly easy to train. They need not be sent to a trainer; owners can do the work themselves.”

Furthermore, (I find this fascinating) “They’re reliable; donkeys don’t put themselves or their riders in harm’s way. They rarely spook, they don’t bolt, they’re surefooted, and they won’t venture into danger of any kind. These traits make them superlative mounts for children, the physically challenged, and nervous adult riders of all kinds.”

One of my most daunting tasks will be navigating the world of tack and figuring out what types of riding gear fit donkeys. The first thing on our list is a training surcingle.

For the next couple of weeks, we’ll be working on having Ellsworth lead at my side, back up when I ask him to, and stand patiently when he’s tied. I just know he’s going to do great.

April 12, 2010

The ass is jealous of the horse

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: proverb |
[10] Comments

The ass is jealous of the horse until he learns better.

-Turkish proverb

April 10, 2010

Saturday Parts – Feet

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: Bernard, donkey, feet |
[11] Comments

Carson has pointed out that there probably isn’t anything about the boys that I don’t “absolutely love.” Okay, fine, she’s right. But I do absolutely love the way Bernard always stands with his back feet so perfectly positioned together.

April 8, 2010

The land of green lips

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Farm | Tags: Bernard, donkeys, Ellsworth, green, lips, pasture, watering |
[13] Comments

With watering season underway, the pasture is greening up nicely.

And so are Bernard’s and Ellsworth’s lips. Life is good.

April 6, 2010

Don’s starling and donkey laws

Posted by Morning Bray under Birds, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: bird, book, Don, Donkeys Can't Sleep in Bathtubs, laws, starling |
[10] Comments

Over the weekend, Don took what I think is a National Geographic quality photo of a starling sitting in a palm tree. If someone is doing an essay on starlings and needs a photo, they know where to look. 😉

While we were gone, a book I ordered from Amazon arrived. The title: Donkeys Can’t Sleep in Bathtubs. It’s a funny little book about laws that are real, but not enforced.

In Ohio, it is illegal to gallop your donkey.

In Brooklyn, New York, donkeys are not allowed to sleep in bathtubs.

You’re probably wondering the same thing I am. What are the stories behind these laws? Alas, it is a cutesy little book. The author does say, “I wish I could tell you more about all the zany laws in this book. But there is not the space…”

Do I sense a mission coming on?

April 3, 2010

Saturday Parts – Meggie

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Goats, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: donkeys, evolution, goats, Meggie, pupils, vision |
[12] Comments

I’ve often wondered why goats have horizontal slit-shaped pupils.

In the little bit of information I’ve been able to find on the subject, animals like goats may have evolved horizontal pupils because better vision in the vertical plane may be beneficial in mountainous environments. Apparently, having horizontal slit-shaped pupils increases their peripheral depth perception and also makes it easier for them to see at night.

Did you know that donkeys have blind spots directly in front of and behind them and that they can’t see the ground when their heads are raised?