Tears

I have said before that this is a very special place.  This is a place where horses come that have not always been loved or taken care of and the farm people help them heal and feel safe and find them new families that will love them forever. Do you remember me telling you about that in my very first letter? 

Well I hate telling you this part because it is sad, but sometimes a horse comes to the farm that is very sick.  And sometimes it turns out that neither the farm people, nor the animal doctor, can help them get better... no matter how much they want to. Sometimes all of the medicine and love in the world cannot help. Everyone just hates it when that is the truth, but sometimes that is the way things are.

We just got a new girl horse from the auction and it was a good thing because Unspeakable Things would have happened to her if we didn't bring her here.  We named her Ginger.  But when the animal doctor came to give her a check up we learned that she was a very sick girl who could not get better. Let me tell you, that was a sad day and the start of  very sad week. The farm people cried about the news and all of the animals were sad too because we wanted her to feel better and have a wonderful life.  Well, that could not happen so the farm people had to put her to sleep.  Sometimes that is what they have to do.  They buried Ginger here on the farm.  They cried a lot and were very sad and also very mad at the people who had not taken care of her.  I think they hate those people, I really do.

So sometimes it is pretty tough around here. The farm people have to deal with a lot because they love animals so much.  I don't know how they do it, I really don't, but I know they are all glad that Ginger came here so that she could feel love at the end of her life and that she did not have the terrible ending that would have been her fate otherwise.  She felt love, I know she did, because that is what we do. We just wish it could have been a different ending....

I think we are going to be crying for awhile around here... So please say a prayer for my farm people, that the big sad feelings will stop hurting so much, and please say a prayer for sweet Ginger, that she will always, always remember the love she was given...

Love,

Donkey

Feeling Better

Thank you to the farm people who helped make me feel better.  Everything is ok now.  I decided that it will be ok if dinner is occasionally a little late because of the baby.  He really is pretty cute and, like I said, I'm glad he and his mom are here...

Getting a hug and talking things over. 

My fans remain loyal and steadfast.

They think I'm pretty cool, but they said I couldn't have any beer. 

So what they all told me is that all of the animals who live here are loved, that there is plenty of love to go around and that it never runs out.  I believe them.

Love,

Donkey

New Kid on the Block

Well, if you have been paying attention at all to the website you should know by now that we got a new baby a few weeks back.  Let me tell you, this kid is the most famous little guy in the county!  He has been in the newspaper twice and he has been on TV, not that he said much during the interview. You would think the TV people would have wanted a comment from the mascot for their news clip wouldn't you?  Humphh... They didn't.

And if you remember the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Coster, when he had more hair, you will know what I mean about the company coming. Remember the "if you build it, they will come" line?  Well, this baby is no less famous than that baseball field, let me tell you.  Just like in the movie, cars have been coming down the road, one right after the other, pulling into the driveway day and night and everyone who gets out can only say one thing: "We stopped to see the baby"! Sometimes there is so much company that our dinner is actually late because everyone is oohing and ahhing over him, and the farm people, who have known this little guy since he arrived, join right in.  They all seem transfixed. Everyone stands around and watches him eat and drink and stand and lay down.  They watch him in the pasture.  They watch him in his stall.   They are constantly talking about his long legs and his whiskers and they are constantly taking pictures of him.  He doesn't change that much from moment to moment does he? I have even noticed that the farm people, when working, all of a sudden stop what they are doing just to walk over and watch him.  They simply stand and stare with big smiles on their faces.  And they are all carrying cameras around like tourists visiting the Grand Canyon.  It's like he has cast a spell over everyone...


He sleeps.

 

He wakes up.



He eats.  That's about it.

So alright.  We have firmly established and agree that this little boy is cute and that his legs are unusually long.  So why, oh why, do people have to keep saying these things over and over?   I have to  point out that it seems people are losing focus slightly and are forgetting about the importance of the mascot and regular feeding schedules.

Lest I sound disgruntled, please let me be the first to say that this little guy and his mother absolutely deserve and need to be here.  He was born in the worst possible place in the entire world!  Do you remember me telling you about my Ohio people and how they got me?  And that if they had not bought me at the auction.... oh, I cannot say it again out loud... it's too awful....  Let's just say that I really do understand where this little guy and his mom came from, and I know that none of us want to think about their potential fate had they not come here.  It makes everyone shudder, I just know it..

But I must point out that sooner or later life needs to return to normal, meaning that certain animals need to be fed on time, so I'm simply suggesting that it might be time to stop all of the special attention, or at least all of the picture taking, and resume normal activities. I'm really glad that this baby is here, and that he and his mom are safe, and I prefer regular meals.  Hunger pangs are most objectionable to donkeys.

Love,

Donkey     

A Secret Pasture Game

So I have been telling you a lot about playing lately and there is one last thing about playing that we all love and that we all keep secret.  The farm people have no idea at all that this exists... I am only telling you, and I can only tell you part of it, because you might find this interesting.  You might be rather surprised to find out that animals are so inventive. 

THIS is our most favorite thing to play when no one is around!    

We invented this game one dreary morning some months ago.  All I can say is that it is kind of about weave poles, like the agility dogs use, and it is kind of about a giant hamster wheel. I cannot say more because I am sworn to secrecy and cannot tell you exactly how we play or the rules (although one horse, who shall remain nameless, still argues over rule #2.  It does create an occasional problem, but we generally work it out).  

The only thing I can say is that we have a lot of fun, need a stop watch, and get a little dizzy...

Boy, the things the farm people don't know about...

Love,

Donkey

Playing by Myself

So you may wonder what I like to do when Major doesn't want to play, like when he is interested in the girls and drops me like a hot potato.  Well, what I am going to say next will probably shock some of you.  It's about donkeys and playing and I bet you will be amazed at what I am about to say. Some of you will be doubtful but I promise that everything I am about to tell you is true. 


Sometimes I like playing ball... 

And sometimes I like playing catch with Lilly.  We have fun together.

And sometimes I like riding the scooter, though getting down the gravely driveway can be a challenge. Donkeys have excellent balance however, which makes this feat possible. 

I think I'll take it for a spin.



Wait, is someone handing out treats in the barn?  

Guess not.  Better get going! 

So if you are driving down a country road some day and for a split second think you see a flash of a little donkey on a fancy red scooter, and then laugh to yourself and think you must be imagining things... Well, I have news for you... It just might be someone you know who has four legs, is very clever, has good balance and is quite talented...   

Love,

Donkey

Playing with my buddy, Major

So you know that I have an important job at the farm, being the mascot and all.  But there are times when I can relax and play.  Maybe you didn't know that donkeys like to play, but they do and I really like playing with Major, as you will see.

These are some of the things we do in our spare time.

Major and I like running and chasing....

and wrestling....

and kicking... Well, I like kicking anyway.

and playing tug-of-war...

and bugging each other...

Yeah, bugging is the best... .

So if you ever want to come by and play just let us know, because we say the more the merrier! 

Love,

Donkey





Good Morning!

Good Morning everyone!  Hope you have a good day! 

Love,

Donkey