Way Too Much Fun

I just love these two.

I wanted to practice loading Duncan first, then Juniper. But Juniper is an over-achiever and she knew the answer so she loaded right up. (I think her middle name may be Hermione. She's just like Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books, always raising her hand and ready with the right answer.)

Then she was confused when I asked her to unload.

She didn't want to share. 

Duncan was happy outside.

Eventually we got things straightened out.

Next weekend we're going to the vet to get blood drawn for Coggins tests and health certificates, and I won't have help, so they'll need to stand tied and behave. So we practiced that.

I groomed them and showed her a saddle pad just for fun. She didn't trust it.

Then I left her tied while I loaded Duncan, and loaded her and tied her and shut the door and scratched their butts for a while. All good.

And then we went for a nice relaxing walk and a snack. What a lovely day. And they're so fluffy and cute together!

Just Half a Day

Yesterday we had just half a day of decent weather. Not glorious, but decent. It was windy and overcast, but warm. There were some birds singing. It felt like spring. I spent all of that time with all of my equine buddies and it was so much fun! Bella had a pedicure, all the horses got dewormed, everyone went for a short walk (mainly just to rinse the mud off in a ditch or pond).

I've let Bella's mane tangle terribly.

They'll come out with a lot of patience and some good detangler.

Duncan and Juniper were happy to come play too. 

I haltered them both and we went for a walk around the pasture. It went pretty well. I'm not sure how it would go if I asked them to line out on a narrow trail. We'd need to practice.

I took Duncan out by himself and Juniper was pretty upset so we stayed where she could see us. He just had one hoof  trimmed and got his gross dewormer, then got to graze a bunch. He was pretty happy.

Juniper got to practice being tied for the first time since being here.  She did fine. One of the things that I learned from the donkey symposium videos is that donkeys generally do better tied than being held by a handler for veterinary treatment or hoof care. At the Donkey Sanctuary they keep a donkey buddy or buddies nearby and tie them, but don't squeeze or confine them. So I tried that and hoof handling went beautifully.

Then we went for a little walk. I had moved the trailer and it looked different inside with both of the dividers open. And because it was on a different incline the door wouldn't hold itself open. I didn't expect her to load with me stuck holding the door open and everything being different, but she took a look and hopped right in without me.

Then, with the goal of having her go into some ponds, we headed down by the creek, which she hadn't seen before. It's high and moving fast. She thought it was interesting.

She didn't much like bushwhacking through the weeds that are as tall as she is, but she did it for me. We waded through some flooded areas that were about 4-5 inches deep & had grass growing, which makes them less scary, but she didn't really want to go into the pond where she couldn't see the bottom. Right then a storm blew in, so we headed back at a donkey hurry, which isn't very fast. :) I even told her pirates were coming for us on the wild waters, but she didn't feel inclined to rush. 

I gotta say, I think I sure got a good one. She's so willing to try stuff out. I love it. 

Of course I love my horses too. It was nice to spend the day with everyone.

Videos & More of the Same

I recently found out that a bunch of videos are available for purchase or rent on Vimeo from the Donkey Welfare Symposium in 2015. It's just 99 cents for all of them! I'm slowly making my way through them. I've only watched a couple training videos so far. I can't wait to watch the ones on nutrition and dentistry. Check them out if you have donkeys or are interested in how donkeys are different.

My headaches are back with a vengeance, so I haven't been playing much with Juniper. I did get her out yesterday for a bit.

First I threw this old saddle up on the gate. She was quite alarmed about it. I was surprised that she'd be so worried.

Then we went for a short walk up the road in the direction she's never been before. We were passed by a neighbor with his hounds in dog boxes in the back of his pickup and a quad on a trailer. No biggie. But the neighbor's mailbox was slightly worrisome. 

When we got home we practiced trailer loading again. You'll have to take my word for it because my phone malfunctioned again and I couldn't get pictures. She ate some of her supplements (alfalfa pellets and Calf Manna), got worried about the dog being somewhere in the yard, got out of the trailer, looked around, got in again, ate some more, turned around and thought about getting out but just looked around instead, then settled in and finished her meal.

That's about it. I'll leave you with this picture of my neighbors hanging out next to my driveway:

In the Trailer Again

Today we revisited the trailer loading, this time with food. I took her daily supplements with us and she just jumped right in. She's a smart one. I think she is a little nervous but if she was really scared, food wouldn't be a motivator.

She's getting ready to lose her central upper incisors and I think they're definitely bothering her, poor girl. She didn't want me to halter her today, I think partially because of that, and partially because she didn't want to play my stupid human games.  So I haltered her carefully once, trying hard not to bump the front of her lip, and scratched her a lot and let her go. Then I haltered Duncan instead and took him for a short walk, then came back and haltered her again more easily. I think she was a tad bit jealous. :)

I couldn't get any pictures of her in the trailer because when I took this picture my phone decided to die:

She's such a cutie!

A Little Bit of Work

The last couple of days Juniper and I have been going for short walks, looking at the trailer, working on staying where she is supposed to be as we walk, and stopping when I stop. It wasn't much work, she's already quite good at walking.

Except walking on my left side. She would try to cross back to my rights so I would calmly go to her right hip and ask her to do some tight circles, then walk off again with her on my left. It only took a couple times and a short reminder the next day.

We walked over some poles and through the ditch.

I've been thinking her bones feel much better covered but then I saw how she looks in this picture. Still gangly. But of course she is also still growing.

We worked on trailer loading some more, and this time I wanted her to put one foot in. She was so mad! I positioned her at the back of the trailer with me inside, and I wouldn't let her leave. Took a wrap with her rope around a good strong steel bar. We were there for a long time and there were a lot of little fits and a few bigger fits, but no loose poops, so I don't think she was scared. Eventually she jumped in, all four feet. I made a big happy fuss over her for a bit, then took her back to her stall and gave her all her supplements. Next time I'll be better prepared and have her food in the trailer. Anyway, when we got back to the stall she gave me the cold shoulder, edging away when I tried to love on her. I hope that doesn't last long.

Umm, No

That's what she said. Juniper didn't think the blood draw for a pregnancy test was such a good idea at all. I'm not sure if I'll try again or just wait and watch. From what I understand, donkeys are pretty obvious about when they go into heat. And she has no trouble letting me check to see if she's bagging up, or letting me look under her tail, or whatever other nonsense I need to do. Just no needles, please.

A Newww Car!

(You're supposed to say the title in Bob Baker's Price is Right voice.)

I bought a car! Not a new car, but it looks pretty new, and it has low miles for its age. It's a 2010 Toyota Matrix all wheel drive. I absolutely love it! Except the color. But it's growing on me. And the gas mileage isn't great. But it has a back cargo area that's perfect for muddy dogs. And the all wheel drive works just like a Subaru. I've wanted that every winter for a long time, but I really prefer Toyotas. They don't make these any more and apparently they're pretty hard to get. I was just in the right place at the right time.

My new AdventureMobile!

I actually wanted to buy one of these years ago when they were still making them, but I couldn't afford it at the time.

I hope it lives as long as my little Echo did. :)

We drove out to one of my favorite hiking/riding spots to try it out and take the above pics. Of course we didn't hike. I'm too darn sick and there's too much snow. But it was pretty out there. The footbridge was completely piled with snow.

Why Bother With Horses?

On one of my walks with Juniper I found myself wondering why we bother with horses at all if donkeys are this easy? She's so smart and steady, and once she's learned something well, she's learned it. It's just too easy.

Don't get me wrong, I know why we ride horses. We like it hotter, faster, more animated. And you can make a horse do stuff. You can't make a donkey do something the donkey doesn't feel is in her best interest.

It's also fascinating the huge difference between her temperament and Pedro and Bob's. I do think she's not a mammoth, based on her size and color. She is a lot more animated and sprightly, more forward and curious. I had heard mammoths were slower. In this case it seems to be true. Of course there is the age difference as well.

The brand inspector came and did her lifetime brand card. I am glad to have that done, although I'd rather it was when she was sleek and fatter. But by law you have to do it within 10 days of purchase, and we'd already fudged that a bit (with the brand inspector's permission).

I think I need to either start supplementing with alfalfa or buy a higher protein pellet for her. Maybe just until the grass comes on. She's just not gaining enough muscle. 

Also, I learned about a company called Biotracking that does pregnancy testing off of a blood test. Easy-peasy and cheap at just $25. If I lived anywhere else I'd have to FedEx the sample, but they're based right here in Moscow, so I'll just draw it, spin it down at work, and run it in. They won't run the test until Wednesday, but I'll share the results as soon as I get them, of course. :)

I am so sick right now! Lost my voice and everything! Yuck! I'm even missing work and I hate that. BUT my head meds are working! I haven't had a headache in a week (until I coughed so much I gave myself one), I haven't been dizzy, and even the numbness in my arm and leg are better. I even thought about riding last weekend. I am so stoked. I can't even believe it.

AND... drumroll please... I was able to drive up my driveway for the first time since Christmas! The ice is almost gone!

So yeah, things are looking good.

Walkies

The snow is melting! We had a nice little half mile walk this afternoon.

Just look at that sky!

 
She was nice and speedy for the first half of our walk, but when we got back onto familiar ground she got a little bit poky.

I wasn't sure how she'd do with water, but it wasn't an issue at all! Just a moment of thought first.

This one was harder for her because she knew she could go around if I let her. She didn't fight, just thought it through.

 We went up the road to my neighbor's, looked at their excited horses, then came home. I trimmed a bit on her hooves and we took another short walk in the dusk. I just love her.

She's more sensible than a horse but quicker than a mammoth donkey. I think she'll be a perfect trail companion. She's already much more confident and no trouble at all to manage. She just comes along with me. I'm sure we'll have challenges at times but today was an excellent day. :)

Here's my driveway today: 

It's thawed a huge amount in the last week. We decided to help it along with the pickaxe. We might be able to drive on it again soon if it stays as warm as it has been. That would be so nice!

I'm still trying to figure out what my new normal is with these medications. The neurologist added an anti-seizure med when my migraines came back with a vengeance. I took my last dose of the steroid today. A little nervous about what tomorrow with bring with nothing I can take for pain. We shall see.

Fun with Juniper

When I turned Juniper out with Duncan today they got along just fine. He moved her off her food, she sassed him a bit but got out of the way. End of discussion.

I realized the brand inspector is coming Monday morning and my driveway is impassable. If I want my brand inspection I'm going to have to walk her up to the road. So today we went for walks for the first time. She did so well!

 When we went to the very top of the driveway Scout and Bella started tearing around down below, so Juniper decided she wanted to bolt forward. Luckily it happened on a spot that wasn't icy. I set myself and didn't let her go, then we walked away and back, away and back, until she got her mind back. Then we slowly made our way down the slick part.

Following along nicely at the bottom:

Here she is running to me from the pasture. What a great feeling to have her be so happy to see me. :)

And exploring some more.

She was really jealous about me petting Duncan and kept trying to butt in and make me scratch her. Naughty baby.

And this is from a couple days ago. John and I hiking to our cars to head to work. 

My little slip-on cleats aren't quite as great as his crampons, but they do the job.

I am SO ready for spring! I can't wait to he able to park at my own house!

Mostly medical whinings

Juniper is doing great, super sweet, and learning a little bit about picking up feet and not biting people when they don't love her enough.

Duncan had his hooves trimmed, half by me and half by my husband, who I was teaching about trimming for the first time. Duncan was nervous and it was a lot of information for John to absorb at once. John said, "Let's hire a farrier." :) Which I would if he could get up and down my driveway. We won't be able to use the driveway until Summer, I swear. Too much ice.

I am in so much pain right now! Did you know that if you overuse ibuprofen you will have withdrawals coming off it? I sure didn't. I thought I was trying to stay on top of the inflammation in my neck but I shouldn't have been taking so much ibuprofen. It may be causing some of my problems. So now I'm cut off. I'm doing a short course of prednisone. I guess it's supposed to get me through the withdrawal period. The neurologist also has me starting an anti-depressant to boost my serotonin levels, which may help my brain heal. It could take another year or more, but he hopes it won't. The truth is, they don't really know why the brain does what it does. Or doesn't.

I also learned that I do have a herniation at the base of my brain, not related to the accident. It's probably been there most or all of of my life. It's called a Chiari malformation and mine isn't severe but it does explain some problems that I've been having for a long time. Nothing to do about it. There is a surgical option where they remove part of your skull to make room for your too-big brain, but I'm not into that at all. That would be more for people with a much more severe case.

It's interesting what I don't remember from my visit with the neurologist yesterday. I took John with me and he keeps telling me stuff I don't remember the doctor saying. I guess I'll have to ask the doctor to go over it all again when I go back in 6 weeks.

He did say he had no reason to think I won't ride again, but I didn't tell him I land on my head sometimes. I'll save that conversation for next time. Weighing risks versus rewards, I'm thinking I might be a hiker rather than a rider now. But time will tell. I can't see myself without horses to care for. So they can at least pack my picnic.

Good Little Donkey

I don't have any pictures because I've only been able to play with Juniper in the dark. She is so sweet. She's kinda itchy and she has a couple spots of rain rot, so giving her a good scratch makes her very happy. She's clingy. I feel bad leaving her behind. I could probably take her to work with me but she wouldn't fit in my back seat. :(

Last night I rubbed her all over and practiced picking up feet. She was very cooperative. I'm not asking much yet, I didn't try to keep her feet at all.

She's so skinny! You can't tell in her pictures because her coat is at least 2 inches long. She would be scored as "poor" on the donkey condition scoring chart. I'll deworm her on my next day off. And again later. Then hopefully she'll just keep on growing and gaining weight. She just gets free choice grass hay now, and I think that will be enough to help her gain weight once she gets rid of all her little parasite friends. She's started eating her vitamins and minerals as well.

I know straw is a popular feed for donkeys because they need more fiber and less sugar, but I just can't imagine a donkey eating it. Bob and Pedro wouldn't have. They were pickier than any horse I've ever met. I'll probably buy some and give it a try at some point.

The Adventures of Juniper Jones!

She's home! It took some time to load her in the trailer. The step-up was really high, it was loaded up with shavings even higher, and it had just been used to haul pigs. She wasn't really freaked out about it, but she just couldn't take the leap to get in. So two people formed a human butt rope and shoved her in. Not ideal at all. But I have all the time in the world to work on trailer loading now.

Because of the ice and the hilly road, we had to park at my neighbor's and walk home. I wasn't sure how that would go. She hustled right on home! I wasn't dragging her, she was making me hurry. :) She has that forward, adventurous nature I was hoping for.

Above and below are the same picture. I love this phone app.

She's never been in electric fence before, so the first thing she did was duck under the temporary fence. Poor planning on my part. But I did put the safer horse in next to her just in case. The fence didn't shock her because her hair is so long. She and Bella had a few words, but that seemed to be all they needed and they got along fine after that.

I could tell Juniper was about to head out to the big pasture, way too close to Scout, who would hurt her if she somehow got in with him. Liam and I scrambled to make things more secure by adding a second strand to the temporary fence and the gate to the big pasture. She shocked herself once and now I don't think she'll do it again. She was very wary of the fence after that. 

 I love her! She's such a sweetie.

Staring at Winston:

She's not sure what to think of the dogs.

So I got a different story on her this time. Now they say she is the daughter of the 16 hand jennet who was also rescued. I had hoped she might be because they look so much alike. But at 12.2 hands at 2 1/2 years old, I'm not sure I believe it. Here's her (supposed) mom, Olive Oyl:

And there is the possibility that Juniper could be bred. I'm going to talk to a vet about that this week. I probably will just wait and watch. I'm not sure what the risks are with aborting a pregnancy, but it scares me more than having her give birth at a young age. 

Heck, I'm even scared to deworm her. Not sure what to use to make it safe, considering she's probably never been dewormed. Luckily I work with a bunch of good vets. :)

Donkey Day!

Juniper is coming home today! With no notice, really. I'd given up on it happening this week, and suddenly got a text late last night that today was the day. So I have some work to do this morning. I'd had everything set up for her, but over time the horses took over again. So I have to move the boys, make sure they have access to shelter (even though they won't use it) because a bunch of rain is coming, and fill their trough. Not too much work, except the snow is knee deep and the temp is below zero. I've gotten pretty used to the cold though.

It was only 10 degrees yesterday, but it was a beautiful day. I got Duncan out for the first time in months. I remembered how much I like him. :) We just walked around a bit.

He decided the untouched deep snow would be perfect for a roll.

My phone will only sometimes take pictures without shutting off, so it's really hard to get good pictures. Either I need a new phone or a camera.

These pheasant landings were too cool not to share:

Anyway, wish me luck getting my girl loaded and led home from the nearest safe parking spot. My driveway is still impassable, but luckily it's not too slick to walk on. 

I'm sure I'll have more to share later! :)

Frozen, Part 2

Today the temp at 5am is -6 and the house is a little chilly, but no frozen pipes! The heater in the pumphouse is doing its job well. (Auto-correct wanted to call the pumphouse a penthouse. I'd like to live in a penthouse for the rest of the winter, please.)

However, I do have to walk maybe a half mile to get to my truck today. You know how a diesel pickup doesn't like to start in the cold? It's a long story, but my driveway is blocked by my mom's motorhome, I can't bring my truck home to plug it in, and my wonderful neighbors set up a little spot for me to park and plug in so I can still go to work. It's going to be a chilly walk. But I sure do like my neighbors!

Cross your fingers for me that my mom and AAA can get her motorhome back on the driveway and out of my fence. What a stressful deal for her.

Frozen!

I woke up this morning to no running water and -4 degrees outside. I put a good heater in the pump house and had water within a half hour. Just in time for everyone else to take a shower. :)

I'm going into my month of extra work, doing more than full time for the first time in a while. I'm looking forward to the better money but I'm also glad it's temporary. I'm finally just beginning to feel the itch to play with the horses again. I've barely touched them in months. But it's too cold right now anyway!

Juniper Jones

I'm half tempted to start a new blog titled "The Adventures of Juniper Jones." We're going to have so much fun.

I visited her twice over the last couple days. She's a little spoiled now. Definitely gets treats and lots of love. She gets jealous if you pet anyone else. And if the water gets half empty, she stares into the windows of the house and brays until they fill it. Did I adopt a little princess?

She leads OK, but she does have her own opinions. Luckily she hasn't learned she can get away, like some of the other ladies there have obviously learned in the past.

Next weekend she may be coming home. A lady who is adopting some of the donkeys offered to go out of her way to haul Juniper home for me. Because of the snow, she'll have to drop her off at the end of my road. We'll have to walk about 3/4 of a mile home. It might be interesting.

This lady is also possibly interested in buying Duncan. I am at a point where I think that might be a good idea. But it's a hard decision to make. I may not ride again, and if/when I do, I shouldn't be riding a green horse. Duncan would be better off with someone who can ride him well, sooner rather than later. We'll see.