donkeys are really quite superior animals--- the fact that i have had so many for so long and done such alarming things with them and not had any major disasters is to the credit of the donkeys. ,... not me.
someone sent me donkey facts and here are a few with which i agree...
***donkeys are not stubborn but they can be reluctant to do anything that might be unsafe- they consider situations before decideing what to do.
***donkeys have been used as working animals for at least 5000 years and are still a lifeline for families worldwide,
*** donkeys can be a calming influence on other animals ( including humans)
***donkeys have an incredible digestive system that utilizes 95% of what they eat.
*** teh donkeys bray can be carried 60 miles in the desert - ( i don't know about 60 miles, but it sure can go to the gas station across teh lake.)
***donkeys are very clever and have a keen sense of curiosity ( and in mary's case- a sense of humor)
***healthy donkeys can live well into thier 50"s
***if raised and handled like a dog they can behave like a dog.
i/we as a family have done some amazing things with donkeys- to say i put my kids thru college with my donks is not too far off the mark. the kennel area in the barn from kennel 3 to 8 was once teh doneky stall-- wherer some 20-30 donkeys would pile in and quietly hang out.
it kind of started when many of my friends and assoiciates were into driving horses 1,,2 or 4 horses in competitions -some even flew their horses and equipment to europe to compete in driving -- olympic style-- big time
and tehy did perfect presentations. matching horses, black aprons, top hats,, the whole 9 yards. -- and then there was me. i finally got 4 going int he same direction- and went to a local fair/exhibit sort of thing-- where all tehse other drivers carefully unloaded horses with matching blankets and leg wraps, ... i was not to be out done-- i had someone make me 4 blue jean blankets with the kerchief out a pocket on the hip-- and matching leg wraps.. i just opened th edoor of the trailer and these matching donkeys spilled out and stood around waiting to be told what to do.-- totally unlike the high strung horses... ther is a painting over my desk of that episode with 4.
4 became 8 donks - with harness made by world famous sam friedman of toronto -- i kid you not... the leather was superior to coach leather-- the vehicle was the one used in sdp christmas shot years ago a red "bennington vehicle" - THE KIND which prince phillip once drove.. IN BLUE.
We no longer went to fairs, but got paid very well to do parades-- add antlers and we were in the big business of christmas and santa's 8 tiny reindeer.... many many many funny stories... but th e most remarkable was getting santa into the 4th floor ball room of teh weston hotel in boston./ huge party for some corporate children... the harness for 8 donks had 6000 parts - while we harnessed them in the food holding area, with the red and white strawberry shortcakes.... teh Santa drank annesette - i never met a saNTA THAT WAS SOBER ( UNTIL FRANK AT SDP)
WE DROVE THE 8 INTO THE BALLROOM AND UNLOADED SANTA - THEN CAME THE REAL PROBLEM- WE HAD ANOTHER "JOB" 30 MINUTES LATER AT THE TOP OF THE PRUDENTIAL TOWER- 2 BLOCKS AWAY..THEY WERE TO BE LOSE IN THE BAR.....NOT IN HARNESS. I HAD KIDS STRIP THE HARNESS OFF THE DONKS GOING DOWN IN THE ELEVATOR- AND JANINE AND I RAN THE 8 DONKEYS- TOTALLY LOSE IN TRAFFIC , INTO THE WAITING FREIGHT ELEVATOR AT THE PRU-- AND SHE MADE IT... I WENT BACK TO GET THE TRAILER. I THINK WE MADE $4500+$600 FOR THAT EPISODE.
** BEING A WOMAN, DRIVING THAT HUGE MOVING VAN SIZE TRAILER IN BOSTON HAS IT'S OWN BUNCH OF VERY FUNNY STORIES...LATER----
