Outings ....

Finally, after not moving the trailer for a year,  I hitched it up and took both Rose and Heather for a ride to the beach!  Phew!  Big deal for all of us!  They did so well but the roads are bumpy and I felt every one of them - they must have really been bracing.

We didn't go far though - only about a 15 minute drive each way, They were exceptional about loading and waiting to unload.  We have played a lot in the trailer while it has been parked.

We parked on a seldom-used road and walked to the beach and back.  Ran into some donkey-lovin' folks who couldn't believe their good fortune to run into us and I was happy too, cuz the guy helped me turn the trailer in a rather tight spot!

Last night, Dorrie and I went for a fabulous long walk into the setting sun.  Of course, I never remember to take my camera, so sorry there are no pictures. It's lovely to have some time now that the studio tour is over for this year and I am having an official "summer holiday!"

Pack-String Lesson #1

For a long time, I have mused about training my donkeys to work in a pack string ... one donkey tied and following behind the other.  When I have tried this with two donkeys, the donkey in the rear wanders over to the side instead of following behind and I haven't spent the time to work out a training plan for how to shape her for following the donkey in front.  A crop would be a useful extension of my arm but even then, I think we'd get in a muddle with just one trainer!

Now I have taught both Dorrie and Siog to follow (me) and have put that on cue!  When my young neighbour Forrest came over last week, I decided to try the pack string idea with Rose, who has been trained to drive, and Heather, who likes to follow Rose!

I suppose I should have tried it with Dorrie and Siog but since there were two humans, I decided to give this a go.

I put a surcingle on Rose and we started with one person leading Rose and one person leading Heather directly behind and reinforcing for just a few steps of what we wanted.  Eventually I tied Heather's lead rope to the surcingle but kept the rope up and off of Rose's back and kept leading Heather even though she was attached to Rose.

Rose felt the pressure of Heather's lead and stopped a few times but was easily encouraged to walk.  We used the fence line to keep us going straight with Forrest leading Rose and me staying right beside Heather's shoulder so she couldn't swing out.  If I moved away, that's what she did.

That's as far as we went on that first session!  The goal is to have one handler leading all four donkeys, one behind the other!

The photos are a bit misleading as this was more successful with 2 trainers and you're only seeing one as the other took a few hasty pictures.  Next time, I'll set up the video on the tripod so that we can both concentrate on donkeys. 

 Heather gets the idea that she is supposed to follow.

Forrest had to step away to take these pictures - two trainers were essential for Lesson #1! 

We reinforced both donkeys for just a few steps at a time.

We are on our way to the straight fence line!  You can see Heather's tendency to swing out to the side.

Heather's blue lead rope tied in a quick release knot to Rose's surcingle.

Labour Day Portraits

Siog

Heather

Rose

Dorrie

Alice!

Lovely unexpected visit ...

We had some special visitors today!  They were interested in everything "donkey," full of questions and delighted with the motley crew ...

Heather turns 8 years old today ...

 Selfies ...

Spring Romp!

Each time that Spring rolls around, I can hardly believe that "we made it" through winter!  It feels like such a relief.

Waking up to birds chirping puts an instant smile on my face.  Here is another of my favorite things:  (my version of "reality TV!)  Rose and Siog really have a "thing" going (someone was in heat,) while Dorrie rushes around daintily and Heather just keeps on grazing.

Enjoy!

To the mail box, hey ho, hey ho!

Birthday Girl!

Heather turns 7 today!

Heather's fly-mask-with-ears/ Day 2

Yesterday I had a chance to see if my training session with Heather was effective.  It is quite possible that we'd need to reinforce a few things - after all "Rome wasn't built in a day!"

So I was ready with treat pouch and clicker and took Heather into my small training paddock again but this time, she was confident and stood quietly for her fly mask.  She got a nice reward for that!

Our work together the day before really paid off!

Hassle or Opportunity?

The sun has been out for several days and it's been such a blessed relief.  Buds are opening, birds are singing, frogs croaking ... it's positively bursting with Spring-time energy!  And along with it all came a sudden onslaught of biting midges!

The donkeys come out in the early mornings to eat their breakfast en plein air (why stay indoors?)  but when I check back awhile later, they have all retreated back to the barn.  At first I was puzzled but the reason soon became evident from the tossing of heads and swishing of tails.

Last year I bought fly masks with ears, so I got them out and proceeded to "dress" the donkeys.
Heather took one look at Rose in her new mask and the look on her face was hilarious ... she was horrified!

You've got to admit ... Rose is pretty goofy looking!  So then it was Heather's turn and guess what ... she wasn't having any of it! 

Heather is very easy to handle, but she suddenly wouldn't even let me touch her ears!  I could have easily grabbed a halter and lead rope, tied her to a post and put the fly mask on, however I saw this as a training opportunity.  Alexandra Kurland taught me that - the animal will show you what she needs to learn and every challenge is actually an opportunity to train.

If I had "made her put the mask on"  what would I have gained?  Some time saved, yes.  But next time, she might even balk at the sight of the halter!  Working through this using positive reinforcement training, not only builds confidence, trust and relationship but also is actually a short-cut in the long run.  Because we have worked through this together, next time will be a cinch. Time saved AND a trusting donkey who understands that I will not hurt her, will not force her and that she has choice.  Since we train at liberty, she can choose to leave at any time.  If she chooses to stay and work with me, she is a willing learner!

So I decided to work through this step by step with Heather.  Grabbing my clicker and treat pouch, I brought her into a small paddock and began.  First, I collected data - can I touch your ear? No?  Okay, I'll back up.  Can I touch your neck?  Yes?  Click/ treat.  Repeat. Can you touch the fly mask with your nose?  Yes?  Click/ treat!  Etc. etc. ...  it took about 15 minutes (although I didn't actually time it)  and after that she decided to stand quietly beside me while I fussed with her fly mask.  Then she got her hay bag ... brilliant!