Consolations and new plans

What's to be done when you find out that your baby donkey is going to be having a baby and there isn't any way to "fix" it?  Buy her a bag of treats and a new toy of course...

 "Hmmm, chewy, uhmmm"

 "Nom, nom, nom, very chewy"...

The other thing to do, is to start planning the nursery.  Do you see my machinery shed with the old, yellow jeep (which has quite a history I'll have tell you about sometime) in the background?  Well, I spent most of Christmas building the half-wall around it...

I didn't make the wall go all the way up because I don't want to block all of my barn windows.  I hate dark, dreary barns; I want light and air.  However, this is the windward side of the barn so it has to be covered (especially since the wind is so strong here that I could probably power most of NY if I started raising windmills instead of unplanned donkey babies).  I am going to build windows for the open spaces. I am trying to decide between using plexiglass or clear vinyl.  I think the vinyl would be easiest and safest but, I am not sure it can handle the wind.  In the summer, I will cover the open spaces with shade screens and it should be quite a nice donkey solarium. 

All I'll need then is a place for the old jeep, the lawn mower, ladders and other stuff that really doesn't want to live outside.  Housing for all of that stuff along with firewood is in the works...

But, winter finally showed up with a vengeance and carpentry will probably have to be put on hold.  In the meantime, I guess I'll just go give Emma another cookie.  Cookies cure everything right?

Worrisome News

Those of you who have been following this blog will remember that Emma's original home was far from wonderful.  One of the many deficiencies of her previous home was that she had never been separated from her father. When I went back to Emma's original farm to work on the older donkeys feet, I realized that she had been bred by the jack.  I discussed it at length with my vet who felt that I shouldn't be concerned, that the chance of Emma conceiving was very remote and if it did happen she would be mature enough to handle it. 

I had been doing my homework on donkeys and had discovered that they are fertile at a much younger age than horses.  I had decided to just play it safe and give Emma the shots that would have aborted an early fetus but, that mysterious fever struck and she was too ill.  By the time she was healthy enough to handle the shots, the window of opportunity had gone by and she would have been too far along to abort safely.  She is too small to do a pelvic exam on her so I had to just wait until enough time had passed for a blood test to be feasible and answer the pregnancy question once and for all.  Well, that time has passed and I got the results of the test today.  You guessed it by now, Emma is absolutely, positively pregnant.

Normally, this would be happy news, I would welcome another donkey and what could be better than a little baby Emma.  But, I am very worried for her.  She is only 17 months old herself.  Her baby will be due about the same time she will be turning two years old.  Whenever Emma feels insecure or stressed, she tries to nurse off of Tessa.  Tess draws the line at nursing but, mothers Emma in every other way. Tessa is only 3 1/2 herself and I see her try to mother Emma and be her playmate at the same time.  It is confusing for her.  They are very sweet and amazing to watch together, they are like two little girls playing house.  All of this is why it is almost unimaginable to think of Emma actually having a baby, she is still very much a baby herself. 

I am going to talk with the vets at Cornell, make sure I have covered everything.  But, I don't think there is anything that can be done other then give her the best care possible and hope that Emma and her baby will be OK.  This is going to be a very high risk pregnancy.  Emma is small and immature, her early growth was stunted by poor nutrition and heavy parasite loads.  The chance of dystocia (an abnormal or difficult birthing) is high.  If all goes well, I will gladly welcome the new arrival.  If it does not go well, I am not sure I will ever forgive myself for not being more insistent about terminating early on.

Emma gives lessons

I mentioned a while ago that my favorite grooming tool is a vacuum.  And no, nobody is paying me to talk about this thing (although, if the makers of Rapid Groom read this and want to send me some money that would be fine with me:).  It's just that I have bad allergies and asthma and the vacuum makes grooming horses doable rather than a life threatening event.  It also does the most wonderful job of getting them clean and improving their coats.  So, if you are a horse person and you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas, send whatever it was back and get one these. 

 

Last week, Emma helped me introduce Gabe to the vacuum (it does take most horses a little time to get used to it but, it isn't hard).  Gabe did great, especially since he had an expert right there to provide moral support and supervision...

 Emma: "It's no big deal, someone as big as you and with all those spots can handle it.  You can do this with you eyes closed"....

"I'll keep an eye on things and make sure Mom gets it right"...

"Come on, put some muscle into it!"

 "You missed a spot!"....

 "You're not going to forget ME right?  You DO remember that I like vacuuming too, right, RIGHT?"

 "Ermphhh, that's NOT what I had in mind!"

Emma Goes to Work

Emma's been practicing for the road crews.  She doesn't think I have been providing enough carrots so she swears she is going to go get a job at the town barn and buy her own damn carrots.  She says she is perfectly willing to spend the day moving cones....

 acting as a warning barrier...

directing traffic....

 working as the "follow-me" car.....

and providing detour signs.....

 
Maybe I should just go get more carrots.

The Morning Lineup

Emma & Tessa:  We're so starved for attention that the whole hill is listing to the side.  Come out quick or we might fall over.
Tanner:  PLEEEEASE come and play JollyBall or basketball.  Frisbee would do as well.

Emma & Tessa:   We've checked......

 and double checked ....

but, there is no one else here to provide carrots and chin scratching

Tanner:  I'm being the soul of patience here but, for once, I agree with the equines.  Would you please get moving.  Better yet, just kick the ball and I'll do the rest!

The Dancing Donkey

You may have wondered why I called this blog "The dancing Donkey".  It's not as though you have seen much dancing so far.  That is because, as soon as Emma spots me, she quits whatever she is doing and comes over to see what I am doing and if she can participate.  I finally managed to capture the elusive Dancing Donkey on video.  Perhaps it is only fitting that the video has that grainy, fuzzy "proof-of-Bigfoot" quality to it.    So, for your enjoyment, here is the New England version of Sasquatch (we grow 'em with big ears and little feet on this side of the country)....