Happy Spring, Here We Go!

After the LONGEST WINTER EVER!!! We're finally into spring - I think. We just got home from Red Deer on Sunday evening. This year's Horse Expo was a great time, minus the weather. Phillippe and Charo accompanied me and Ali. Phillippe did the driving demos and Charo got to experience show-donkey life. We had 3 demos, one Friday, Saturday and a bonus demo Sunday morning. Friday was a good opportunity to get the animals in the building and comfortable. Saturday the audience was packed to standing room only, and even then it was pretty squishy. Sunday was an unexpected bonus as the scheduled demo was not able to make their time, so we were offered. It was a nice, more relaxed way to finish the show as we got to spent a bit of time just connecting with audience members and answering questions.

Phillippe looked wonderful, as always! I was so proud of how much my wee dude has grown up. He handled the weather and the environment indoors like a true broke donkey. Because of the blizzarding conditions, we had to hang out almost behind the metal bleechers between his arena appearances. Once we got him turned around, he just stood, perfectly relaxed, and waited. Charo was 100% not impressed at being left in the barn while everyone else went out for adventures. Although she and Phillippe did super well together, I don't think either was exactly bonded to the other, but rather didn't want to miss out on anything exciting going on. The demo team was fantastic! We had some new members and new animals demonstrating different skills, which was fun to see! We missed out on a great photo opportunity in the barns though. I think every one of us long-eared ladies owns a wool Suzannah Riding Skirt from The Creative Daughter, and I'd had my best friend make us ADMC demo team hats "Nicest Asses Around". The hats were a hit. Too bad I missed getting the picture. I really enjoy being a part of this group. It's supportive, encouraging and a great place to foster growth. It's a culture of "yes and...." rather than "no, we don't do that..." A place a really feel good about investing my time and energy. Saturday afternoon, at the Expo, Phillippe, myself, and my friend Brooklyn and her mini donkey Pete, participated in an Equine Trail Sports in-hand competition. Something different, and a lot of fun. This competition is designed for skill building and focuses on positive skill building. Naturally, donkeys have questions and some of the obstacles were not especially designed for their success. Regardless, my focus was to give Phillippe positive exposure and praise him for effort. We weren't there for scores, but come out of the competition 4th of 7 at Level 1. Thanks to the organizers, volunteers and judges for putting on the event!

Next weekend I'm planning to have a casual trick-horse play day at the farm for boarders and close friends. I haven't trained for tricks in a long time so we'll see how it goes. I've comitted to doing demos at a medieval faire coming up in August with both Phillippe and Jose. I actually took Jose for a ride last night. We have a long way to go to get back into shape for the demo, but we'll get there. Tricks will help. Falcor started back lunging day before yesterday, and Mavis had an introduction to lunging. She's really rough on one side, but it will come. This weekend looks beautiful weather wise so hopefully I'll get lots of work done! Til next time, happy horseing!

New Additions!

How many is too many? That's never been my concern because everyone gets trained and used. Saying that, I have 2 new additions who came home the same day that we let Jasmine go. I'd purchased them both well prior to that day, but it made the most logistical sense to bring them home after Jasmine's vetting. A real mixed-bag of emotions that day... Up first is a jenny! "Charo" was bred by my friend Brooklyn who has a wonderful herd of long ears and is so much fun to do strange animal driving adventures with! I know and quite like both mom and dad to this little girl. I'd talked with Brooklyn for about 2 years about what I was looking for in another donkey and am thrilled that she sold this funny fuzz nugget to me! This year, Charo will learn about donkey life and go all over with Phillippe, Uncle Phil, gaining exposure and confidence. She was foaled in the summer of 2025, so we've got lots of time before we're ready to get hitched.

I'm hopeful that she'll take up where Jasmine left off with being able to visit residents in care. Time will tell but she seems confident and calm and just bold enough to adventure. My second newbie is a formerly feral little filly, also foaled summer 2025. She's to be Falcor's replacement as he's 19 this year. "Mavis" aka Stinky Pinky Pony is now registered with the Canadian Pinto Association as "Serving Iconic Lewks". She has gone from being feral and blindly terrified of humans to being curious, pesky and game to learn. She has a lot of try and wants to do things the right way. Right now, she still has a pretty significant flight response to new things, but she's also coming back and looking more quickly too! Getting exposure this year is going to be vital for her future and potential as a driving animal. She is adorable in a way that breaks my brain. She has an underbite, so her facial expression looks like she's grinning. Although her toes are quite long (trimming booked for Friday afternoon!) she looks to be a fancy mover. My only real concern is that she may not grow tall enough to take over Falcor's equipment.

What we have now are 2 donkeys and 2 pintos so that Ali and I can show both of those directions together.

Saying Goodbye Far Too Soon

It always seems to be the really good ones, doesn't it? The exceptional souls that have some freak situation happen that shortens their existence. This was the recent reality of our superstar pony, Jasmine. In the fall, our sweet pony girl started showing signs of foot soreness. Now, when she'd come to us 4 years ago, she was not quite right. There was evidence of neglect done previously that left a mark of damage. That told me that we were not going to be able to have her for long, and to really enjoy the time we did have. I'm pretty sure we did just that!

After the last show in August Jasmine attended with my youngest niece, she started showing intermittent foot soreness. We started managing pain and progressing to stronger and stronger insulin-resistant/laminitis management protocol. It seemed her symptoms were worsened while she was in her heat cycles, so I started her on chasteberry to try to level out her hormones. Slowly she continued to decline regardless of the management. We're talking NSC no higher than 9, daily 1/4 tablet of Previcox, and still, she declined, spending more time laying down and making shorter trips around her pen. She would still eat happily and got herself to the water, shelter and to flirt with the geldings whenever the mood presented. I made a call to the Westlock vet as I'd come to know their equine doctor as very competent and compassionate. Excellent practicality with feet and legs. In short, I trust him. I booked her for some radiographs to see what the degree of founder rotation was and if there was any protocol left that I hadn't already tried that could remedy the issue. Her first front foot showed a rotation of 15+ degrees, some remodeling, but joint spaces looked really good, no ring bone, and her sole depth was 22 - 24 mm. Excellent news! The second front foot, however, demonstrated equal rotation, or even slightly more, same sole depth, but appearance of bone cysts on her coffin bone and possibility of navicular involvement. The vet opted to take a single view of one of her rear hooves and it was the same story again. No doubt the 4th would have been more of the same. Not the news we were hoping for. He felt confident that this pony was not PPID, not a typical Cushings presentation at all and, since we were already following full protocol - even beyond that, it was likely not the cause of what was happening to our sweet girl. What was the acute cause? Another one of life's great mysteries. We'll chalk it up to poor genetics and previous neglect causing permanent trauma. The long and short of it though, there was nothing left outside of stronger pain management - which would only be a short-term treatment anyways. The damage was done and would continue to progress. Suffering is not something I can tolerate seeing my 4-legged friends endure. I asked the vet to put her down. My mom had come with me. She fed Jasmine all the cookies she could eat while I braided up and cut her tail to take home. Two very kind veterinary students were attending as well and they were respectful and compassionate. Jasmine laid down so calmly and relaxed. She was ready. Mom and I stayed with her and thanked her for the wonderful time she spent with our family and the many, many gifts she had given each of us. Gone too soon, but not soon forgotten.

My regular sign off does not feel right here, so we'll try this... Soon to be happier-horseing. <3