Take a morning break …

Now that we have the hay bags system down pat … we have a little more ‘spare’ time each morning. (That will likely change when the snow flies … but not yet!)
I love when I get the chance to sneak in some ‘just Paco’ time. I spoil him by looking for the seed heads in the hay and hand him handfuls …
… while the jennies are still gobbling the hay by the fence line. I usually put some over the fence while I’m stuffing the bags. Paco tends to walk back to the feed bins with me – knowing that the girls are ‘pushy’ in the morning.
I hope he is okay … He was awfully cuddly this morning – offering hugs and nudges even when Ede was popping around his feet … Usually he is very cautious about giving himself over to human attentions if there are distractions nearby. He also let me lift and brush off one of his back hooves (first time ever outside … that is more of a ‘safe in the barn’ move). I also brushed off and cleaned out both of his front hooves. Ede got an eyeful when I was doing that. When I lifted his left front hoof (which he is protective of) he initially let me check it out but then reared right back onto his two hind hooves. I just held on to his lower leg and brought him down gently. I know he doesn’t want to hurt me – but I also know he could… I think that is the hoof that our farrier noticed was bruised. It had a small rock caught in the crevice beside his frog (heel). I’ve become much more able to move his body and hold him firmly but not aggressively when I need to work on him. I got the stone out and when I put his leg down he didn’t move off at all. We sure have made progress since last January … 10 months ago … NO ONE could go anywhere near his feet. Sigh …
Ede brought out her magic tea cup and newspaper again this morning. Seems you can’t just blow on a donkey’s face to back them up … 😉
She did manage to use her foot to hold Bella back … and then hid her tea from Rosie. It must smell awfully good to donkey noses … The minute she shows up with a tea cup she has a LOT of company!
It was so nice to soak up some sunshine in the lower paddock this morning. We’ve had a lot of rain lately. When Bella gets all warm and toasty she gets sleepy and likes to tuck her head right in under my arm – she loves ‘scrunchies’. 😉

All’s well here in The Meadow.