Thistledown Donkeys - meet the longears!

Chico, the superstar. He is the flagship for Thistledown Donkeys. Chico has been to Edmonton for an appearance at a Mexican themed patio party for an Earls Restaurant. He has been to two grand openings for an electronics store, enumerable children's birthday parties, day care festivals etc. He has made appearances at adults birthday parties (no he will not wear a wig and we will pass on the shots of sambuca, thank you). He can be a bit temperamental and moody, he is a star after all. He loves bananas, especially the peels. He rolls up the rim, almost time to do that again, and will happily accept coffee dregs.

Tequila, my first donkey, a rescue from the meat pen at Innisfail Auction. This donk has way too much personality. She is a kleptomaniac, an escape artist, a fool. She hates dogs, and birds, and deer. She is our guard donk. She refuses to be ridden and will lose structural integrity and fall over. She is a clown. I love the big moose, you can almost see her thoughts she is so animated.

Chiquita, over fed, over loved, yet uncared for. She came to us grossly overweight and covered in fat pads. Her hooves were so overgrown that she could hardly walk. That was two years ago. The new Chiquita is slim and trim, with nice hooves, and as such is way harder to catch. She is our early warning system. If anything is going on, Chiquita sounds the alarm.

Buster Brown, Tequila's little bro, also a rescue from the meat pen. I love this guy, he is a pest, a constant shadow, always wants to know what you are doing. Buster will be heading out to do some appearances this year, he is Chico's understudy.

Buddy. Where to start. Buddy was an orphaned donkey who lived in the house and then in the yard with the dogs. He thinks he is a dog and prefers their company. He is a loner, an outcast. He is naughty and has been spoiled. He loves cans of pop and will chug them in one go, then stick out his tongue. He needs work on his ground manners before I let him loose on Joe Public.

Isabella arrived with Buddy from Hanna, she is a Nickelback donkey. She is rideable but just needs some work, She is a bit of a madam and will kick out if she is ticked off. She is the one that the farrier has to watch out for. She likes cuddles and loves to be brushed. 

That is the crew, my lovely longears.

They have tack imported from England, genuine donkey tack from the beaches of Skegness. I love the sound of the bell collars, reminds me of my childhood trips to the seaside. All I need is a beach, maybe I should work on that idea? Beachfront property in Welling, could be interesting.