Two Shetland ponies and a barnful of donkeys!

Many, although not all, of the donkeys in New Barn are permanent, resident donkeys. In some respects they quite rightly see themselves as the centre of the Sanctuary. After all, they are the ones who form the "Meet and Greet" teams who go out onto the main yard to socialise with the visitors, flying the flag for The Donkey Sanctuary on a day to day basis. This important role affords them a sense of gravitas. They have their set routines and they get a bit disgruntled if these routines are interrupted in any way, shape or form... especially if this form takes the shape of two excitable Shetland ponies.

Phil and I were alerted to the fact that something was going on in New Barn when we saw a large group of normally sedate and dignified donkeys scarpering in all directions at great speed across the hill. As we walked over to investigate, we bumped into Laurel and Hardy in the back yard, so of course we had to stop for cuddles, hellos and how are yous? As we were doing this, another group of elderly donkeys all huffed and puffed their way through the narrow gate, arriving in a rather undignified and dishevelled fashion in the yard. Seconds later, Gypsy and Tim barrelled around the corner and the donkeys promptly vanished into the barn.

Distracted by Phil and I, Tim and Gypsy ignored the other donkeys and followed us back out into the field, together with Laurel and Hardy. Phil and I settled down by the hedge to watch what would happen next. The two Shetland ponies and the two donkeys started grazing quietly together. After a while a small group of donkeys, led by Petrina edged closer, all of them staring hard at Tim and Gypsy. You could almost hear them, "Short-ears?" " Long tails?" "Big hooves?" "Strangest looking donkeys we've ever seen!" Petrina and her best friend Holly started to sidle quietly along the path by the hedge and past Gypsy and Tim, who ignored them. Once past, both donkeys rushed through the gate and into the safety of the yard.

A few minutes later, we noticed a cluster of donkeys peering through the gate all intently watching the two little ponies. Gradually more and more long-ears started to join the group, all of them staring at the two short-ears. Tim and Gypsy seemed oblivious to the great commotion their presence had seemingly caused in the normally calm and sedate world of the New Barn donkeys, and continued to munch happily on the grass with their friends, Laurel and Hardy!

Nipper and the Great Escape!

One memorable day last autumn I was entrusted with the care of the donkeys on the Main Yard.  Basically the donkeys and visitors mingle together to the benefit of all concerned.  The donks get a constant supply of love and affection, while the visitors get a chance to be photographed enjoying donkey cuddles.

My first surprise of the day was to discover that instead of an empty yard, Billy the donkey was already on duty, and had been since about 7.00am.  He'd been up with larks, had his hair and make-up done, and had already finished being filmed for a children's TV show.  The film crew had already moved on to another part of the Sanctuary by the time I arrived. As is the way of all donkeys, Billy remained unperturbed by his brush with the world of celebrities and was more interested in breakfast. He followed me round the yard as I distributed the feed around the various stables, before burying his nose into one of the buckets while I went off to find the other donkeys.

 As I approached the door to the barn a cacophony of braying and banging greeted me. Standing in the doorway trying to select 10 donkeys is not easy with all those pleading eyes and eager faces, but eventually, Dinkie, Dusty, Norman, Little Pippa, Jubilee, Sally, Suzie, Chico and Tom all trooped triumphantly onto the yard, straight past the waiting visitors and joined Billy in a breakfast-fest in the stables. The only photo-opportunities for the next 10 minutes would involve hairy bottoms poking out of various stable doorss!

Once breakfast was over, the donkeys behaved politely and courteously as they went about their “Meet and Greet” routine, regularly stopping to pose for photographs and cuddles.  Keeping one eye on the socialising, I started to groom each of the donkeys in turn.  Things went on harmoniously for an hour or so.   

Now the custom is, when a donkey has had enough on the yard, they wait by the gate and I let them back into the barn.  So when Dusty stood at the gate, I let her back in the barn, closed the door and went back to the yard to check the list of donkeys who were available for yard duty, in order to find a replacement for Dusty.   Suddenly I heard a commotion by the barn – a mix of excited cries and the clip clop of many hooves.  To my horror and to the visitors' amusement, a stream of donkeys was pouring out of the barn and heading towards the yard!  As I rushed over, a Mexican wave of fingers all pointed at one particular donkey, “It was that donkey!”

I knew very well which donkey they meant!  I had forgotten to put the chain on the door after I'd let Dusty back into the barn and had only bolted it.  Big mistake Angela!  Nipper can open almost any gate and door in the Sanctuary, and the barn door is a piece of proverbial cake to a master escapologist like Nipper!  He'd grasped the bolt with his teeth and  kicked the door open, all within a matter of seconds of me bolting it shut! Nipper led and forty or so other donkeys eagerly followed!

As you can imagine, the next 10 minutes or so were rather lively as I tried to round up the by now rather excitable donkeys.  Let me tell you, for a group of elderly donkeys – they are still able to dodge and weave with surprising agility!  Fortunately, one of the grooms came to my aid and we soon had them all safely back in the barn.  Well almost... as we turned to go back to the yard, we discovered four more donkeys standing with a group of bemused visitors, enjoying the whole comedic spectacle from the visitors' viewing area!

The rest of the day passed without mishap and it was with some relief that at the end of the afternoon, I escorted the last of the donkeys back to the barn in time for their tea. As I said to Billy the donk whilst I was walking him back, “Thank goodness that film crew had long moved off the yard!”

Since writing this, Chico, Dusty, Billy and Nipper have left us and gone to the Rainbow Bridge - I miss them all...

Teddy and Lucky - a special kind of friendship.

Teddy and Lucky

Teddy and Lucky are two donkey friends that live up on the hill and theirs is a special kind of friendship.  You see, Teddy is a blind donkey and Lucky is his sighted friend who helps him.

Teddy - blind donkey

Teddy is about 20 years old and was born blind – but you would never guess it!  He is able to find his way around, can neatly avoid obstacles, is able to sniff out when food is coming, can hear us walking up the lane before anyone else and generally manages to be first in line when it’s time for a cuddle. 

Never far away from Teddy is his good friend Lucky.  Lucky is a larger than life character who just bubbles with confidence and cheekiness!  Lucky also loves to be fussed, cuddled - and he also loves to give donkey-hugs while enjoying a good ear-scratch.  Lucky also has other talents – such as being able to open all the gates and doors in his yard – a trick he has since taught new donkey Dylan. 



Cheeky Lucky!

Lucky can often be seen standing with Teddy at the fence or gate, his muzzle resting on the top rail, as he waits for passers-by.  As soon as Lucky’s sharp eye spots someone coming, he goes all out on a charm offensive – stretching out his muzzle and cocking his head sideways – so even the most hardened person caves in and gives him a cuddle and attention.  And of course, they soon spot Teddy and he also gets to share in the cuddles too! 

Teddy and Lucky are good friends and together make a perfect team - and Phil and I suspect that they have all of us two-leggeds exactly where they want us!

Billy has left the yard

There are some donkeys that many of us will never forget – and Billy is one of those donkeys.  As I write this I still can’t quite believe that Billy has died and is no longer with us.  He was such a big part of the Donkey Sanctuary – especially in New Barn and as “King of the Yard” – the top donk of the Meet and Greet Team!

Billy arrived at The Donkey Sanctuary from Saffron Walden in the mid-1980s, along with his younger brother Freddie and sister Jenny. The three of them were real characters and numerous staff and visitors have told me how much they loved this little family of donkeys.  Ironically, after so many years together, all three donkeys have died within 8 months of each other – Billy being the eldest and the last to leave.

Billy was a legend on the yard long before I ever knew him, and after my first day on yard duty, I knew why!  Billy was first in the queue to come out of the barn and onto the yard – the others pushed and hoped behind him – but none challenged him.  Billy would immediately move from stable to stable checking out the feed buckets before settling to munch his food in his favourite stable.  Once his food was finished, Billy would walk around the yard, stopping to pose for photographs as he deemed necessary, before heading back to the doorway of his stable, from where he could survey the yard – his yard.  All day Billy would remain on duty, and he was invariably the last to leave.  I write that quite easily – but the reality of getting Billy to leave the yard was quite different! 

You see, Billy only ever did something if Billy wanted to do it…and leaving the yard was not one of those things he chose to do willingly. At the end of my first day, after trying to lead, pull, push, cajole and finally bribe Billy, he remained unperturbed and stood resolute on the yard.  Defeated and cross, I had to go and confess to a groom that Billy was still on the yard and could he please come and help me.  I swear, as Billy was led into the barn, he turned his head and looked directly at me - and there in his eye was a twinkle of triumph!  I had met a donkey with a sense of humour, no less!

That was the thing about Billy – he really was funny! I think I told you in a previous story about the day when Phil and I took Billy and Jubilee for what was to be a relaxing stroll around the Sanctuary at the end of a busy day.  Jubilee however decided that Phil needed further exercise, and set off at a rapid trot.  Billy, on the other hand, continued to walk sedately beside me until he was quite sure I was feeling settled and relaxed.  Then to my great consternation, he cast me a quick, side-long look, before suddenly hurtling off at great speed and with great glee, after the vanishing figures of Phil and Jubilee, dragging me helplessly alongside him!

Another of my favourite memories of Billy was at this year’s Carols by Candlelight service.  Phil and I were given the job of looking after Billy and Hugo in one of the stables around the yard.  While Hugo took great interest in all that was happening outside the door and eagerly greeted all the hundreds of visitors thronging in the yard, Billy kept his head firmly in a feed bucket, ignoring all the flailing hands that tried to pat or scratch him over the stable door.  When he finally peered over the door, he successfully managed to wipe the Mollichaff from his, by then rather grubby muzzle onto the coat sleeve of some poor unsuspecting visitor.  Fortunately, the visitor was very understanding and accepted my apologies for the slobbery blobs on his coat! 

Billy’s finest moment that evening though was still to come.  The Honiton Town Band struck up for the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City – traditionally a solo verse I believe.  Billy clearly knew this as well and seized his opportunity, and somewhat tunefully, half-brayed his way through the entire verse, before everyone else joined in for the chorus - much to the bemusement of all within close vicinity of our stable!  My only regret was that he didn’t get to do this on the stage with Dr Svendsen, in front of the congregation in the barn and the thousands more watching and listening via the webcam!

I have spoken to many people about Billy in recent days – and all have abiding and personal memories of not only Billy, but of Freddie and Jenny. I know they were much-loved donkeys and have left their indelible mark on many hearts. As for my heart – I knew sweet Jenny all too briefly, I loved “my” little Freddie and Billy brought me joy and smiles in abundance.     

And for many, including myself, the place suddenly seems that much emptier now Billy has left the yard.  

In memory of my friend Freddie

In a corner of a small paddock at Slade Farm, you'll find a little donkey called Freddie. Not everyone notices Freddie as they walk around the Sanctuary, as he tends to keep himself to himself. He shares his paddock with three other donkeys - Eros, Hugo and Hector. Freddie isn't exactly "Top Donk", but I suspect he'd like to be.

Freddie probably doesn't score too highly in the looks department. He has a rather wiry, dishevelled coat that I carefully try to groom and tame each week. His tail is admittedly, a bit on the thin side, although Phil insists its "stringy". Nevertheless, it's still efficient as a fly switch. Freddie has "ballerina feet", which means he walks on his toes , and to help him with this he wears special plastic shoes . He was particularly proud to show me today that he had some new shoes! He click-clacked around his yard looking pleased with the noise they made.

Actually it's not too easy to tell if Freddie is happy and pleased as he generally has a typical Eeyore disposition. Phil says Freddie is the Victor Meldrew of The Donkey Sanctuary - which is a bit on the harsh side I think!

The point of this though, is that I love Freddie! Every week I make a point of going to see him and to give him a grooming and a cuddle. To be honest, at first I wondered if he even noticed I was there - until for various reasons we couldn't go and see Freddie for three whole weeks. The next time we went to see him, I climbed over the fence calling his name as usual - and not only did he look up at me, ears pricked forward - he then did the unimaginable! He brayed his head off at me and didn't stop until I reached him and cuddled him! I'm still unsure as to whether he was rebuking me for not visiting him for three weeks, or whether he was telling me he was happy to see me! It's hard to tell!

Freddie has one more little habit - which I'm a bit reluctant to share here, so you must promise not to tell anyone! As you may know, there is a strict "No feeding the donkeys any tidbits," rule at the Sanctuary. Phil and I are pretty good at keeping to this rule, all things said and done! Anyway - because Freddie is a special little donkey to me, I do manage to slip him a polo-mint when no-one is looking! Trouble is, Freddie has a habit of sucking the mint quietly for a while and then without warning and usually just as one of the grooms comes along, he'll suddenly crunch down on his polo! Let me tell you - Freddie has a mighty loud crunch action!

So - if you ever come along to the Sanctuary and you see a small brown and white donkey looking a bit dour but smelling of polo-mints - that'll be my friend Freddie!

Sadly a few months after I wrote this Freddie died.  I was with him when he left this world and now I like to think of him at the Rainbow Bridge along with his sister Jenny and brother Billy grazing together, reunited for ever...