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ARRANBROOK MINIATURE DONKEYS
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FOALING! 10.00pm Collect my sleeping bag, clock and three back issues of The Asset. Go out to stables. 10.01pm Go back to house for chocolate bar and warm drink. 10.10pm Make way back to stable. Torch gives out half way down path. Mistakenly think I can make it by memory. Pat dogs head as he pants alongside. 10.11pm Suddenly remember dog is still in house. 10.12pm Run yelling back to house. New batteries in torch, change underwear. Make way back to stable. 10.16pm Establish foal watch HQ in empty stable next to jennet. 10.17pm Enter mother to be's stable for the 543rd time. 10.17pm Jennet flattens ears for the 543rd time. 10.18pm Sigh heavily, walk back to house. Call vet just to make sure he is home. 10.19pm Replace receiver where is normally goes not where vet suggested. 10.20pm Return to stable. Climb into sleeping bag. Set alarm for one hour and turn of light. 10.21pm Whole country's mouse population become active sprinting around loft. 10.25pm Sit up when something with not so tiny feet joins sprint in loft. 10.26pm Switch on torch. Listen to absolute silence. 10.27pm Switch off torch. 10.29pm Sprinting in loft resumes, big foot is winning. 11.18pm Finally fall asleep. 11.19pm Alarm goes off. 11.20pm Peek through peephole at jenny. Jenny pins back ears. 11.21pm Reset alarm. Switch off torch. 11.23pm Realise hot drink was mistake. Head for house to "eliminate" problem. 11.26pm Resist urge to call vet. 11.27pm Trot back to stable. Left boot sucked off in mud. Hobble 3 steps before getting stopped. 11.28pm Return back to house to change one sock. 11.30pm Walk to stable. 11.32pm One last check of jennet through peephole. Ears pinned back. 11.33pm Set alarm for one hour. Turn out torch. 11.40pm Wake suddenly. Check peephole. Donkey laid down. 11.41pm Enter stable carrying "how to foal a Donkey" book, 3 pounds of clean rags, iodine and a tetanus shot. Donkey breaks wind rather violently and gets up. Pins back ears. 11.42pm Return to sleeping bag. Switch off torch. 12.01am Can't hear clock. Switch on light. Clock is fine. Remove hay from ear. 12.29am Fall asleep. 12.32am Alarm goes off. 12.33am Eyes feel like somebody put sand in them. Stagger to peephole. Extreme close up of jennets rear. No change in reproductive parts. Can't see ears. Assume pinned back. 12.34am Back to sleeping bag. Set alarm and switch out light. Cramp on left foot. 12.40am Cramp over. Relax foot. 12.41am Left foot turns into agonising bent limb. Hobble around stable for 10 minutes. 12.51am Cramp over. Return to sleeping bag. Right foot starts to quiver. 01.10am Fall asleep. 01.39am Alarm goes off. Sleep right through it. 06.30am Wake up. Glance at clock. Attempt to get from sleeping bag. Become polyester / fibre wad of hay. Crawl to peephole. Peer into jennets stable. See two sets of pinned back ears!
Inheritance Ignored "It's a shame" I said "to Walt", "Her conformations filled with fault.
Her head is plain. Her neck is ewe. Her back is long. Her tail askew.
Her shoulders straight, back at the knees: She toes out in front, you'll notice please.
Offset cannons and splints you see. This mare I fear will never be.
A racing prospect or good to show; Brittle feet with seedy toe.
Four years old, already lame, in both forelegs, in back the same.
Problems to worsen eventually, because she's built inadequately.
Her hip is short, her croup is low. The right fore tendon's begun to bow.
She cribs, you know, and lolls her tongue. Too many vices in a mare so young.
And when she's worked to desperation, she wheezes with each respiration.
Her teeth are bad, she over bites. With other mares she always fights.
When she trots she'll weave and bobble Her hind end has a definite wobble.
Now melanoma in horses grey, is very commonplace I'd say.
But these masses, "neath her tail are bad. In a mare so young it makes me sad.
I hate to bear such tragic news; you might as well just pull her shoes.
And stop her training as of now, you cannot ride her anyhow."
Walt looked at me and then replied, "The guy who sold her surely lied.
He told me that she was so great, and I so eager, could hardly wait,
To load her up and take her home, to pay for her, make her my own.
Well, no matter" said Walt aloud, "she'll make a broodmare fine and proud.
We'll breed her soon and get repaid, for the investment that I made.
I know a stallion with a fee so low, he's been laid up for a year or so.
He's got navicular disease they say, but his stud fee I guess I'll pay,
And raise a foal so this young mare, will pay her way and earn her fare.
Don't you agree, Doc with my plan?" I answered him......I told him man:
"Like begets like. You've heard that said?" This foal your planning in your head,
Is good for business-mine, I mean, foals like this, I have to seen,
Are useful to support a vet, Because of many defects, yet.
Our voice is often heard alone, warning breeders, Do not condone
The breeding of inferior sire, To inferior mare you desire
To produce foals to improve the breed, BREED best to best, that's all you need.
Now listen you breeders of puppy dogs, and cats and sheep and cows and hogs,
For your own species just change the name. The principles are still the same.
Like begets like, It's in the genes, controlled by DNA it seems.
BREED best to best, it's your only chance, for offspring that will the BREED enhance.
By Robert Miller
When your day is out of balance and so many things go wrong... When people fight around you and the day drags on so long...
When parents act like children, in-laws make you think "Divorce".... Go out into your pasture... and wrap your arms around your Donkey.
His gentle breath enfolds you, and he watches with those eyes. He may not have a Ph D, but he is oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder. You embrace him oh so tight. He puts your world in balance, and makes it seems to right.
Your tears they soon stop flowing, The tension is now eased. The garbage has been lifted, and you're quiet and at peace.
So when you need the balance from circumstances in your day... The best therapy that you can seek... is out there eating hay!!
M. A. Miller
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