In the three weeks since he has entered our lives, Simon has grown more comfortable each day. He is looking the emaciated and starving look he had when he arrived, and his coat and belly are filling out. The work on his hooves have helped him tremendously, and he is walking up and down the hill well, although not with complete confidence. That will take awhile.

The dental work on his teeth was very successful and he is chewing more easily and with less drooling and spitting up. He loves being brushed, combed and talked to. I have begun halter training (video to come). He is in the Pole Barn with the other donkeys and sheep and while he still rushes down to see me or Maria, he is also now totally at ease with the other donkeys. Seeing Simon return to life has been a powerful lesson in the power of instinct and adaptability. I know some people believe that his understanding of being loved is healing, and while I agree, mostly what I see are the amazing instincts of animals driving them along to survive.

I caught him nosing open the barn door this morning while I was inside getting grain. Clever devil.

He is chasing the ladies all over the place (he is gelded) and routinely breaks into the barn to get the grain. Simon is an intelligent, alert and affectionate creature. He has bonded with the barn cats and doesn’t seem to mind Rose herding the sheep around him. So far, so good.