Rocky’s week has ended up a lot better than it began. For three days now, he has been stalled in the nightime – the donkeys just outside the gate – and left free to graze all day and move around. It isn’t healthy for a pony to be stalled too long with exercise. At night, the donkeys stand right outside of his gate, sniffing, watching, listening. They are never far from him. He seems completely at ease with the donkeys’ inches away, he eats next to them, sniffs almost nose to nose, doesn’t back away when they come near.

In the morning, I bring the donkeys into the sheep pasture, and they spend the day there. More work hauling the water and hay, but I need to be patient and give these creatures time to get used to each other and talk to one another. I believe they are.

Simon still gives Rocky some intense looks and the female donkeys’ seem very interested in him. We will continue this pattern for some days and then next week, while we are around, we will try releasing him into the pasture with Simon, Lulu and Fanny. It feels much easier to me, but we will see. We visit Rocky frequently and give him and the donkeys as much attention as we can. Simon seems particularly needy of some attention and so I am spending some time with him each day. I have learned not to underestimate the need my equines have for attention – Rocky, also. It isn’t just something they like from time to time, they need human attention. Rocky whinnies whenever I call to  him, and usually comes running.