When the farrier comes, we put all three donkeys into the Pole Barn Ben built – Todd Mason put in the gates that open in and out. We lure them in with grain. Donkeys are wicked smart and they sense any intention to trap them. We put the grain down and we have pre-closed all gates but one. As they eat the grain, Maria distracts them and I go out and get between them and the gate. Lulu, as always, spotted the ruse and broke for the gate but I was ready for her. In this photo, Eadon on the left is trimming Lulu, Ken Norman in the middle is trimming Fanny’s hooves. Maria is helping hold Lulu with a halter, Fanny loves Ken and holds still for him, and Simon is done. He was good, bucking only a little bit. When I am there, he does what he is told, I’m not sure why.

The donkeys put up a bit of a fuss but they are used to Ken, whose pockets are filled with small cookies and who speaks to the donkeys in a calm and affectionate tone. The process takes about thirty minutes. In addition to doing the hooves, Ken checks out the donkeys for weight and general health. He says the donkeys look great, just the right weight, their coats look good. He was especially pleased with Simon’s legs. They are still twisted but he is walking much more solidly on the ground. He looks better than he has ever looked, Ken says, and he is somewhat responsible for that. Ken worked on Simon the night he was taken from the farm where he was dying, and his memories of Simon’s condition are chilling.