Donkeys, like most prey animals, are wary of lying down too much, they often rest and sleep standing. Simon’s legs were twisted and emaciated when he came to us, and lately, I notice he is lying down quite a bit, more than usual. I asked Ken Norman the farrier about it during his last visit and he said he imagined Simon’s legs bothered him from time to time.

My sense is that it is something more than that, perhaps he is just getting older, we don’t really know for sure how old he is. Until recently, Simon would never let me near him while he was lying down, he would always get  up. When he came to the first Bedlam Farm he couldn’t get up, we often lay down on the ground together. My hope is that it is just the heat. He is eating heartily and is bright and alert and sociable.