The donkeys shed their winter coats erratically and independently. They shed late, in July, even August, and begin to grow their winter coats early – late September, October. Lulu is the first to completely shed, Simon is next – he is halfway there – and then Lulu, who sheds intensely, late and then almost immediately starts growing the winter coat.

The flies and gnats are bad this year, as predicted, but the donkeys handle it, they go into the Pole Barn where the flies do not follow and then out to graze mostly at night.