Donkey handlers training day

Lionel Ford and Liz Ellis from the Donkey Sanctuary came to do a donkey handling course with volunteers from the Chalford Donkey Project.

After watching a video about general donkey care and paddock maintenance, Liz showed us how to put on a head collar (see photo above).

A sumptuous lunch was laid on and we all sat around enjoying a well earned break in the sunshine.

After lunch we all went out to the field and put what we had learnt into practice. Liz explained the importance of going up to the donkey in a calm way as well as a sneaky tip - hide the head collar as you approach!

We had a go at leading.....

......and grooming......

At the end of the day the kids arrived for more grooming and Liz gave them some basics tips about donkey handling.
We all had a great day. Thanks so much to everyone who participated.

What an Ass

To Cooke’s corner grocery shop
I used to go as I grew up.
There to get my sweets,
Over ripe banana and other treats.
Delivering groceries to my old Gran.
Stopping to have a chat.
Swopping news of this and that.

Tesco’s, Asda and Waitrose,
That’s where my money goes.
No need to shop in store,
They’ll deliver to yur door.
“Is your house hard to find?
Then we can’t deliver, never mind,
It really is a pain being stuck in country lane,
You see our vans are too wide
To deliver to the countryside.”

Then a villager with a heart
Decided to deliver by donkey cart.
The Ford Transits laid to rest.
In Chalford Hill horse power is best.
Teddy from retirement brought
To bring the beer for winter sport.
“I’m afraid I’ve made a substitue,
The donkey ate the fruit on route.
And while we stand and discuss your veg
The brute has started on your hedge.
Have you got a bucket and spade?
I’ll remove the mess it’s made.
They say it’s good for the roses,
Violets, Sweet Williams and other posys.

By John Ball

Chalford Donkey in the News again!

In the last week the local and national media decided to report on the donkeys arriving in Chalford. It is great that they find our donkeys' every move of interest. Chester and Teddy are becoming quite good and grinning at the camera! Although Chester's amorous advances towards Teddy might have to be cut. Yesterday, I found myself at 6:30 in the morning with two bedraggled donkeys in the pissing rain standing in a field with a film crew. There was a bit of a drama as the sound technician couldn't get down the drive to where the donkey's were as the trees were too low, and he was in danger of scraping the satellite dish on the top of the van. But the problem was overcome by taking the donkey's nearer the van and the very nice reporter did a grand job of leading the other donkey.

So in the last week we've been been on ITV west, BBC 1 Breakfast show, Points West, The Stroud News and Jounal, The Western Daily Press, The Llanelli Star, the Evening Post (Swansea), The Citizen (tomorrow) and Stroud Life (next Tuesday)

And they all want to come back for more when the donkey starts delivering the shopping!