It wasn’t long ago that we added another little friend into our herd. We always have people looking for donkeys, so when we went to pick up our rescue buddy, Richie, and were offered the donkey as well, we were quickly on board. He needed his hooves trimmed pretty badly and needed to lose a few pounds. Our typical rescue animals need to GAIN a few pounds… Not this guy.
The kids’ excitement was through the roof when they first saw the chubby little donkey. At first glance, he looked as if he was striped all over his body like a little “Zonkey” (Zebra/donkey cross). As we approached closer, it was pretty apparent that he was not striped other than on his legs, but rather had lines from fat rolls. All of the kids were excited to meet the cute little guy with long ears, but none as much as our six year old son Malachi.
Malachi came to us at three years old as a foster placement. He was basically a wild little boy who had raised himself and was used to trying to take care of himself without adult intervention. He could watch me undo something or unlock something, and one time is all it took for him to learn how to do it. I had to get creative with door locks, and hide things that most kids would not think to play with. He only spoke baby talk when he came to us and was not potty trained as of yet. We took Malachi on a temporary placement, because he had been too much to handle and had blown through three foster homes within a couple of months. We initially were to have him for a week until his next home was ready for him, but in less than one week were all attached to my little Tarzan buddy. He was a little rough around the edges, but we were excited to make room for him in our family and try and help him the best we could. š Two years later we adopted him into our family as our own. He has come a looooong way!
Much like Malachi, we took SeƱor Carrots on temporarily…We planned on getting his feet done, and cutting back on his food and finding him a permanent home where he would be loved and happy. After all, we are good at that, right? It became apparent right away that SeƱor Carrots was no ordinary donkey. He is gentle and kind, and patient with children, and Malachi quickly took to him. It started out with Malachi sneaking him treats, him getting a brush and brushing him down. The first day we had him, Malachi sat on his back and that sealed the deal. They were destined to be best friends.
Malachi started telling everyone that he had a donkey and his name is SeƱor Carrots and he is his new best friend. Every time I would turn around, I would find Malachi wrangling a pony sized rope halter onto the sweet donkey… He would lead him around, and sit on him, and try and get him to ride. At one point, we were calling the horses in for their feed, and Malachi was on SeƱor Carrots, and stood up on his back and decided to hop up on his Thoroughbred buddy’s back from where he was. SeƱor Carrots just calmly stood and waited on him to finish his business.
After a few days, we decided that maybe this donkey should stick around. Malachi is always full of energy and getting himself into trouble. He LOVES playing in the dirt, and is often off in his own world of imagination. If there’s something to get into, he will. He has an amazing bright curious mind, but sometimes it really gets him into precarious situations. SeƱor Carrots was helping some with that. If it is quiet and I can’t find Malachi, all I have to do is look for the donkey, and he will be near by.
I watched out the window of the barn one day. Malachi was on the SeƱor Carrots and slid down his neck over his head to get off of him.. Rubbed all over between his ears, and then went and picked up one hoof and cleaned it off some with his hands… Then he laid down on the ground underneath SeƱor Carrots and was checking him out down there, then he went back and picked up his tail and messed with it, then he went back up and picked up SeƱor Carrots’ head and talked to him and then waited until he put his head down and had him help lift him back up on his back. Would I let him do this with any animal? No… But this precious donkey is the perfect therapy buddy for my little man. He would never do a thing to hurt him. There’s nothing Malachi can do that will put this guy in a bad mood.
Sometimes you choose an animal…And other times an animal chooses you. In this case, they chose each other. Any time you come and visit, you are sure to see this dynamic duo together. SeƱor Carrots is here to stay. Most recently, Malachi and SeƱor Carrots have been trying to prepare for a fun show. š You never know what you might see around here.
So, if you’re like me and you think…Why would we ever get a donkey? Consider SeƱor Carrots. When a donkey loves you, you know it! They are loyal and sweet animals. Donkeys are at risk of slaughter just as horses are, and their population is drastically decreasing. We see lots of donkeys every month at the sale barn, and would be more than happy to help find your family’s own personal SeƱor Carrots.
