Last week was a big week.  The BIG day arrived.  It was time for Francis to go to her new home.  We backed the trailer right up to the arena were we sometimes put the donkeys. Normally having to back up a trailer to a arena or pasture to load a horse is not a good sign.  But since trailer loading was not checked off on the “to do”  list in training we had to go the kinda wild animal or livestock way to load.

We built a chute the best way we could think of….kinda pathetic huh?  Mr. Lassen had no idea why were are making it so complicated to get in the trailer.This is Helen getting Francis ready to go on her big trailer ride.  Helen has been coming to Sundog twice a week to help me tame the donkey’s.  See how Francis holds her hoofs up so nicely for cleaning?  Thanks to Helen for that.  Six months ago we could not get near her let alone clean her hoofs.

Here is Helen again trying to get Francis to turn around in our pathetic chute that was suppose to not let her turn around.  I was not able to take many loading photo’s as all my energy was taken up LOADING Francis.  Long story short…we eventually got Francis to jump in the trailer on her own accord.  If you know donkey’s you know it is a good idea to let them in on the decision making.   Once in the trailer Francis got lots of treats and did not think it was so bad in there.Rosie on the other hand watched and wondered why in the world Francis “GAVE IN” by getting into that BIG tin can.   Much to my delight Rosie acted perplexed but not too upset by the whole episode.   She continued to watch the trailer for a minute or two, gave out a few brays then went right back to eating her pile of grass hay as if to say “C’est la vie.”     All that separation preparation we did must have worked.  WOW I love it when things go as planned with my wild burro dream.

The Sundogs got the message they were not invited on this trip so they decided to hang out in a shady spot until they absolutely had to go back to the house.After the hour drive to Francis’s new home in Flournoy we were immediately greeted by a welcoming committee.  They had to mark their territory right away and sniff to see what in the world was in that BIG tin can.

Why look what the cat dragged in!

Francis hopped out of the trailer and strolled into her new pasture as if this is were she was meant to be.  No panic, no anxiety,  no running around frantic that there were no other donkey’s to be seen.   She put her head down, smelled the green grass…..

and looked at me as if to say “why didn’t you take me here sooner?

Helen gave Francis some good bye pats and hugs.  Helen like me was relieved to see how happy Francis appeared in her new home.Francis even seemed right at home with her new care takers Kenny and Jenna.   Allowing new people to stand on both sides of her was very courageous.  We will miss her but knowing she is happy with good folks makes it all OKAY.Francis is now a main attraction on Paskenta Road about a 1/2 mile from the tiny town of Flournoy.  If you are ever driving out that way look for Francis, honk and say HEE-HAW!!