Rescue donkey coming to Shingletown & Local High School Volunteer helps babies

On Saturday, Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang had  help from a local High school student.  Jess Van Riper, a singer songwriter from Foothill High School, came to Shingletown to help us at the rescue.  Although Jess had not worked with foals prior to this, the fact that she is an accomplished horsewoman and has a soft and gentle touch held her in good stead.  She worked with Romeo and Rocky, and did such a wonderful job.  

Romeo came in off the range with substantial head injuries.  He suffered from memory loss and would intermittently forget that anyone had spent the last few weeks brushing him, loving on him and handling him in general.  This would result in a very scared little guy.  Shirley had to start over numerous times as his little brain struggled to heal.  The very good news is that he seems to be nearly, if not completely, recovered from the injury itself.  Of course that would make him a little bit head shy, so we have to be extra careful around his head.

Jess did a great job with both of the colts.  It is important for youngsters, especially bottle babies, to work with as many people as possible, as they need to learn respect.  So many times people raise orphans and Bottle babies and they don't realize that what is cute as a little hundred pounder is not so cute as a 1000 pound horse.  

We are actually en route back to Shingletown as I type this.  Pepe is coming home.  Pepe is a very much loved donkey that some wonderful friends donated to help with our "kitty problem".  They also donated four rather large panels to help support the back fence.  So, little by little, we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our guys.  Having a double fence in the back will be so much safer.  Also, the horses will get used to it looking very solid, so they will be much less likely to challenge it, even if they are scared.  

Big news - Honey Bandit is in with Chilly Pepper and Dakota.  He is not overly excited about it, but doing very well under the circumstances.  He doesn't panic when Dakota  and Chilly teach him life lessons about who gets to share the hay.  It is such a complete turnabout since last spring when he nearly killed himself trying to get away from a big bad colt that was pretty much ignoring him.

Romeo also learned a lesson.  He tried to take a bite out of HB before I moved him and Honey Bandit explained very clearly to him that he was a pipsqueak and needed some respect.  So Romeo was having a little bit of an attitude problem and decided to take it out on Patches.  Well, let me tell you, Patches might be mini, but he wheeled around and sent Romeo running.  So we are having a lot of little lessons.  Rocky is definitely not happy with the whole thing but life is about learning and he has also passed the stage where he is hurting himself getting away.  They will  be much safer together anyway, especially now that they have Pepe to guard them.

Remember, Chilly Pepper, Rocky and Romeo are all available for adoption in the very near future.  It is heartbreaking to let them go, but we have to make room for the new orphans.   But for now, we are trying to spend as much time as possible with the 3 of them to get them ready.  Of course right now we have to finish the nursery and start the hay barn/shelter and get enough wood in so we don't freeze this winter.

We appreciate your leftover usable wood to help with the barn and hay shelters.  We also appreciate anyone who wants to come and help out or volunteer.  If you want tickets for the Honey Bandit chair, you can go to our website at www.chillypepper.weebly.com or Palominodancer@yahoo.com at paypal for tickets.  We appreciate all your help and for making this happen.

God bless and don't forget to come and visit!

hugs