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We recently had our blacksmith out to trim the Clydesdale ladies’ hooves…..

And…it was also time for Bartholomew to have his very first trim…..

…..much like a little boy’s very first hair cut…..

These kinds of farm events can be smooth & simple…..

Or they can just as easily turn catastrophic & calamitous…..

Fortunately…this first hoof trim was (fairly) easy and quick…..

…..(probably because Bartholomew weighs less that a hundred pounds)…..

In addition…my blacksmith (and me) are not petite people…..

Plus…when we combine our weight in an organized assault………….we are quite formidable…..

Our blacksmith really likes donkeys…(phew…that’s refreshing)…..

Donkey’s are different…and it’s wonderful that he sees that…..

They play with a different deck of playing cards than horses…..

…..(they’re smart and sneaky…and they remember)…..

I think Bartholomew sized up his competition…compared his weight class…and decided not to take us on…..

Don’t get me wrong…there was a lot of ineffective rapid-fire kicking on Bartholomew’s part…..

…..(his sharp little hooves would hurt…even though they are only a little bigger than a silver dollar)…..

There were some feeble attempts at rearing (which didn’t even get off the ground)…(not with me draped over him)…..

The blacksmith and I knew where and when to weave and side-step…to miss his sharp tiny hoof projectiles…..

It’s hard to get a really good well-placed kick off…when someone is already holding one of your four legs off the ground…..

Poor little dude…..

He had no chance…..

Bartholomew submitted quickly…and stood (fairly) complacently until his trim was done…..

And…my blacksmith always starts and finishes with a treat…..

Bartholomew had never had treats before…..

…..he wasn’t sure what to do with it…..

With some patience…(and holding his lips shut)…Bartholomew decided that he now likes this treat-thing…..

It was cute watching him finally realize that what was being held in his mouth was really tasty and worth keeping there…..

And then…he wanted more…and wouldn’t leave our poor blacksmith alone…..

Donkeys use their lips much like we use our hands and opposable thumbs…..

Bartholomew was after that poor man like a pickpocket in Time Square…..

He was on a mission…..

And Sibyl was watching…..

Nothing was missed on her…..

My guess is that she’s never had her hooves done either…..

She watched everything like it was being scrutinized under a microscope…..

…..(I hope she saw the treat routine that was provided both pre & post hoof trim…then maybe…she’ll think it was all worth the indignity of having her hooves trimmed?)…..

Sibyl knows she’s already on our blacksmith’s dance card for his next visit…..

I hope it’s not a rodeo…..