I didn't do it!

If you've seen the Bigstupiddog limping around packing a brightly bandaged leg - please know that even though I threaten to stomp the silly beast flat on a regular basis, I DID NOT cause that injury.  Seriously!
And Dan didn't really mean to either - we were all up at the fence and kind of excited because Woman was carrying halters around and we knew some action was going to happen.  (Turned out it was only Feet Guy coming, but you never know.) Anyway, Bubba was being his usual crabby self and he bit Dan and Dan tried to scoot out of his way and Bigstupiddog was bouncing around everybody's feet like she always does...
*sigh*
I guess it wasn't really broken, but needed lots of stitches and re-assembly of skin.... and Woman was annoyed to have to go to the doctor when she had Feet Guy on the way...

Well,  I just wanted to clear that up.  Burros are sworn enemies of dogs, and even if we aren't really serious we have to put up a show of flattening ears and rushing stomping once in a while - I think Bigstupid kind of likes the game.... and I've never actually connected with my hoofs, just as she's never actually laid a tooth on my friends or I.  (Heaven help her sorry hide if she ever does, though!)

So to recap - BSD will be okay, Dan's sorry, Bubba could care less and I was just an innocent bystander.  But I sure hope she keeps out of the way a little better in the future.

Feet Guy Again

Feet guy came again, and I was very good.
I used to really, really (reallyreally) hate to have my feet worked on. I mean, it's just kind of unnatural to let other creatures handle your feet. I need my feet, and I need them under me at all times. What would happen if something bad became of one of my feet? (Shudder...)It used to be SO hard to let anybody touch them, and I just sort... well....I had a big fit. You know what I mean? Do you ever have big fits about things?
So they got long, and ugly, and kind of uncomfortable, but I had such big fits that nobody wanted to trim them.
But - these new humans kind of tricked me, I guess - they rubbed my legs nicely, and then pet my feet nicely, and then I just let them pick up a foot (just for a second!) and they kept bugging me and I slowly got used to it - sometimes they even gave me cookies if I was good (don't tell!)
So the first couple of times Feet Guy came I was really nervous, and I argued with him a little, but he was really patient, and just sort of wore me down, and in the end, it didn't really hurt, and they felt better when he was done - lighter, and comfier.
BUT! TODAY!
I stood at the trailer tied up just like the horses, and I even picked my feet up when he pinched my leg, and I didn't once (NOT ONCE!) yank a foot away from him, or hop around or lean on him to make him let go, or nip his behind or ANYTHING. My humans were very proud, but I acted like it was just an every day thing. It's worth almost anything to show up the horses, you know.
So- yes. Once again - the six year old un-broke burro was better behaved than the three-times-her-age horses. Go figure. (Rolling eyes) Sigh - what do you expect?

Why would I need a bit?

The woman keeps talking about a bit. The horses might indeed need bits, since they can be unreasonable, but why would a steady and willing steed such as myself need anything more than this nice wide purple halter? So I go eat grass when I want to.... it's the just reward for being such a kind and sweet companion. If you see the Woman, tell her The Burro's fine just the way she is. No additional training necessary.

And more water!

Add this to the list of things humans do that don't make any sense. I like dust and sand in my coat. That's why I roll at every opportunity. I don't even shake when I get up, like the horses do. The more dirt I can keep in my hair, the better. But, after watching all the horses get their baths, I obliged the humans their fun, and I showed them that even under this extreme form of torment, the patient and long-suffering burro won't exhibit any of that silliness that the tromping, snorting, wild eyed horses were carrying on with. Burros suffer with dignity, as is fitting.
Lori certainly did give me an enthusiastic welcome! Galloping up and down the fence, braying exuberant greetings - made me feel a little shy, she was so boisterous. Isn't she lovely, though? Clear that she takes after her father.

Moving Water??

This was a tough one for this desert girl. How the heck does that water move, anyway? And why doesn't it scare Hank? I can't tell for sure if he's really brave, or just dumb, but I was hoping he'd protect me in that crazy moving water. I guess nobody got washed away after all, but I'd just as soon keep my hoofs dry, if it's all the same to everybody.

East and West Meet in LaBarge

I rode to LaBarge today to keep Dan company at the doctor. Woman had an opportunity to try a treatment for his sore feet from Veterinary Acupuncturist. Dr. Brewster was great - I liked her a lot. Dan was a little naughty, but I did what I could. Can't wait to see if he feels better.

Girl Child Gives a Long Presentation

When the subject of one's 4H presentation is the Most Wonderful Burro in the World, it's easy to talk into the evening .... beyond even. Fortunately my friend Cody kept me company, as I was begining to be a little bashful in such a glaring spotlight. Can you tell that Cody likes equines of the long-eared variety? That's why I mind my manners so well for him. That, and he strokes my ears just right.

My new pack rig

Modeling my new pack saddle. Feet Guy helped Woman get things adjusted - I think she still needs to practice. (I know the pad's lop sided, but don't mention it to Woman. She was so proud she actually got it to stay on.... but do those things on my belly REALLY need to be so tight? I don't think they do.) Anyway, it's not so bad to wear, once I got a little more used to all that white and crinkly back there. It's still a bit distracting, but it seems to make the humans happy, and crazy as they are, I'll put up with their nonsense. Woman says there's a great guy named Ken at Southern Missouri Mule who set her right up with everything we needed. Just browsing his website makes you want to go camping.

Bubba - Girl Child Cried

Girl Child came home crying from 4H riding practice last night. I'm not sure what happened, because I had to stay home to keep Dan company, but here's what I learned. It's about barrels.

Now first - you need to understand something about Bubba. He's Bossy, Crabby, and Rude. He's the king of our pasture, and he never lets any one of us forget it. He laid around not being ridden for five or six years before he came to live with Woman and Girl Child, and no humans made him be respectful, and he thinks he's the Emperor of the Universe. The second thing you need to know about Bubba is that he loves Girl Child. He tries not to let everybody see (have to keep up appearances, you know), but the way he closes his eyes when she plays with his mane, and lowers his head so she can halter him just make it so clear to see. Before he came here Bubba's human Ray didn't think Bub had it in him to be a Kid's Horse, but the way he's been this year with Girl Child shows that even mean old Bubbers has a soft spot, and he's been obediently walking, trotting, stopping, standing still, standing still to be mounted, being nice to the other kid's horses (that's a tough one!) and even standing tied without digging giant craters. But I'm afraid Bubba drew the line at barrels last night. He told me that he had some dreadful experience at one time in his life with them, and he just really really doesn't want to be a barrel horse, even for his Beloved. He said he trotted two nice runs, and then when she kept wanting to do it over and over he kinda lost it and went all balky and naughty on her. He said it worked, too. That all he had to do was go on the wrong side of the barrels a few times and toss his head a bunch and Girl Child threw in the towel. Now I suppose it didn't help that GC was tired and hungry - (so was Bubba, for that matter, I suppose). Well, anyway, I'm sure they'll work it out. I do know that at the end of the day (or summer, as it may be) there is nothing that the Old Man wouldn't do for his little Princess, and if it means a little barrel trotting with a canter on the way home I know he'll cave in. I just hope Girl Child knows this and sticks it out with him. Maybe I'll have a talk with the two of them.
Good thing there is a Burro to keep harmony in the family.
Junie

The Spitting Jug

Girl Child has this jug that hisses like Cat does when Stupid Dog gets her cornered.  It hisses and it spits stinky stuff.  Girl Child tries to make it spit stinky stuff on ME!  Do you let anyone or anything spit stinky stuff on you?  Me neither.
Dan lets her spit on him though.  He's such a wimp.

Bugs sure have been bad lately.  They don't seem to bother Dan much though. 
Guess he's just not sweet like me.

Walking with the humans

The humans think I should walk with them whenever they want me to. Sometimes I think that's fine. Sometimes I have other ideas. Usually I'm pretty cooperative, though, unless they are walking someplace truely unsafe. Like on the cement. Or by the water. Or over dangerous looking shadows on the ground. You just can't be too careful. So far they havent gotten me killed, though, so I'll keep trying to trust them.

Humans dream up the darndest things

What do you suppose this might be?

Well, silly Woman thought it should go on my delicate and sensitive pastern. Where does she come up with such nonsense? I patiently obliged, as is my genial nature, and waited for her to finish amusing herself and take it off. I even walked around a little to show her what a good sport I am, although I couldn't help stepping extrememly high with that foot - it just seemed like I needed to be stepping out of some annoying tangle of debris.

So what did the crazy Woman do next? She attached a ROPE to the thing! The dumbest thing I could imagine! Does she simply LIKE to see me trip and stumble? Good heavens. I'm tolerant, but this is just a bit much. Woman says I need to learn to "not fight" the rope, so when we go to the mountains I'll be safe and stay in camp. I demonstrated my "learning not to fight" it by standing still and refusing to move for most of an afternoon. What does she think, that I'll panic like some crazy horse?
Oh Please.
Sometimes I just don't know about her.

What it's all about

The true meaning of life

Should Junie Rendezvous?

Today I wore the pack saddle and panniers and helped work on the fence, carried Girl Child around with no halter on while I ate grass, and practiced ground driving with long reins from my halter for the first time ever.  I only had two small bucking sessions, and those really weren't my fault.

So clearly I'm a reliable and steady steed fit for cargo of any type or species.  Why should I not attend our community's most celebrated annual event?  After all, horses and mules play a large part in both the pageant and the parade - why not a burro?  Surely burros attended the original gatherings too, (or most certainly would have had they been invited.) 

Woman says that there are things in town that I might not appreciate so much.  (What is a fire engine, anyway?)

Rodeo Grounds and Leading with the Horse

Woman's friend Amy has posted an entire album of Yours Truly at the Rodeo Grounds this past Thursday to Facebook! Here's a link in case you're a Facebooker - you can see too. 

The Album in Which Juniper Greatly Dislikes her Pack Saddle 

Woman was concerned that I might be less than proud to have some of my reluctant moments caught on camera, but truth be told, I think I'm behaving entirely appropriately. If you had seen the near-hysterical way some ...of those mindless horses were racing around the arena, you'd understandmy reluctance to be connected to one. The humans were joking about myself carying a flag in some rodeo event, and I don't really know why they thought that was funny. I can assure you I would indeed carry a flag, and I would do it in a far more dignified and thoughtfull way than those reckless horses were doing.

What's That on my Neck?

It's my freeze brand.
It means that I was born in the wild on BLM land.  What is BLM land?  I really have no idea, but there weren't any people around when I was a little burrolett, and my dear Mom was very wary of humans. (I wish I could talk to her - if you're out there, Mom - they're really not that bad!)   It's not really a number, but a series of angular marks that represent numbers.  My personal number is 04594768.  04 means I was born in 2004 and the rest of that beginning with 5 means that I was "gathered" (gathered??!  Hmm.... I guess that's one way to put it....) in Nevada.  That's the way Woman has deciphered it, anyway.  If you have any insight into the freeze brand topic, fire away in the comments!

The Moment Woman Loved Me

 

This is the moment Woman realized what a generous, affectionate and divine creature a burro truly is. A burro hug is one of the purest forms of unadulterated love in the universe. Woman knew at this instant what a gift is was for the burro to bless her with a gesture of trust and devotion. Of course, she would never be the same.  If you are ever the recipient of a hug from a burro, consider yourself one of the luckiest beings in existence. 

Girl Child - from the Winter

Back when I was a frightened burro, Girl Child would come talk to me....

And I began to listen to her.....

She's a good creature - I started to trust the humans.

Two walks

10:00 AM - Bob's house. 100 yards.
2:00 PM - McGovern's house! 400 yards!
But -
I'm a little off today.
My friend Willy is somewhere else, and I'm lonely without him.
The Girl Child sat on my back while I laid down resting today. I wasn't really in the mood, and I nipped at her boot. This isn't like me - I don't nip, but I'm not feeling like myself. Girl Child swatted my nose, which I probably deserved. I could have dumped her in the sand, but honestly - I was appreciating the attention.
Maybe tomorrow I'll feel more open minded.
Dan is a nice boy. I'll stand by him this evening.
Have a lovely day, Dear Reader.

I'm Junie

Hello, Internet World - I'm Juniper the Wonder Donkey.
I came to my people with a horse. They love me the most.
My people and I have lots to learn this summer.
Fortunately, I'm a wonderful teacher.