Well, we have been very busy here at The Derbyshire Centre so I thought I’d tell you about a few new donkeys we have in.

The two stallions that were mentioned in an earlier blog are doing very well now and have been named Quincy and Xerxes. They came to us after their owner had trimmed their hooves using a chisel, without realising how much damage this would do to them. Our farrier has now sorted their hooves and both donkeys are as right as rain. They often like to lean over their wall to touch noses with our older donkeys, then, in their excitement, chase each other round their field!

The Oldies group aren’t helping as the mares in this group have been seen flirting with their young admirers and winding them up! Quincy and Xerxes have been castrated now, and in the future they may be able to go out on foster.

Another new resident is a lovely young stallion called Eeyore. Poor Eeyore, within a day of being with us he came down with a severe case of colic. He was rushed straight into theatre at a nearby veterinary hospital where vets found string wrapped around his intestine. Luckily for him the skilled vets got it all out and he is now recovering back at the farm.

The most recent arrivals we have had are a mother and daughter duo called Amy and Mushroom. They came back in from foster; but originally they were from our Irish sanctuary where Mushroom was born 20 years ago! They have been brought back in because unfortunately Amy has gone blind and now needs special care. Take a look at her new specially designed hat that we have put on. It’s a padded head bumper to soften the blow if she walks into things; she might bump into the walls or door frames until she gets used to her surroundings. Today Amy and Mushroom moved out of our Isolation unit into the Oldies group and seem to be settling in well.

All the other resident donkeys here at The Derbyshire Centre are also doing great. Unfortunately as the weather has been wet and miserable lately, the donkeys have been just as fed up as the staff! We are all looking forward to some cold but dry and sunny autumn days.