In the photo are: (L to R) Me-Katrina - VP, Theresa Puckett - Reporter & Show Awards Secretary, Dayle Haworth - Show Awards Committee, Maria Randall - VP,  Lydia Spears - Treasurer, Diana Poole - President, Shirley Price - VP East Tennessee and Kay Allen - Show Awards Committee.

Technorati Tags: Donkeys in Tennessee, Miniature Donkeys, Tennessee Donkey Association

We have added a New Page to our WebSite, “Video Education” which will contain over time, several informative videos on equine health. The first posted video is on Equine Botulism. Please review and we hope these videos will provide invaluable information for your equine herd.  Proceed to the Page listed to the right and entitled “Video Education”.

Technorati Tags: Equine Botulism, Equine Health, Equine Health Videos, Miniature Donkeys

Mr. Peabody’s “Way-Back Machine”

We don’t really have a “Way-Back Machine” that lets us travel back in time. However, one cold winter night we did come across some old photos that put a smile on our faces. We thought you might get a kick out of them also. We will only do a couple at a time to keep from boring you to death.

First of all we need to look at where we are today.

TODAY!  Having fun at a Christmas Parade (2009)

We had a lot of fun participating in a local Christmas Parade. This was the first for our Miniature Donkeys and they acted as if they had been in parades on a regular basis.

BACK IN THE DAY (The Seventies!!!!!!!)

How fun is this photo!!!!!!  This was back in the Seventies and I was a teenager. The dog is my Greyhound, Cyrus, as a puppy, at his first dog show. This Greyhound was from the last litter from the famous Seamair Kennels, Santa Barbara, CA.  Seamair was very well-known in the 60s. This is a show win in which the judge was Joan Frailey. Cyrus easily attained his American and Canadian Championships and helped me to wins in Junior Showmanship.  Every weekend was spent at a dog show with my mother and siblings.

This photo (although quite old and worn) is also from the Seventies and is my Palomino Quarter Horse, Lipton. The first time I ever saw Lipton and rode him and he bucked me off. Despite objections from my parents, that was the horse I wanted to purchase. I like spirit and a challenge. He was a challenge at first but we became best friends and spent countless hours on long trail rides. The next time you see my, ask me why the horse was named Lipton!

I also showed him a few times in Western Pleasure, but in those days, I was concentrating on showing my dogs.  Our family also had a sorrel Quarter Horse, two Shetland Ponies, a Welsh Pony and a 1/2 Arab/1/2 Welsh foal.

Technorati Tags: Greyhound, joan Frailey, Miniature Donkeys, Palomino, Quarter Horse, Seamair Kennels

This past weekend we had a Big Winter storm. Unlike the Midwest and Northeast, folks in Tennessee are not accustomed to these conditions. There were at least 100 auto wrecks and 1,000s without power for a period of time. But it sure was a beautiful!!!!

Dolly, our farm dog loved running in the snow.

As you can tell from the lack of hoof prints on the snow, the Miniature Donkeys were not as keen on the weather. They preferred their snuggly barn with plenty of hay.

But Wait!  We had a few brave souls who ventured out into the snow.

Well not for long!!!!! The Donkey train decided snow was not for them and ventured back to the barn.

One of our animals found the snow very exciting!!!!!!!!!!

Technorati Tags: Donkeys in winter, Farm animals in the snow, Miniature Donkeys, storm in Tennessee

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

2-3 year old jennets -5th Place

NMDA Nationals

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

2 Years & Older Jennets - 1st Place and Grand Champion

Tennessee State Fair

Hill Country’s Lexus

Weanlings/Yearlings Jennets - 1st Place and Reserve Grand Champion

Tennessee State Fair

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

Tennessee Donkey Association

Grand Champion - Halter Jennet

Hill Country’s Lexus

Tennessee Donkey Association

Reserve Grand Champion - Halter Jennet

KKR Stroke of Midnight

Tennessee Donkey Association

Tied - Reserve Champion

Halter Jacks

Legendary’s Hearts Wide Open

Shown only twice in “In Hand Trail”

3rd Place - Wilson County Fair

4th Place - Tennessee State Fair

Technorati Tags: Hill Country Miniature Donkeys, KKR Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys in Halter, Tennessee Donkey Association, Tennessee State Fair

Now, this has absolutely nothing to do with animals or miniature donkeys but everyone of you over the age of 40 will be able to relate. I can’t remember why, but you will.

I watched this and thought it was funny; or may be I thought it had some secrets to getting miniature donkeys to perform better.

I forget, just watch this I know I posted it for some reason!

Technorati Tags: forgetful, miniature donkey, secret

We live in the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, home of the Stones River Civil War Battlefield. As we begin this new year and new decade take one brief minute to remember the trials and tribulations that make it possible for us to live the lives we do. We, as citizens of this great Country, may not always agree but may we always remember the price that must be paid for freedom.

After General Braxton Bragg’s defeat at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, he and his Confederate Army of the Mississippi retreated, reorganized, and were redesignated as the Army of Tennessee. They then advanced to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and prepared to go into winter quarters.

Murfreesboro, TN was an important strategic location for both sides. The city is situated on the railroad to Chattanooga, thirty miles southeast of Nashville. Extending from every direction from the town are numerous turnpikes. Stone’s River–named after an early settler flows through the city. The Nashville Railroad crosses the river as well as the Nashville turnpike. Open fields surrounded the town, fringed with dense cedar trees. These afforded excellent cover for approaching infantry.

Major General William S. Rosecrans’s Union Army of the Cumberland followed Bragg from Kentucky with about 45,000 men. On Dec. 31, 1862, the two armies faced each other just west of the Stones River (Murfreesboro, TN). At dawn on the 31st, Bragg’s men attacked the Union right flank and had the upper end of the battle until Union reinforcements arrived and pushed the Confederates back. On New Years Day, both armies marked time. Bragg surmised that Rosecrans would now withdraw, however, the next morning he was still in position. In late afternoon, Bragg hurled a division at a Union division that had crossed the Stones River. With the assistance of artillery, the Federals repulsed the attack. The Confederates claimed the Stones River as a tactical victory. However, from a strategic viewpoint, the campaign was a Confederate failure.

The Union had 41,400 troops engaged, of which they lost 12,906. The Confederates lost 11,739 out of 34,739 engaged ranking this battle #8 as one of the costliest battles of the Civil War. The Rebels retired to their original position. Bragg left the field on January 4-5, retreating to southern Tennessee (Shelbyville and Tullahoma). Rosecrans did not pursue, but as the Confederates retired, he claimed the victory. Stones River boosted Union morale and proved to be a turning point for the Union.

The Stones River Battlefield of Murfreesboro, TN is now a National Park preserving the sacred battlefield grounds and telling the story. Each year, actors recreate the camp for the Union and Confederates, fire off period correct artillery and tell the stories of the Battle of Stones River.

Technorati Tags: battle field, Civil War, General Braxton Bragg, Major General William S. Rosecrans, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The Christmas season is the time of Joy and Celebration and the birth of Jesus.

It is a time of memories; a time for family and a time of worship. It’s a time to put aside unpleasant events and memories and cherish the Miracle of Christmas.

Nothing cheers a person up more than going out into the cold winter day with your always loving little donkey beside you.

Katrina, Kandi and I set off on Sunday for our first ever Christmas Parade with three of our little ones (Dynamo, Aneda Rose and Hottie). A near by little community, College Grove Tennessee, was having its annual Christmas Parade and we thought it would be fun to participate.

We made our trip to the local craft store for some quick “donkey decorations” and set off to the parade site to meet up with some other Tennessee Donkey Club friends.

Katrina and Dynamo lead the way, he was having way too much fun putting his nose in candy baskets and sniffing small children!

I must admit that the cold air and the hunger for food in my belly were making me just a little “Ba-Humbug” but the smiles on peoples faces when they saw the donkeys in their Santa Hats and the little children jumping with excitement soon melted the cold in my heart.

Wow, there were a lot of floats, a marching band, animals, and Santa!

We were all amazed at how such a little town could put on such a long and quality Parade. From the time we stepped off until our return to the end was 90 minutes. At the end we were cold, hungry and overflowing with Christmas spirit.

Biggest surprise? Not one of the animals complained about the hats; I think they are all “hams” and liked all the attention.

Our three little donkeys behaved like they were Rudolph himself. Dynamo had never been off the property before for any activity and could not get enough of the attention, Hottie was extremely well behaved and Aneda Rose yearned for attention from the crowd lining the streets.

Katrina was already trying to figure out where the next Parade would be and see if she could get us signed up! I think next year’s Christmas season will be full of Parades for the Fleeners!

Technorati Tags: Christmas Parade, club, college grove, miniature donkey, tn donkey association

Designer Donkey Macy Lee

and

Hill Country Lexus

Photos of the two Champions are below:

We are very proud of these two girls!

Our baby jack received Reserve Chmapion Jack

KKR Stroke of Midnight

Technorati Tags: Designer Donkey's Macy Lee, Halter Champion, Hill Country's Lexus, miniature donkey, NMDA, Reserve Halter Champion, Show Winning Donkeys, Tennesse Donkey Association

Have you ever worked with an animal that you thought was smarter than the people you work with?

Well, we have worked with some animals that, shall we say “doesn’t have a full load of hay in the loft”! Our beloved little Dynamo is not one of those! He is part of the Cobra herd and was born in Texas. His father goes back to Cobra’s Chico and Cobra’s Little Joe. His mother goes back to Cobra’s Red Man and Cobra’s Arthur. I have been told that donkeys from this lineage demonstrate high levels of intelligence.

When Dynamo came to our property he had not had much socialization and was generally standoffish to most humans. I spent some one on one time with him and he responded quickly to my usual hugs and kisses. I progressed to my typical “hands all over his body” treatment including lifting his rear legs. He soon came to crave attention.

I am profiling Dynamo due to what I believe is his extraordinary intelligence. He was one year old when he arrived. At that time we had too many males and because he was closely related to the rest of the breeding herd, he was gelded to become a performance donkey.

Initially, I started taking Dynamo through obstacles such as walking over tarps, bridges and logs. Tasks that have taken other donkeys several sessions to learn, Dynamo mastered in minutes.  I then placed harness equipment on him, attached a cart and began training for driving. Again, a few sessions  and Dynamo understood the commands and was driving a cart as if he had been performing his whole life.

At one point we had Dynamo “for sale” but many people told me that I was crazy to sell him and that we should keep him and enjoy having a performance gelding for shows, parades and community activities. I never was real wild about the idea of selling him because he is such a love bug but that can be said about all of our little critters. I felt guilty about trying to keep so many of “our four legged little kids” but decided they were right. We took him off our For Sale page and will be keeping him for fun next summer.

Dynamo continues to progress so well that we are very excited about what the future holds for him. I will continue working this winter to perfect his performance abilities and see how far he can go. He is truly an amazing donkey and will be so much fun.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Technorati Tags: cart pulling, Dynamo, Legendary's Cobras Dynamo, miniature donkey, performance gelding