A few weeks ago I bought the donkeys a special non-toxic, almost indestructible, made in the USA, never needs air, green apple-scented ball to play with.
And I'm the only one who's excited about it. I should have just baked them a pie.
These photos were taken on three different days at four different times. As you can see, we have no takers.
The packaging that came around the 10" ball—which is technically for horses and dogs—says it's fun exercise and good for relieving boredom. But apparently our donkeys are so busy flying across the fields (click here and scroll down to see the flying donkey White Christmas version), looking for treats, defending their treat barrow, pestering each other, partying all night long, and generally looking cute that there isn't enough time left in the day to be bored—and thus play with their fancy new apple scented ball. Let them loose in the farmyard for an afternoon though, and they'll tear apart everything in sight. There's nothing like seeing a donkey with a piece of tarpaper siding from an outbuilding hanging out of her mouth. (Oh, the photos I've never gotten around to posting!)
I mainly bought the ball for little Gus, who is always trying to get somebody to play with him, but apparently he only likes to play with animate objects.
On the one hand, buying a $17.95 ball for the donkeys ranks right up there with building our chickens a little wooden swing in their run, which one of our stupid chicken books said that they would love. At least the swing was free.
On the other hand, the donkeys are currently living out in the sand field (so named because of its sandy soil), which is about a quarter mile away from The Shack. That means we don't see a lot of what goes on out there. The sheep have been spending most of their time grazing in that field, too, fiercely guarded by Marta Beast and Daisy (when they aren't busy inspecting baby donkeys).
Every day I set the ball in the center of that big dirt circle at the edge of the field (I mentioned that circle in a recent post and then never got around to showing you what it's for, which is donkey dust baths), and every day when I go back out there it's been moved. Not a whole lot, but some. Joe says it's probably just accidentally being kicked by a sheep or a donkey or even one of the dogs.
I say, who out there has seen the movie Chicken Run? Remember all that stuff the chickens did when the farmers weren't around? I have a feeling a whole sheep and donkey soccer league has been formed, and as soon as they hear us coming up the wet weather creek bed, Daisy kicks the ball back toward the dirt circle, Marta flops over and pretends she's asleep, and everybody else puts their head down and starts intently grazing.
© 2010 FarmgirlFare.com, the sneaky little foodie farm blog where I've lived with critters long enough to know that anything is possible—and that a lot of stuff goes on behind your back.
I'm sure you've seen The Far Side cartoon where the cows are all standing in the field drinking coffee until one of them shouts "car!" and they all go back to grazing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it smells too good for them? But I quite like your image of the soccer league!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that they may be playing with the ball behind your back!
ReplyDeleteIt makes life so much more interesting when I read your blog everyday :)
LOL is all I can say today. I love your daily dose of cute, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the photos you post every day. Reminds me of when I was young and my brother had every animal imaginable on the farm. My father wasn't a farmer but worked as an environmental inspector for the government. The farm was just a hobby farm - and a large one. There was no end of thrills and problems.
ReplyDeletepboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
For sure they are playing when you aren't around. Being coy and cute is one of their major talents!
ReplyDeleteSee maybe if they'd made it with a hole in it to put treats in they would play with it more LOL
ReplyDeleteThat image of a sheep and donkey soccer team will be in my head all day....
ReplyDeleteTry hanging it from a limb, maybe putting a little molasses on it and see if he plays with it....
I love that little brown donkey. I want one! s
ReplyDeleteSo much fun! I just love life with all the animals around here. So entertaining.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a few horses at the stables that liked playing with plastic milk jugs we hung from the rafters in their stall. They weren't pastured.
ReplyDeleteIf the toy was more like the one for dogs.. where it drops a treat if they roll it around.. that would be more enticing for them!
LOL.. the dog toy is called Kong.. what you need is a Donkey Kong!
ReplyDeleteGood choice of toy. It may take a while but I think they will eventually play with it.The hanging idea is a good one. Horses are hmmm more easily distracted lets say. Donkeys are more circumspect. Like will it benefit me, and will it cause work or ecsurtion? As you know this takes a while for decisions be made. My horse, and mules I know have enjoyed htis kind of ball. Theyy also like Highway Cones as toys. I see them on the road thrown to the side and left behind. I instantly think orphaned and abandoned horse toy. Don't give up it may not have been a total waste. If not Daisy and Marta can use it as a weapon when on duty.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! Dont give up on the jolly ball yet. I kind of had to train my horses to play with it by kicking it to them or pushing it on their mouth, etc. Eventually they began to play with it, and with it and the dogs, and now we are on number 3. Because it is NOT really indestructable...
ReplyDeletemy donkey was frightened of a ball when I put one in the enclosure for him to play with but found an old stuffed toy somewhere and would walk around with that in his mouth shaking it around till he got tired of that. donkeys are just great!
ReplyDeleteThey do look interested, at least! Maybe you should leave it on the other side of the fence for a few days in order to encourage desire, then try again.
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