Geronimo needed his shoes pulled and a trim, and the Burros needed a trim, so I gave my shoer a call. I managed to find the one dry area around the barn under the lean-to and lured the three of them in with fresh hay. Rain and muck everywhere... but at least we were covered, dry and not sinking. C. showed up around 10am and started in on the horse. Geronimo fussed quite a bit at first, but settled down by the second hoof. After each hoof C. would rest a bit and tell a different story. We discussed his Haflinger mules, how to rope a Llama and the different behaviors among horses, mules, burros and hinnies.
Geronimo's farm job is to eat as much grass as I can grow. He is also to carry me on my inspection rounds of the property and fence. Jenny and Paco, the Burros, as well as Bramble, the Llama, investigate and run off Coyotes and other four-legged predators. They also do a wonderful job eating blackberries, thistles and other weedy brush. Bramble earned his name because he is usually dragging a long strand of blackberry vine around with him that gets tangled in his hair. He is getting much better at standing still while I untangle the thorns. He really does not like it when I am working around his hind end. Lots of tail switching and foot shifting going on.
