Changing The Bandage On Fanny’s Hoof

There was a time when I would have been nervous or not even attempted to clean and dress a donkeys hoof.

I’ve become so comfortable around the sheep and donkeys, and it’s been such a gradual process, I sometimes forget that I haven’t alway felt this way.  Sometimes I feel like I take it for granted, the way the animals respond to me.  How they, for the most part, do as I want or ask.

I know it’s a matter of trust between us and my own confidence that makes it possible for me to clean, soak and dress Fanny’s hoof the way I did this morning.

The thing I wish I was better at was leading the donkeys with a bridal and rope.  But that’s something I’ll have to work on, something I always say I will do when I need to get them to walk with me, but then forget about again.

Partly, I think,  because they are so easy going and responsive.

Today I tied Fanny to the gate post then lifted her hoof into a bucket with epsom salt and water.  She was good about, a bit tentative at first, but then, she let her foot soak for about five minutes, while Jon and I gave her treats and scratched her neck and under the chin.

After that I used a small wire brush to clean the hoof, put copper sulfate, (that Matt our farrier left for us), on it and covered it with a piece of gauze.  Then I wrapped her hoof with non stick bandage and Gorilla tape to help keep the bandage from wearing out too quickly.

Lulu stayed close by and I didn’t realize that I was sandwiched between the two donkeys the whole time I worked on Fanny’s hoof till I saw Jon’s pictures.

Zinnia was there too, calmly keeping us all company.

Fanny is already walking so much better.  I’ll change the bandage whenever it wears off, and soak her hoof for the first week.  After that I’ll just keep it clean and apply the copper sulfate which will help the hoof heal.

Fanny was so good I promised to buy her a bag of apples. (Which she will of course share with Lulu)