A week after attending the Mule and Donkey Show Clinic, I was at the State Fair helping my friend Shelley show her two donkeys, Minnie and Pearl.
When I got to the State Fairgrounds, Shelley and I took the girls for a walk all around the livestock areas and then into the indoor arena to get them used to the new surroundings.
And then we came back to the stall and had some fun! We groomed the donkeys, trimming tails and manes. Shelley had already given them baths before I arrived, so I just helped her with the detailing, while Shelley’s hubby took photos of his being silly.
In this photo, we have the Assistant Ass Handler smacking the ass of the Owner Ass Handler who is laying on an Ass.
After getting the donkeys all pretty-fied, we cooked up some dinner on the grill and ate it all up while sitting inside the roomy tack room. And then afterwards, we got everything locked up and headed to the motel for the night.
We awoke the next morning to rain and chilly weather with temps in the low 50’s. Everything was wet and muddy at the State Fairgrounds.
But our Rio Grande Mule and Donkey Association friends were busy prepping their equines for the morning schedule of classes.
And I helped Shelley spiffy up her donkeys and add hoof polish to donkey feet.
And then Shelley and I donned our show clothes and posed for a photo in the tack room, before heading out to our first class: Halter Class.
Halter Class went well considering that Shelley has only owned these rescued donkeys for about 4 months and they didn’t have much handling experience. Miss Minnie, the mama of Pearl, did give me quite a work-out convincing her to walk and trot, and sometimes even stand still. She really didn’t like to be out of sight of her baby, Pearl so when we were in front, she would try to stop and pull me around to go back to Pearl. And when we were behind Pearl, she would try to pull me forward so she could stand beside her baby.
Surprisingly enough both donkeys won ribbons. Pearl even got second place!
(Miss Minnie and me, Pearl and Shelley with RGMDA friend Kelli.)
Immediately after Halter Class, we had to head back out again for Color Class.
Color Class didn’t go so well for Miss Minnie. She was very grumpy and just wanted to leave the arena. At one point we were supposed to trot and we were following Shelley and Pearl and Miss Minnie just started bucking and kicking. I was able to get Minnie under control, but that behavior cost her a ribbon and almost got her disqualified for safety reasons. The judge told me that I had done a good job controlling Minnie, but said if Minnie hadn’t of went bronco donkey, she would have won the entire Color Class. ugh! Naughty donkey!
Pearl was much better behaved and won a ribbon for Color Class. I believe it was 3rd or 4th.
After Halter and Color Class there were a few cart driving classes. This young lady, with Shelley, is homeschooled and in 4H. Her mentor brought her and another 4H homeschooler up from Southern New Mexico to show her mini-horses in the Cart Driving Classes. They won many ribbons that day!
The mini-donkeys had their own driving class, too.
My friend Kim from RGMDA posing with one of her adorable and handsome donkeys.
Up next was the Trail Class and Miss Minnie was still in a mood, not wanting to stand still for Shelley. This photo cracks me up. Shelley was giving Miss Minnie the what for. *grin*
Trail Class was hilarious. More so, probably because Shelley didn’t need me to show either of the donkeys, since they could go in separately and at different times. So I got to watch and take photos. Miss Minnie was not happy about leaving her baby behind.
And Minnie was less than cooperative in walking between or over any of the obstacle poles. She kept at least one eye on the arena gate at all times and gave poor Shelley a work-out. *grin*
But she wasn’t the only one with an uncooperative donkey. Quite of few of them refused to complete some or even all of the obstacles. Donkeys that happily walked over or trotted between poles at home decided that they weren’t going to do it inside the indoor arena at the State Fair.
After Miss Minnie was done with her Trail Class I took her back to the stall, and next up was Pearl.
Pearl was much more cooperative about trying some of the obstacles. And she wasn’t bothered that her Mama left her behind in the indoor arena.
But there were a few fumbles and out right refusals. Shelley hadn’t taught Pearl how to side-pass, so she had no idea what to do, so they passed on that obstacle before their time was up. Come to find out the judge would have given them a ribbon had they continued to try a little longer. Who knew?!
My friend Linda was there showing a friend’s donkey in several classes.
And I learned an important lesson about showing. If you stand around for any length of time behind the scenes, you have to expect that someone will hand you a lead rope and ask you to take care of their critter while they go to the bathroom, run back to their tack room for something they forgot, or do a walk-through of the trail obstacles with the judges and other competitors. Being an ass handler was one of my favorite parts of the day!
After Trail Class there was a Donkey Under-Saddle Class.
And an Egg and Spoon Race Class.
And then it was time to break for lunch and get our donkeys ready for the Historical Costume Class, which was the largest class of the day…and which Shelley had grand plans to wow everyone with the costumes she had planned for her and Pearl to wear.
When we were back at the stables, my friend Connie showed the best side of an Ass Handler. *grin*
And then Connie, Anna and Kelli posed for a nice photo together.
While I was off wandering around the State Fair searching for some lunch, a herd of gorgeous equines-in-uniform walked in my direction.
And a beautiful Molly Mule loudly begged me to come over and give her some attention.
I was happy to see my friend Allen Sever and his two sons pulling in with a couple of their friendly mules for the Mule Show the next day.
I enjoyed my lunch while hanging out with the mules and then went back over to help Shelley get ready for the Donkey Costume Class……………..
You don’t want to miss my photos from the Costume Class!
Well, unless you’ve already seen an Ass in a Tutu!
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