From Newsletter to Blog...

Over the last few months, I have received many emails about our newsletter and mode of club communication in general – most are just comments and questions about an article but, I have had quite a few members having issues with opening and reading the newsletter. I have also had a few requests for back issues.

I have blogged for several years now (as do many of our members), and it is a great way to refer back to a subject, or writer without much effort whatsoever.  I welcome your comments and suggestions for this new format and future editions. Just shoot me an email at tda.president@gmail.com.

~Diana Poole, President

The Flood.....

by Diana Poole

With waters finally receding, those affected by the floods are beginning to repair and rebuild their lives. I have heard from some of our members and most have made it through with minor damage and clean-up needed – some have had losses that can’t be replaced. If you need help with ANYTHING (or know of someone that does,) please email me at tda.president@gmail.com or call me at 615.477.4990, I will put the word out to our members right away.

DONKEY DAY EXPO 2010 - coming May 15th!!!

One week and counting! We have a great line-up of clinics and fun next Saturday, May 15th! To view the list of events, go to: http://tennessee-donkeys.com/events/DDESOE.pdf


REMINDER: Make sure you have a current negative Coggins on each donkey you bring to DDE.




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Back 2 Basics - held 4.17.10 at Wee Ones Farm

by, Deb Mix

A Back to Basic Seminar was hosted at Wee Ones Farm in Gallatin,Tennessee. Many Tennessee Donkey Association members came with pad and pen ready to learn. To start the day LJ Mix explained how he treats a donkey limping due to fungus infection , or hoof abscess. He showed how he wraps and places the drawing poultice on the infected hoof. Care for the hooves and demonstration was carried out by actually going step by step with a live donkey.

Katrina Fleener gave the group an overview of nutrition for donkeys. She told of what she feeds her donkeys and why she uses this method of feeding. This lead to a worming and vaccination discussion and experiences. Several farms were represented and different products were discussed as options to use on your farm, Due to location, size of farm and and number of donkeys, different farms told, " What works for them." Good to know all have a plan and the donkeys are in loving hands.

Lunch time rolled around with BBQ and fixin's. All enjoyed a time to relax and talk. All that attend were give a seedling of the plant "donkey tail". It is a native to Mexico and is grown in hanging baskets. From the catus family. Thought it was so appropriate for us. Hope to se lots of offspring's from this group.

Steve and Jill Crim from Assphalt Acres drove in from Indiana to join us. LJ & I couldn't let them leave without taking home at least one donkey. To celebrate Steve's birthday he was given well, a donkey of course. (stuffed) . They ended up spending the night and we had a great visit.

After lunch, all went outside for sessions on halter training and how to load your donkey in a trailer. This was a time of lots of true confessions of what "really" happens with these unpredictable donkeys. Our donkey foals were used at props for these sessions. What Fun!

Thanks to all that came and left with a donkey tail (tale) of some kind. Deb Mix

Current Event Calendar

Sat. 5.15.2010: DONKEY DAY EXPO – Maury County Park, Columbia, TN : http://tennessee-donkeys.com/events/DDESOE.pdf


Sat. 6.19.2010: Announcement coming this week!

Thu 7.8-Sat.7.10.2010: Celebration Donkey & Mule Show, Shelbyville, TN

Sat. 7.24.2010: Bedford County Fair Fun Show (class schedule & Show Chairman TBA)

Sun. 8.15.2010 WILSON County Fair Fun Show

Sat. 9.18.2010: TN State Fair NMDA Show – Nashville, TN

Sat. 10.2.2010: Club Get-Together - TBA

Mini Mania @ Mule Days - held 4.10.2010

by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

Mule Day Mini Mania

To start with the weather was outstanding, the parking was a bit better than last year and to top it all off we had a great crowd and a wonderful judge.

Before the show started we had plenty of visitors to oohh and aahh over our donkeys and the donkeys enjoyed getting their itches scratched by their visitors, a win win situation. Others that had been there since 6AM got a little bored (Bosco) and looked for entrainment elsewhere.

Once the show began it became very clear that donkeys rule and mini mules “not so much”. The performance classes were pretty much dominated by team Puckett, team Spears and team Henderson. The shows laid back atmosphere also gave a club beginner the chance to show for the first time. In the halter classes the club members again showed some really nice babies. But I will have to give the mini mules the prize for the cutest baby and yes, he is mine. But all in all I think it was a great night, not because TDA won lots of ribbons but for the camaraderie shown between members. That’s something we have been lacking in lately. Great job everybody and congratulations!

(starting at top: Shyanne Lopp with Dan; Lydia Spears with Diego; Katie Randall hanging out with Dublin, the Pucketts mini-mule; Brian Puckett & Bosco; Travis Henderson with Dan and, Richard Fleener taking in the show with Stoker)

East Tennessee Meeting held March 6, 2010

EAST TN MEETING


by Shirley Price

(note from Diana, many apologies that this was not published in last months newsletter, no good excuse, I just totally missed putting it in.)

On March 6, we had our first East Tennessee TDA meeting of the year at Calhoun’s Restaurant in Knoxville. Thirteen members and guests attended: Patti Baker, Jeff Langston, Donna Langston, Deirdre Tarr, Dennis Vonderfecht, Sheila Anderson, Alice Munsey, Bill Poole, Diana Poole, L. J. Mix, Deb Mix, Shirley Price, and Dr. Jim Blackford.

We enjoyed hearing our guest speaker from the U.T. Large Animal Vet School, Dr. Jim Blackford, DVM, MS, DACVS. Dr. Blackford presented an informative slideshow of the U.T. Vet Hospital facility, services, and the veterinarians and students who work there. Dr. Blackford relayed that someone is always with your animal and under the care of a veterinarian. At the end of his presentation, he took questions from the group. If anyone has any questions, he gave his email jblackfo@utk.edu and phone (865) 974-5701.

After the presentation, Diana and Shirley welcomed everyone to the meeting. Then everyone introduced themselves and where they were from. Dennis Vonderfecht was introduced as the previous East Tennessee VP and was recognized for his contributions and donations to the club.

The meeting led to discussion of when and where to have the next get-together. Everyone agreed they would like to get together in the East Tennessee area and have a fun donkey day with learning sessions and possibly a cook-out. We would like to plan a place where folks could also bring their donkeys. A date and place will be announced.

Everyone had a good time and looked forward to the next time we could all get together.

LJ Mix & Jeff Langston won the door - prizes!

Dierdre Tarr, Dr. Blackford, Bill Poole

Shiela Andreason & Alice Munsey

Five Questions

Each month we will publish this column so that members who may have never met can get to know each other. This month’s answers are provided by Dennis Vonderfecht of Jonesboro, TN.


1) What is your favorite thing to do with your donkey(s)? Dennis: Hug on them. They give back at least as much love as you give them.

2) Tell us one thing about you we don't know.  Dennis: I began college as a music major singing tenor and continue to lead the song service at my church.

3) Do you have other animals? If so, tell us about them. Dennis: We have 5 dogs, 3 cats, and a bird, in addiiton to our 26 donkeys. The dogs consist of an old black chow mix that we got at the animal shelter as a puppy, a Pekatzu, two Cairn terriers, and a Pomeranian.

4) You are granted a day of perfect weather whenever you like. What day do you place it on and why?  Dennis: The day of the Miniature Donkey Show at Shelbyville. It is usually so hot at that show, and it would be wonderful to have perfect weather for it!

5) Have you learned a new (household or farm) short-cut/trick/hint lately? If so, what? Dennis: For those winter coat fungus issues, we use a product called Muck Itch to clear out the fungus and to start hair growing again. It is available for sale on the internet from the company that manufactures it. I learned about it from Joyce Berghansen a few years ago, and she found it to be the best stuff for fighting fungus issues, as well as minor scrapes.