April/May 2012

A few thoughts…… 

• May 19th Donkey Day Expo at Maury County Park. Contact Lydia Spear for more info    miniacre@bellsouth.net   931-796-4920 or 931-626-1731.                     
• 2013 Calendar photos will be open for voting soon. You will be getting an email soon with all the instructions for casing your votes.
• Don't forget to sign up your donkeys for the 2012 show awards. You must me signed up prior to the show for that show to count. You can find all the information needed at http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/SpecialPrograms.html 
• Remember that this is your newsletter and we welcome your articles. 

Hello, Ladies

In April Crooked Creek Ranch played host to the first ladies driving day. It was a beautiful day and our guests arrived around 11 AM.  After visiting for a few minutes a couple of guests felt it might be a good idea to introduce their donkeys to the covered bridge before hooking to cart. So once harnessed we headed out for our 4 mile drive.  Surprisingly no one had any major issues with crossing the bridge or so we thought.

Our route took us alongside the picturesque Deshea Creek where our guests were able to see beautiful wild life. The route is mostly shady, making it cool for us and our donkeys. At the 1 mile mark we stopped for a couple minutes for everyone to get a drink from the cooler Brian had packed for us. Then off again til we reached the 2 mile mark making that our turn around spot. The ladies seemed to enjoy the 1929 cabin we passed along our way.

Once home Brian was waiting to take a picture of each lady as we came across the covered bridge to the house. Everyone made it through with no problems except Dena, Lightfoot was going to have nothing to do with the bridge this time. After a bit of coaxing he finally crossed (I’ll let him tell you all about that). We all unharnessed our donkeys and they were turned out in a pen where they found plenty of hay and fresh water.

With the donkeys taken care of it was time to feed our lady friends.  Brian had been cooking since we left for our drive so everything was ready for us to dive right in.  After we finished eating we had some time to do some visiting. Brian fixed frozen drinks for everyone to top off a great day. I think we would like to do this again sometime, we had a wonderful time.

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

A Barn Too Far

Brian and Theresa Puckett seriously need some help with their barn down by the road. Can you believe it only has two sides? Why I bet the wind whips straight through there on a cold January day!

Speaking of winter, I've decided those holiday parades beat the heck out of April's Ladies Driving Day. Those women tried to kill us. Let me tell you how the day proceeded:

Early that Saturday morning Kando, Roller and I were treated like royalty. There were treats, brushing and massaging all around. There were hay bags hanging in the trailer (I guess to camouflage the carts and harnesses up front) so we were excited to be loading into the trailer for what we assumed would be just a continuation of our little fun-filled day.

What a great ride, well...., until Kando got a little nervous. But, we didn't let even that ruin our appetite. Next thing you know we're harnessed and ready to roll.

This will show you what I know, but I thought I was with a great group of guys until they took off through that open-ended barn. I couldn't hesitate or make a plan. I had to walk right through or be left behind. I was half way to the other side when I realized I wasn't on solid flooring anymore. I could see plumb straight through gigantic holes to water underneath and a 40 foot drop to boot.  It’s a crying shame that the poor High Point Champion Bosco and his friends have to live here under these conditions. I am thinking about calling the Department of Donkey Services to report this injustice.

With that nightjennet (nightmare) behind me I settled into a ‘walk-somewhere’ pace and made a mental note not to come back this way ever again. I set out to think only pleasant thoughts for the rest of the afternoon.

By the halfway mark of the hike we had seen wild horses run straight at us with only a rock wall to save us, huge deer leaping through the woods, wild turkeys clucking and flapping and a few automobiles. Quite the adventure for six little donkeys and not so bad...but now we had to go back. And the long trip home loomed ominously ahead. By now we were all getting tired. Or, maybe I was the one getting tired.

First off, I didn't know ole Roller had it in him. But he could qualify for the Standardbred Sulky Race of the Year. He passed me neck and neck with a roaring Harley Davidson and Dayle yelling, “STOP.....STOP....STOP!"  the whole way. I kid you not. And he’s not even in shape.

Then those ridiculous horses showed up again. What on earth were they lookin' at? Have they never seen such fine equine specimens before?  Anyway, about then I realize we are headed back the way we came. What am I going to do? How will I get out of this? I AM NOT going back through that barn. No way, no how! I mean it!!!

 

One by one my ‘traitor’ friends pass me and walk through that dangerous building. Hermes tried to refuse but he loves and trusts his mom more than I love and trust mine (or he is dumber than a rock).  I guess he just didn't see the danger.

Well, my Mom sat patiently; she just let me stand there until the last donkey crossed. Last that is, besides me. Had she forgotten backing is my specialty? Especially, if I think it will get me out of doing what I don't want to do or go where I don't want to go. So, I decided to practice. Mom said the danger was in the road and I wholeheartedly disagreed. The danger was right in front of me. I could see the forty foot drop. I could hear the torrential roaring water. It was screaming, “Death trap!”

The other moms were hollering all sorts of ideas and I was mentally fending them off before Mom could try them. She was about to give up. I just know it. But, in her frustration, she changed her mind. I heard her say, "Just go away! I will get him to cross. He is going across."

And, finally there was silence on the other side.

She got out of the cart and turned me around. I thought, "Now we're seein' things my way." But, no! She used my specialty against me. I may never back again. The next thing I know I am in the middle of that barn. Now what am I going to do? She made me stand while she got back into the cart and there I am....10 steps in either direction to get out. I chose to be with my buddies as quickly as I could.

Once on safe ground again I heard Brian, the smart ass of the group say, "You know you should take him right back through." Thankfully, my Mom declined....or so she led me to believe. After we un-harnessed she walked me right back to it and made me go across several times.

Maybe my ‘buddies’ and I will put on a club fund-raiser one day and help the poor Puckett’s finish their little barn soon.

‘Til Next Time,

Lightfoot Lee

Mule Day Mini Mania:

2012 mule day mini mania was held on Thursday this year. It was a great show with 157 entries. The weather was great and the crowd was wonderful. Take a look at the winners.

Emily Batty with Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse

 Youth Driving - Exhibitor 17 & Under (6 entries)

     1st Speedy & Dolly -  Heather Bates

     2nd Tiffany & Jill - Seth Byrd

     3rd TNT -  Destiny Walker

     4th God's Little Acre Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     5th Molly & Gus - Ethan Daniel 

Adult Driving – Team Hitch (4 entries)

     1st Molly & Gus - Don Brasfield

     2nd Speedy & Dolly - James Bates

     3rd Tiffany & Jill - Stephen Byrd

     4th Audrey & Cashmier - BK Puckett

Adult Driving - Single Hitch (10 entries)

     1st God's Little Acre Stormy - Travis Henderson

     2nd Crooked Creek Bosco - Theresa Puckett

     3rd TNT - Jenny Housley

     4th Cornell's Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

     5th Molly - Don Brasfield

Pole Bending – Mules (4 entries)

     1st Molly - Don Brasfield

     2nd Speedy - James Bates

     3rd TNT - Jenny Housley

     4th DQ

Pole Bending – Donkeys (7 entries)

     1st Crooked Creek's Beaujolais - Theresa Puckett

     2nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco - Theresa Puckett

     3rd God's Little Acre Stormy - Travis Henderson

     4th HHAA Valiant Diego - Lydia Spears

     5th Cornell's Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

Obstacle Driving - Mules & Donkeys (11 entries)

     1st Cornell's Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

     2nd Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais - Theresa Puckett

     3rd TNT - Jenny Housley

     4th Crooked Creek’s Bosco - Theresa Puckett

     5th Molly - Don Brasfield

Snigging - Mules ( 5 entries) 

     1st Molly -  Don Brasfield

     2nd TNT - Jenny Housley

     3rd Jill - Stephen Byrd

     4th Dolly - James Bates

     5th Speedy - Seth Byrd

Snigging – Donkeys (7 entries) 

     1st Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais - Theresa Puckett

     2nd God's Little Acre Stormy - Travis Henderson

     3rd Sassy's Charlie Brown - Lori Love

     4th God's Little Acre Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     5th Cornell's Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

In-Hand Jumping Mules & Donkeys  (8 entries)

     1st God's Little Acre Stormy - Travis Henderson

     2nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco -Brian Puckett

     3rd Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais - Brian Puckett

     4th TNT - Jenny Housley

     5th God’s Little Acre Twister - Shyanne Lopp

Panty Race (6 entries) 

     1st God’s Little Acre Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     2nd Roxanne - James Bates

     3rd God's Little Acre Stormy - Travis Henderson

     4th Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse - Emily Batty

     5th Crooked Creek’s Trinket - Brian Puckett

Egg & Spoon Race (7 entries)

     1st Wee Ones Titan - Deb Mix

     2nd Crooked Creek’s Trinket - Brian Puckett

     3rd Crooked Creek’s Dublin - Theresa Puckett

     4th God’s Little Acres Stormy - Travis Henderson

     5th Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse - Emily Batty

Costume Class (5 entries) 

     1st BAF My World Joe Dirt - Connor Crawford

     2nd Wee Ones Lots of Spots - Deb Mix

     3rd Speedy Don - Brasfield, Ethan & Emily Daniel, Seth & Cole Byrd

     4th God’s Little Acres Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     5th Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse - Emily Batty

Halter-Weanling/Yearling Mules (1 entry) 

     1st Roxanne - Cole Byrd

Halter-Weanling/Yearling Donkeys (18 entries) 

     1st Crooked Creek’s Trinket - Brian Puckett

     2nd BAF Short Spots Peppi - Jerry Sircy

     3rd Castlewoods Red Gold Ransom - Dana Rathbun

     4th Wee Ones Lots of Spots - Deb Mix

     5th Sassy’s Black Jack - Sherry Puckett

In-Hand Trail Mules & Donkeys (16 entries) 

     1st Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse - Dayle Haworth

     2nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco - Theresa Puckett

     3rd Lazy J’s Elvira - Dana Rathbun

     4th HHAA Valiant Diego - Lydia Spears

     5th God’s Little Acres Stormy - Travis Henderson  

Lead Race (10 entries) 

     1st Wee Ones Titan  - L.J. Mix

     2nd God’s Little Acres Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     3rd Crooked Creek's Bosco - Brian Puckett

     4th God’s Little Acres Stormy - Travis Henderson

     5th Roxanne - Seth Byrd

Best Marched Pair (8 Pair of entries)

     1st Molly & Gus - Don Brasfield

     2nd Rusty & Dusty - Seth Byrd

     3rd Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse - Ana McGee

           Cornell’s Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

     4th H & V Farms Scarlett - Robert Hughes

           Almond Joy - Beth Hughes

     5th Crooked Creek’s Bosco & Beaujolais - Brian & Theresa Puckett

Open- Solid Color Mules & Donkeys (19 entries) 

     1st Lazy J’s Elvira - Keith Rathbun

     2nd God’s Little Acres Twister - Shyanne Lopp

     3rd Cornell’s Cadillac Jack - Dayle Haworth

     4th Dolly - James Bates

     5th Brayers Are Us Shezahm - Steve Hazlewood

Open- Spotted Color Mules & Donkeys (10 entries) 

     1st Crooked Creek’s Bosco - Theresa Puckett

     2nd TNT - Jenny Housley

     3rd Jill - Kimberly Byrd

     4th Wee Ones Lots of Spots - Deb Mix

     5th Wee Ones Titan - L.J. Mix

157 Total Entries