All Ears - the Tennessee Donkey ASSociations News-blog

January 2012

2012-01-13T10:21:00.001-06:00

A few thoughts……

Happy New Year!! That means it is time to pay your dues, Send them to: Dana Rathbun TDA Treasurer, 1450 Donna Rd Lewisburg, TN 37091
2012 Calendars are SOLD OUT!!! Plans are to go ahead with another calendar for 2013.
The date for the 2011 awards banquet has not been finalized so keep an eye out for an email with that info soon.
For all upcoming events go to the TDA web site: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

Out and About With Longears

2012-01-13T10:21:00.000-06:00

The Sircy's Hangout with Santa in Columbia

Laura George & Love Bug in the White House Christmas Parade

Haley Thomas driving in a Christmas Parade

Travis Henderson drives in a Veterans Day Parade

Betty Thomas visits a nursing home with Ezra

December 2011

2011-12-08T10:07:00.012-06:00

A few thoughts……

Don't forget the TDA Christmas Party!! It is December 17th at Henry Horton State Park at 4pm. We will be playing "Dirty Santa" so if you would like to play bring a small gift for around $10. Go to the web site for more information and directions.

A reminder that non show award points are due on January 10th, 2012. For more information visit the TDA web site.

Don't forget to buy your 2012 TDA donkey calendar before they are all gone!

TDA would like to welcome new members: Robert Hughes, Billy J. Vincion and Jerry Williams all of Murfreesboro, TN

http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/HighPointAwards.html

A Loved Forty Year Old Donkey

2011-12-08T10:07:00.011-06:00

I would like to share with you this heart warming story about Jenny, a forty year old donkey which is a member of Travis Henderson's family......

Picture right to left with Jenny are: Son Kent Henderson, Travis Henderson, grandson Wesley Jennings, daughter Kendra Henderson Fleeman, granddaughter Sara Henderson, granddaughter Katie Henderson and granddaughter Mallory Jennings Nave.

Story by Travis Henderson:

The donkey’s name is “Jenny” better known as “Old Jenny” today. I bought “Jenny” from Mitchel Perry back in the early seventy’s when she was three years old. Mitchel had bought her from Mr. Thomas Lanning, who had her mother when she was born.

My children and grandchildren all played with her while growing up. I lost count of the number of colts she raised a long time ago, but I know there was twelve or more. There were several of her off-spring that were prize winners at fair shows around the middle Tennessee area back in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

In 1999 my wife was diagnosed with cancer and I sold eleven of her offspring to a Mr. Killen of Green Hill, Alabama and I have lost out on where they are at today. I have not tried to raise a colt for several years because of her age. I have seen her with as many as five and six small children on her back and never lose a one. I have seen her inside of some of the largest churches in Lawrence County, Tennessee being used in Christmas Pageants never making a mess. I have seen her stand for as much as three hours in a drive through Christmas Pageant. She has been rode a many a time without halter or any kind of gear on her.

Oh yes! Stray dogs didn’t have a chance. I have seen her burst a skull with one blow. Never saw her after a coyote because they always kept their distance. Even today I have never seen a coyote in the pasture with her and I know they are around because I have seen them on the other side of the fence. She has been used as guard for cattle, goats, and sheep. All this she has done while raising at least twelve and I think more colts.

Her offspring have been prize winners in conformation at fairs in Lawrenceburg, Savanah, and Fayetteville, TN. One year a daughter was Grand Champion Lawrenceburg. One year a granddaughter was Reserve Grand Champion and her half brother owned and raised by another man was Grand Champion at Savanah Fair. One year at Savanah all four females in the champion class were her offspring. One year at Fayetteville all four females in the champion class were her offspring with one being the Reserve Grand Champion for the show.

What else can I say? She will climb steps and go into a building even today. As you know, she has a long history.

This story by Travis was featured in his local newspaper.

2012 Calendars For Sale

2011-12-08T10:06:00.003-06:00

They are going fast so get yours before they are gone!

Contact: Theresa Puckett 615-230-7260 or ccrdonkeys@comcast.net

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-12-08T10:06:00.000-06:00

Project Runway

I’m beginning to think I am just one big project for my Mom. That’s what she does….no that’s who she is. I’ve witnessed it for 2 1/2 years now. She is working her hardest to turn me into this picture perfect little parade/show donkey. That woman needs a job!!!! It’s obvious her focus is askew.

She’s always having these ideas but other people have to carry have to carry the plans out. In October she got a puppy and I thought that was wonderful until it became my job to cart him around the farm. He is a cute little bugger but now I have to babysit??? She tells me having a dog around builds my character. I think stomping that extra 15 pounds of dead weight would enhance my resume in a superior manner by building my muscles and my reaction time.

Then the family invites themselves down from Michigan for Thanksgiving. That got her attention… for a couple of weeks. But, once again, she engaged help cleaning her house. It was littered with stacks and piles of “projects” (besides me) all of which she made Dad haul up into the attic until after Christmas. But, keep in mind she’s looking for just the right… shall we say, partner to complete these tasks.

I’m optimistically hoping I see the end of the tunnel for 2011 with the cold temperatures sneaking in. And, after all, she did let me stand next to the band at College Grove which has been the only bright spot of my long to-do list. Maybe after we get through these 5 seasonal parades I can just be a donkey instead of a project; then again, Columbia Mule Day is just around the corner.

Until then,
Lightfoot Lee

November 2011

2011-11-09T11:03:00.001-06:00

A few thoughts……

Welcome your 2012 officers, President- Lydia Spears, Vice President- Dena Wilson, Secretary- Sandy Carroll, Treasurer- Dana Rathburn, Reporter- Theresa Puckett, Awards Committee- Dayle Haworth, Kay Allen and Theresa Puckett. A great big thank you goes out to Lydia for stepping up to be our President once more. I think 2012 is going to be a great year for TDA!
There will be A TDA Christmas party in December but the date has not yet been set. We will let you know as soon as we firm up the details.
Grab your 2012 TDA donkey calendars before it is to late, they are going fast. Contact Theresa Puckett 615-230-7260 or ccrdonkeys@comcast.net .

2012 Calendars For Sale

2011-11-09T11:03:00.000-06:00

Contact Theresa Puckett at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net

2011 Awards Program

2011-11-09T11:02:00.001-06:00

It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and it is time to tally your points. There are several different awards programs and not all are related to showing. So let’s talk a little about the awards programs.

MIKE PALLOTA MEMORIAL AMBASSADOR OF THE BREED AWARD:

This is an annual award for any event, in any state, that promotes the breed (outside of the show ring). This award is open to all members and there is no sign up fee. Parades, exhibitions, social events, plays, pet days, etc count. Only one event per day will count unless the second event is totally different than the first. Exp: Parade counts 1 point but later that day you do a driving or jumping exhibition that would count separately, but a breed parade two or three times the same day is only 1 point. Group visits, such as schools or other groups to educate or promote the breed also count. This award will run from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 10, 2012.

SHOW AWARDS PROGRAM:

There is a $10 fee per donkey. Fee must be paid prior to a show for that show’s points to count for the 2011 show season. At the end of show season, you may only count four (4) Tennessee shows for points. Exhibitor will choose which four (4) shows he/she wishes to count. There is a champion and reserve in all categories. There are 8 awards in halter, In-hand and in harness which are broken down by sex and one for Standard/Mammoth in each category. There are two color awards, one for solid and one for spots, a best matched pair (must be the same two donkeys) and a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. In addition to these awards there are two youth awards (the donkey being shown by youth must be signed up). This program runs from Jan 1, 2011 thru Oct 31, 2011. Each member is responsible for turning in their own points! The cutoff date for turning in your points is Dec. 1st 2011. The rules for these awards can be found at http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/HighPointAwardRules.html

KERRI LITTLE MEMORIAL ROOKIE AWARD:

This award is open to a “novice” person or farm. The winner would be the farm or person that has just started participating in our clinics, exhibitions, parades, shows, or any event that promotes our club/breed and each event is worth 1 point. A person/farm is considered a rookie for two years, unless they win the Rookie Award their first year, which will then make them ineligible for this award the next year. There is no sign up fee for this award. The award will run from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 10, 2012.

The TDA awards committee is responsible for the above awards. If you have any questions or need copies of any of the point tally sheets, please contact one of us. Dayle Haworth minidonks@united.net 931-364-3715, Theresa Puckett ccrdonkeys@comcast.net 615-230-7260 or Kay Allen kayy@united.net .

MARTHA WILHOIT MEMORIAL DRIVING AWARD :

This award was named after Martha because she loved to drive, so this award is for the members who have her passion for driving. There is a $5 sign up fee per donkey which must be paid prior to counting any driving time. This award is tailored with an emphasis on driving. A member that signs up for this award, is expected to keep a driving log of the time spent at the reins, which includes ground driving. The only driving time that a member can’t claim is time in the show ring. This award runs from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011. Deadline for turning in your driving log is Jan 10, 2012. If you have any questions about this award please contact Lydia Spears, Ph #931-796-4920 or email: miniacre@bellsouth.net .

CARSON CARROLL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

This is a $250 scholarship based on merit awarded to our youth members as they prepare for college or technical school. This award must be asked for and be accompanied by the member’s high school transcript through the third semester prior to graduation. Any member that wants to contribute to this award fund is welcome to do so. If you have any questions or have a youth member that wants to apply for this award, please contact Lydia Spears, Ph # 931-796-4920 or email miniacre@bellsouth.net .

Out and About With Longears

2011-11-09T11:02:00.000-06:00

Dena Wilson and Dayle Haworth give cart rides at the Eagleville Co-op.They sold 15 TDA calendars at this event, way to go girls!!!!

October 2011

2011-10-09T14:01:00.001-05:00

Things to remember……

TDA fall meeting and officer elections on Saturday November 5th at 4PM. Running for office: Vice President- Dena Wilson, Secretary- Sandy Carroll, Treasurer- Dana Rathburn, Reporter- Theresa Puckett, Awards Committee- Dayle Haworth, Kay Allen and Theresa Puckett. For more info, location and a map go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

It is not too soon to be thinking about Christmas and the 2012 TDA fund raising calendars would make a great gift! Pick yours up now!! The calendars can be picked up at all events or if you would like we can ship it. If you live close to any officer just let us know and we can arrange for you to pick it up. The cost is $12 each and if we ship plus shipping costs. Contact Theresa Puckett at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net. Get yours before it is too late!!!
I would like to congratulate everyone on your wins at Westmoreland, well done!! Second, I wanted to convey to you all how impressed everyone was with the show. I told them that the TDA has a great bunch of people who are always willing to give their all whether it be showing, helping someone else to show or just jumping in to help in the ring or anything else that needs to be done. I am very proud to be a member along side such a great bunch of people!! It was the most successful show of their weekend.

Westmoreland Miniature Show

2011-10-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

Can you say perfect? That’s what the Westmoreland show was! Last spring the organizers of the Westmoreland Mule Day Celebration contacted us to ask for our help putting together a miniature mule and donkey show. Westmoreland is trying to establish a fall version of Columbia’s Mule Day and I think they have gotten off to a good start. Last year they started with just a parade and moved forward this year to a 3 day event.

The plan was to have the shows on the baseball fields close to the expo center but as the time grew closer they decided that this wasn’t going to work as well as they thought. So 1 month before the event they went forward with the plan to build a show arena. Needing to have a face to face meeting with the show chairman of the miniature show to get her the information she needed for the show I thought this was a good time to go take a look at the facilities. Once we arrived we went to take a look at where they were building the arena and what we saw was a large field with 2 tractors starting to move the grass out of the way. I can tell you we weren’t sure if they would be able to complete this task in time, but complete it they did.

As we pulled in on show day we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the arena, it was perfect. It was large enough to safely accommodate a good size pleasure driving class and the consistency of the dirt couldn’t have been better. The parking was perfect, everyone was able to park in close proximity to the ring and didn’t have to compete with another show for space. The weather was perfect, upon arrival that morning it was a bit brisk but within an hour the sun was out and the temperature was not too hot or too cold the rest of the day. The show was perfect, the competition was great and the camaraderie was wonderful and best of all everyone had fun. So again I ask, can you say perfect?

To see show results go to: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/WestmorelandShowResults2011.html

Out and About With Longears

2011-10-09T14:00:00.001-05:00

Kid's Fair for March of Dimes

Blessed Assurance Farm

Exhibit At the Tennessee State Fair

Wee Ones Farm

A different TDA farm exhibited Tuesday through Friday

Eagleville Main Street Festival
Half Ass Acres

Summer camp at Davidson Academy
Crooked Creek Ranch

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-10-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

All Donkeys To Arms

Donkey comrades, let me appeal to your sense of justice. Let me beg for your cooperation in standing against donkey brutality. I’m talking about the humiliation of being clipped naked.

Following is the detailed account of the events leading up to the State Fair which I have personally submitted in a report to the ASPCA:

Wednesday, September 14, I was tied in the driveway to a 16 foot gate and bathed with cold, yes, cold water. I danced around so much I got soap in my eyes but I couldn’t help it. Even though it was 85 degrees outside with the sun shining, it was cold! My Mom just scolded me and said it wasn’t even really soap but an all vegetable based solution that cost a fortune and to stop being a baby. As it turns out that was the best part of my day.

Once dried, I was cross-tied in the barn and the horrible buzzing of a thousand bees began to hover around me. When they began landing on me I went into panic mode. I am not about to stand still under those conditions. The more I danced the worse things became. My Mom and Aunt Dayle tried holding my ears. Then when that didn’t work they put a clamp on my lip. It hurt like heck but I was not about to give in. By then they had moved down to my legs which are really sensitive and I just knew they would give up…..but they didn’t.

After several breaks and what seemed like an eternity it was over. I was moved to a cozy little stall and given hay and water. I could hear them talking outside my stall and I overheard Aunt Dayle say, “I’m too old for this. We may have to consider acing him next time.” I thought I had “aced it" pretty successfully already. Wait...does “aced” mean the same as “iced”? I don’t want to die! Please! No!!! I’ll be good next time.

That’s my version of what happened and I’m sticking to it. If any of you wish to lodge a similar complaint just ask me for the address or phone number which I happen to have on speed dial.

On a lighter note, the fair was awesome, especially, Thursday night. My friends and I got to go for a few hours and let little kids pet us and sit on us. We had our pictures taken like a million times. Then the best thing happened. You can ask Sandy Carroll. A band stuck up a number and I started dancing the happy dance. It was fantastic! I’ll go again. I just love a band. But, please next time let me go with all my clothes on.

‘Til Next Time,

Lightfoot Lee

September 2011

2011-09-06T17:41:00.000-05:00

Things to remember……

It is not to soon to be thinking about Christmas and the 2012 TDA fund raising calendars would make a great gift! Pick yours up now!! The calendars can be picked up at all events or if you would like we can ship it. If you live close to any officer just let us know and we can arrange for you to pick it up. The cost is $12 each and if we ship plus shipping costs. Contact Theresa Puckett at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net. Get yours before it is to late!!!

Mark your calendars for the TDA fall meeting and officer elections on Saturday November 5th at 4PM. If you wish to run for an office please contact: Katrina Fleener by Oct 5th at kfleener@comcast.net. For more info, location and a map go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

Tennessee State Fair Show - Sept 17th, Saturday 9am Westmoreland Mini Mule & Donkey Show - Oct 1st, Sat 10am.

To find out more about these events go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

To view the results from the August shows go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/ShowResults2011.html

2011-09-06T16:32:00.003-05:00

Westmoreland Mule Day Celebration

2011-09-06T16:32:00.001-05:00

Another New Show

Westmoreland Tennessee is puttingon a Mule Day Celebration. Last year Westmoreland decided to have a mule dayparade to see if there would be enough interest in putting together a fall versionof Columbia’s spring mule day event. The parade was a huge success so this yearthey are taking it a step further by making it a 3 day event and adding a wagontrain. There will be vendors, a parade and shows throughout the weekend.

The organizers contacted meseveral months ago to see if I could help them put together a miniature donkeyand mule show like the one Columbia has. We (the TDA officers) put together aclass list and submitted it to them, which they loved. Next we were offered acouple time slots of which we chose Saturday October 1^st at 10 AMwith registration at 9 AM. This is a great opportunity for us to get anotherTennessee show where someone else is willing to do the work. At this point theyhave hired Dawn Ware as the judge, they have someone to do the registeringalong with an announcer and a ringmaster. The show chairman is Deloris Garrisonif you need to contact her here it her info: 615-644-3174, 615-670-0738 heremail address is dgarr53@hotmail.comor you can contact me at ccrdonkeys@comcast.netI am her liaison to the club.

On Friday September 30^that 10AM they kick off their event with the mule shows. At 10AM you have theHalter Mule show and at 2PM the Driving show. Later at 6PM is the Gaited andWestern Pleasure mule show. Then on Saturday October 1^st TheMiniature Mule and Donkey show starts at 10AM with registration at 9AM. The paradekicks off at 11AM and Mule pulling starts at 2 PM. At 6PM if you like to dance there is a barndance where they will be giving away a fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels. Sundaystarts off with Cowboy Church and then there will be several western funevents.

Help support this show! Come andshow or just come and cheer the rest of us on. This should be a good time. Theyare working on a new show arena for this event.

Some things to know: This is anon clip show due to the time of year it is being held. The address for thetrailer entrance is 4049 Bentle Dr. Westmoreland, TN 37186. The show sheet andpre-registration forms can be downloaded from the TDA web site http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.htmlpre-registration forms are not required they are for your convenience only.Email your pre-registration form to me and I will get them to the right place ccrdonkeys@comcact.net .

Williamson County Fair Show

2011-09-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I have been working with the WilliamsonCounty Fair for a couple of years in an effort to have them host a donkey show.Finally this past spring, I was given the ok to get the ball rolling.

One never knows how show set-up is going to be from one yearto the next… but this was a first-year show, and even with all thepre-planning, we were all a little hesitant. Though the arena was a littlecramped, the fair crew that was provided to help us get set up, were awesomeand helped the show go off without a hitch.

Our judge was Lee Little of Clarkrange, TN, who showed upand performed a very professional and thorough job judging each & everyanimal….having just had Rotator Cuff surgery on his shoulder 3 days prior! Yep,you read it right! This man took his time, and judged the LARGEST Tennessee donkey show ever (until the next week at Wilson!)and… in the oppressive heat of early August.

16 year-old Taylor Ware of Franklin, Tennessee (she gainednotoriety yodeling on America’s Got Talent) started the show off with a beautiful a-capellarendition of the National Anthem, and with a little coaxing, entertained us with a bit of her yodelingtalent too!

The show was very successful. The Fairboard were verycomplimentary of our show, how professional & friendly our exhibitors were,and had many comments on what nice stock we had. Iwould like to thank all the behind-the-scene volunteers, the show volunteers,the exhibitors, the judge and the wonderful spectators for such a wildlysuccessful show!

The Williamson County Fairboard has asked that we put on ashow again in 2012 and we are working to get a larger area to do this in.

If you haven’t viewed the Show results, make sure to go to http://tennessee-donkeys.com/WilliamsonCountyShowResults2011.html.

TDA Youth, Shyanne Lopp with her donkey Twister.

TDA Youth, Kendall Allen with Circle C Radar.

TDA Youth, Katie Randall and her donkey Roller

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-09-06T15:28:00.003-05:00

Hot and Hotter

Thissummer has been a scorcher. And,apparently, that is not enough torture to satisfy my Mom. She thinks it’s cute to haul my ass erhh…buttto every club function known within a 50 mile radius. What is up with getting up at the crack ofdawn, getting a cold bath, rushing to get loaded up just to be tied to thetrailer for hours on end? Does she notunderstand how hot it is? If only thesenew places she takes me to were air conditioned. But, no….one show did not even have cover. Can you believe that? And, then there are all these new thingsgoing on around. It takes me a while tofigure out that the new sounds aren’t coming any closer and then some dingbatjumps out around the corner at me. WillI ever get used to that? I’m thinkingnot.

Whycan’t my Mom just be satisfied to let me lounge around and be a teenager? I can think of a ton of things I’d rather do;continue practicing my knot untying skills for my Donkey Scout badge, maybe seeif I can unlatch the gate and check out the property, or better yet, maybe Icould learn to open the door to the feed room. Yeah, that’s what I’ll work on next.

‘Til Next Time,

Lightfoot

August 2011

2011-09-01T14:29:00.002-05:00

A few thoughts……

2012 TDA fund raising calendars are on sale NOW!! The calendars can be picked up at all events or if you would like we can ship it. If you live close to any officer just let us know and we can arrange for you to pick it up. The cost is $12 each and if we ship plus shipping costs. Contact Theresa Puckett at 615-230-7260 or email ccrdonkeys@comcast.net.

Mark your calendars for the TDA fall meeting and officer elections on Saturday November 5th at 4PM. For more info, location and a map go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

Here is the line up for the rest of the year:

Williamson County Fair Show - Aug 7th, Sunday 2pm
Wilson County Fair Show - Aug 14th, Sunday 2pm
Tennessee State Fair Show - Sept 17th, Saturday 9am
Westmoreland Mini Mule & Donkey Show - Oct 1st, Sat 10am

To find out more about these events go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html .

For information and entry forms on the State Fair go to www.tnstatefair.org deadlines for on line entries is Sept 1st, mail in entries is postmarked by Aug 26th. All shows require a current negative coggins and the state fair requires a 30 day health certificate. Come and show or come and cheer us on.

The web site has a new page called “Donkey Lovers Tips. To access it go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/members/DonkeyTips.html . If YOU have a tip you would like to share send it to Dayle at mailto:minidonks@united.net

New members:
Joyce Ridenhour Salisbury, NC jlrdonkey@bellsouth.net
John and Gloria Cooper Gallatin, TN awordfromglory@att.net

Please welcome our new members!

July Shows

2011-09-01T13:25:00.000-05:00

July was a busy show month for those members that show their donkeys, with the Celebration and the Bedford County fair everyone had their hands full. I would like to congratulate all those who participated at these shows, you make Tennessee proud. With 2 new shows in the lineup this year we can maybe take a couple breaths but then it is back to work, or play depending on your perspective.

Let’s talk a little about the Celebration, it was hot, well I bet you knew that. I guess we could start at the beginning which would be NMDA halter. We had 24 ribbons awarded to animals exhibited by members. Fantastic, great job everyone. One of our Club Member's, Dennis Vonderfecht won Reserve Grand Champion Jack with his beautiful Donkey, Rusty Weir. Katrina Fleener won Reserve Grand Champion with her donkey Golden Anne (this jennet will be 20 years old on August 21, 2011 and this was her first show). Dennis Vonderfecht won Reserve Grand Champion with his Gelding, Red Dynamo.

Next up was the ACOSA Nationals, we Tennesseans kicked some spotted ASS!! Grand National Champion Jennet Antonia and Res Grand National Champion Willa Cather both belonged to Dennis Vonderfecht, Yea! Grand National Champion Jack was Tin Roof Sunday, again Dennis and Res Grand National Champion Jack was Bosco, Yea me. Other TN Donkeys that did well were, Hello Darlin- Sandy Carroll, Jealous Much- Half Ass Acres and Merlin- me. Last and definitely not the least our Mammoth friends Hollywood and High Noon belonging to Joe Thomas showed off their pretty spots.

Performance In-Hand classes up next. Lead Race where my husband Brian and my donkey Bosco got beat by a woman with a broken toe!! Do you think he will live that one down? I believe there was another that also fell fate to the toe, dare I say Joe showing Dayle’s donkey Partial Eclypse (Mookie). Then in In-Hand Jumping our son Zachary and his donkey Beaujolais beat Dad with Bosco taking 3rd and 4th and yes 1st was the broken toe! In Hand-Trail we won’t even go there. In Coon Jumping we found some redemption with Bosco taking 2nd, Beaujolais got 4th and Dayle with Mookie picking up a 6th.

On the In-Hand Youth front Miss Katie Randall was smokin’ bringing it with two places in trail, a 3rd in Lead Race and in Coon Jumping she nabbed herself another 3rd.

Moving on to the harness classes, we do love those reins! This Pleasure Driving class was not for sissies! WOW what a class, any placement in this class was a winner so two thumbs up to Dayle and Mookie for their 3rd place and to Sandy and Hermes for 5th. Way to go girls. Obstacle driving was so tough only 4 finished. Mookie and Dayle snagged 3rd while Beaujolais and Zachary took 4th. In Reinsmanship Zach and Beaujolais got 4thnot only showing up Mom but Aunt Dayle as well with us taking 5th and 6th. Speed driving, how fun is that! Zach and Beaujolais are like Maverick and Goose “They feel the need, the need for speed”. In Pole Bending less than half a second off the leader they took 2nd place with Mom and Bosco sliding into 3rd and a respectable 5th for Dayle and Mookie. Up next in the Single Stake Race and our dynamic duel slide into a very fast 2nd with Sandy and Hermes grabbing 5th while mom was completely shut out, I may hear about that a little.
Then Snigging, what can I say (he loves Snigging) well again a fast 2nd place time was posted by Zach and Beaujolais followed by a 4th for Dayle and Mookie and 5th for Sandy and Hermes. So, all in all a pretty good show. If you would like to see all the results you can go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/ShelbyvilleShowResults2011.html

The Bedford County Fair is always a good time, it lacks the pressure of the Celebration. It is a bunch of good friends having a good time in the blistering heat, but with a breeze. Congratulations to
all! Here are the results:

Adult Pleasure Driving-

1^st CCC Love Bug Laura George

2^ndStonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

3^rd Crooked Creek’s Bosco Theresa Puckett

4^th Sassy’s Charlie Brown Sherry Puckett

5^thValiant Diego Lydia Spears

Youth Pleasure Driving-

1^st CCC Love Bug Brittany Conyer

2^nd Twister Shyanne Lopp

One Barrel Speed Race-

1^st Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais Zachary Puckett

2^nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco Theresa Puckett

3^rd Rocking NT’s Nickelback Bill Poole

4^th Sassy’s Charlie Brown Sherry Puckett

5^th Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

Pole Bending-

1^st Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais Zachary Puckett

2^nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco Theresa Puckett

3^rd Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

4^th CCC Love Bug Laura George

5^th Valiant Diego Lydia Spears

Snigging-

1^st Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais Zachary Puckett

2^nd Sassy’s Charlie Brown Sherry Puckett

3^rd Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

4^th Stormy Travis Henderson

5^th Twister Shyanne Lopp

Halter- Std/Mammoth-

1^st BAF Do A Fancy Dance Katie Randall

Halter wean/year Jacks & Geldings-

1^st Castlewoods Red Gold Ransom Dana Rathbun

2^nd BAF Short Spot Peppi Jerry Sircy

3^rd HHAA Jealous Much Dena Wilson

4^th BAF My World Joe Dirt Betty Sircy

5^th BAF kickin A Kay Allen

Halter wean/year Jennets-
1^st Legendary Gypsy Rose Lee Richard Fleener

2^nd LGL Tinker Razzle Dazzle Jerry Sircy

3^rd Sassy’s Violet Sherry Puckett

4^th Crooked Creek’s Trinket Theresa Puckett

5^th H & V Farms A J Hunter Hughes

Adult In Hand Jumping-
1^st Crooked Creek’s Bosco Brian Puckett

2^nd Dan Travis Henderson

3^rd Stormy Travis Henderson

4^th Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

5^th Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais Zach Puckett

Youth In Hand Jumping-
1^st Circle C Radar Kendall Allen

2^nd KKR High Roller Katie Randall

3^rd CCC Love Bug Brittany Conyer

4^th Twister Shyanne Lopp

Coon Jumping Std-
1^st BAF Do A Fancy Dance Katie Randall

Coon Jumping Mini-
1^st Dan Travis Henderson

2^nd Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

3^rd Stormy Travis Henderson

4^th CCC Love Bug Laura George

5^th KKR High Roller Katie Randall

Adult In Hand Trail-

1^st Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

2^ndLegendary’s Hearts Wide Open Kandi Wilhoit

3^rd Stormy Travis Henderson

4^th Lazy J’s Elvira Dana Rathbun

5^th Valiant Diego Lydia Spears

Youth In Hand Trail-

1^st KKR High Roller Katie Randall

2^nd Circle C Radar Kendall Allen

3^rd Twister Shyanne Lopp

4^th CCC Love Bug Brittany Conyer

Best Matched Pair-

1^st Stormy Travis Henderson

Twister Shyanne Lopp

2^nd Crooked Creek’s Bosco Brian Puckett

Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais Zach Puckett

3^rd Stonegate Acres Partial Eclypse Dayle Haworth

Rocking NT’s Nickelback Bill Poole

4^th Circle C Radar Kay Allen

Valiant Diego Lydia Spears

Halter Jacks 2 & Over-

1^st KKR Merlin Brian Puckett

2^nd Sassy’s Charlie Brown Sherry Puckett

3^rd Crooked Creek’s Bosco Theresa Puckett

Halter Geldings 2 & Over-

1^st Rocking 615 Howington Dana Rathbun

2^nd KKR High Roller Katie Randall

3^rd Assphalt Acres Good Tipper Diana Poole

4^th HHAA Lightfoot Lee Dena Wilson

5^th Circle C Radar Kendall Allen

Halter Jennets 2 & Over-

1^st Lazy J’s Elvira Dana Rathbun

2^nd HHAA Bumble Bee Dayle Haworth

3rd LGL Farm Li'l Misty Betty Sircy

4^th Legendary’s Hearts Wide Open Kandi Wilhoit

5^th HHAA Gypsy Heart Dena Wilson

2011-08-05T15:29:00.000-05:00

HHAA Valiant Diego Makes the Honor Roll

2011-08-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

HHAA Valiant Diego has earned another Versatility Hall of Fame award. He attends many shows in Tennessee each year and was named the TN Donkey Association’s 2010 High Point Harness winner and 2010 Reserve In-Hand winner. Not only is Diego a good show donkey, he loves to attend pleasure drives as well as pet days/exhibitions in our area. He is a great ambassador for the breed. And, most importantly to his owner, he is a best friend. Diego and Lydia Spears live in Hohenwald TN and are proud members of the TN Donkey Association.

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-08-05T15:19:00.010-05:00

Parades and Birthdays

Wow! Fourth of July! What a great day to be born! I was so excited when I overheard Mom and Aunt Dayle talking about the 4th of July parade in Lewisburg. What a way to celebrate my birthday. Sure it was going to be hot but parades mean bands. And bands mean music. Who doesn’t just love a band right? And, the theme of the parade was “Happy Birthday America”, so appropriate on this, my special day. I was singing “Happy Birthday to me, Lightfoot Lee”.

Well, Monday morning finally arrived and as we unloaded and began to suit up. I was searching the grounds for the band. WHAT? NO BAND? NO STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER? NO HAPPY BIRTHDAY?? Are you kidding me? How does one celebrate the 4th of July, a parade and my birthday with no band? What a let down.

I saw no need for walking the parade route when the entire lineup proceeded out of the parking lot right in front of us. But, the three of us… or should I say the six of us plodded along, last in the parade with a cop right on our tail! Like I was planning on speeding or something. I walked so slow I became my own parade; at least a half mile behind the last entry. When we dropped out (as the last big hill came into view), that cop whizzed right past us as if a Krispy Krème was at the end of this 2 mile hike.

From now on I prefer to celebrate my birthday in the pasture, with my friends. Oh, and don’t forget the band!

‘Til Next Time,

Lightfoot

July 2011

2011-07-03T18:44:00.002-05:00

A few thoughts……

July is a busy month for many of TDA's members. To start with Lewisburg has invited members to participate in their Fourth of July Parade. Then it is on to the Great Celebration Mule and Donkey show which runs from the 7th thru 9th. Then back to Shelbyville on the 23rd to the Bedford County Fair Donkey show. If you don't want to participate come and cheer the rest of us on. For more info on these events go to http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

Former member, Heidi Trusler passed away on June 4, 2011. Heidi was a wonderful person and she had one of those smiles that was contagious. She loved her donkeys and enjoyed taking them to visit nursing homes and schools. She will be sadly missed.

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) - FINAL Situation Report June 23, 2011. There are no new cases and no new premises affected. Disease spread in connection with this incident has been contained and no further situation reports will be generated.

2011-07-03T18:44:00.000-05:00

A Great Time Was Had By All At The Novice Day & Mock Show!

2011-07-03T18:43:00.001-05:00

WOW, what an event! There were close to 40 members in attendance with a couple coming all the way from Indiana. We arrived early to see if there was anything we could help with before the day started and found that everything was perfect. It was obvious that Joe and Dayle had been hard at work for weeks, the ring was in fantastic shape, there were tents set up for extra shade, it was wonderful. As the members started to arrive we were so excited to see the number of youth that we had in attendance, and there were plenty of novice adults also. There were a few that had never worked with a donkey before. For the day to work the way we had planned, we also needed a large number of veteran show people and donkeys to aid in making this teaching event a success, and they didn’t let us down.

Each class in the mock show was demonstrated by a veteran, then that veteran would judge that class. Each novice person or donkey in that class was then paired with a veteran show person to help them with that class. We would like to thank each and every one of the veterans that braved the heat to come out and help

these novices learn how to show and play with their donkeys. Joe designed a challenging trail class which left even some of the veterans scratching their heads in disbelief. Lunch came and it was a welcome break, giving everyone a chance to duck in the house, grab a piece of pizza and suck in a little air conditioning. After lunch everyone was excited to get back to the fun because driving was next on the docket. Many could hardly wait to get their hands on a set of reins. We started the driving portion with again a very tough obstacle course! We were so impressed that one of our youth members (Shyanne) stepped up

to play her part as a veteran, helping a very green youth snake her way through the course. Next on deck was pleasure driving, where each novice learned proper seat position along with rein and whip placement. It maybe a while before some of the novice get comfortable with reins and a whip at the same time. The only way to finish off this wonderful day was of course every ones favorite, the panty race. If you would like to see the results from the mock show check out our web site at http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/TDAFunShow2011.html .

This day is what many of our founding members had in mind for this organization when it was conceived back in 2002. Helping others learn about these wonderful long eared creatures that we all love so much. I would like to share with you a quote from Travis Henderson about this event “That was one of the greatest days that I have had as a member of the TDA. I just loved seeing all those kids who had never worked with donkeys having a time of their lives.” Again I need to thank everyone involved in making this a wonderful event. Also a great big thank you to Joe and Dayle for opening up their home to us and working so hard to make everything perfect! Everyone seemed to have had a blast, well maybe not all the donkeys.

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-07-03T18:43:00.000-05:00

TDA Novice Show

Joe Haworth is my mortal enemy! I loathe the sight of him smugly crossing his yard. And, it all began Saturday, June 11th on what should have been my best day ever. Why, you ask?? Well, let me tell you. Apparently, he took my last column as a personal affront and challenge. Or maybe he just likes trying to make us donkeys look bad. When I said I could do an “easy trail course with my hooves tied behind my back and blindfolded," I guess it did sound a little like I was bragging, but…. I didn’t know he was gonna put large flying bats in a mailbox or clanging cannons in what I thought at first was a feed bag only to have it start making loud popping sounds as my mom threw it over my back. I showed her right fast where those bags of cans belonged. But, then she picked them right back up and put them on me again. I was forced to walk about 15 feet with them clanging on my legs. I have never been so scared in all my 23 months. I’m scarred for life.

The rest of the day wasn’t so bad though. I got to hang out with my buddies, munch on some delicious Bermuda and meet a couple of new chicks. Here I am with my favorite one. None of us minded all the affection, attention or picture taking either. But, the kids seemed to have the most fun of all. This shindig only needed a band to help soothe my nerves after Joe’s fiasco and it would have been close (Yes, CLOSE – remember the trail class) to perfect.

Next year, if Joe is in charge of ANYTHING, I want to know beforehand. Then maybe TDA should consider renaming the Novice Show something like Joe’s Rodeo Fun Day.

'Til Next Time,

Lightfoot Lee

JUNE 2011

2011-06-07T13:12:00.005-05:00

A few thoughts…….

I would like to thank Diana for her hard work and dedication to TDA during her time as President. Join me in giving her a great big thumbs up! I ask that you all be patient with me as I assume the responsibilities as editor of your newsletter. I welcome any suggestion you may have.

Come one come all to the first annual mock show and novice day on June 11^th. It will be a day of fun, thrills and excitement with something for everyone. Bring your donkeys and play with them or come and use one of the many that will be available. Lunch will be provided. This event is at Dayle and Joe Haworth’s in Chapel Hill, TN. For driving directions & layout of the day click this link, http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html. You must have a negative coggins to participate. Direct any questions to Theresa Puckett 615-230-7260, ccrdonkeys@comcast.net or Dayle Haworth 615-504-4536, minidonks@united.net.

The 3^rd annual Donkey Day Expo turned out to be a fun and informative day. Dawn Ware gave a series of informative training sessions. Lydia grilled us a great lunch complete with desserts. Dayle did a wonderful clipping demonstration, and I ended up with a body clipped donkey, pretty cool. Thanks to all for a great day.

The TDA Calendars are here and go on sale immediately!!! They are $12.00 each.

New members

Please welcome our new members.

· Sam Alexander, Madison, AL, samalexx1@gmail.com

· Donald Griffin, Fine Ass Acres, Rock Island, TN, justduckie1@aol.com

Current Events

For updates on current events please visit the TDA web site at www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Events.html

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1)

2011-06-07T13:11:00.001-05:00

At this point everyone in the equine community has at least heard that there has been an outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus EHV-1. You may think to yourself, don’t I vaccinate for that, and you do. This is a new strain for which at this point there is no vaccine. In a brochure published by the USDA they tell us “ EHV-1: Can cause four manifestations of disease in horses, including a neurological form, respiratory disease, abortion, and neonatal death. EHM is most often due to mutant or neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1, so called because of a particular mutation in the genome.” They go on to define EHM as “Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is another name for the neurologic disease associated with equine herpesvirus (EHV) infections. Neurological signs appear as a result of damage to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV infection. Interference with the blood supply leads to tissue damage and a subsequent loss in normal function of areas in the brain and spinal cord.” You all recently received an email from Katrina with a link in to TDA’s health page where you can read this very informative piece of literature in its entirety. Please take the time to read this, here is the link again http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/Health/equine_herpesvirus_brochure_2009.pdf . If you have further questions about this strain or any other equine diseases please contact your Veterinarian.

Marines' Iraqi donkey headed for Nebraska

2011-06-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

By Jessica Gresko

5/14/2011

It took 37 days and a group of determined animal lovers, but a donkey from Iraq is now a U.S. resident.

Smoke The Donkey, who became a friend and mascot to a group of U.S. Marines living in Iraq's Anbar Province nearly three years ago, arrived in New York this week aboard a cargo jet from Turkey. After being quarantined for two days, he was released Saturday and began a road trip to Omaha, Neb., where he is destined to become a therapy animal.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International announced Smoke's arrival in New York on Thursday.

By Saturday afternoon the trailer carrying Smoke, named for its color, had driven through Baltimore and was on its way to Warrenton, Va., for a meet-and-greet with some fans.

The donkey will live and help Wounded Warriors Family Support, an organization founded by Ret. Marine Col. John Folsom, commandant of Camp Taqaddam when Smoke showed up, the SPCA said.

"Marines aren't all tough guys with hard hearts — we're suckers for kids and animals," Folsom told reporters in December amid efforts to transport the equine.

Smoke was handed over to another Marine unit when Folsom's unit left. When the last of the Marines left Iraq last fall, they gave Smoke to the Army unit replacing them. An Army major immediately gave Smoke away, the Indo Asian News Service reported.

"The Army wanted nothing to do with him," Folsom had said.

Folsom used to walk Smoke daily and had formed a bond with the animal. It didn't seem right that Smoke was left behind, he said in a telephone interview Saturday.

The donkey, which once snatched and ate a cigarette from a careless Marine, was such a part of the unit that he received his own care packages and cards from children who grew up with the movie "Shrek," featuring a talking donkey.

A major had given the donkey to a Fallujah sheik who reportedly passed it along to a family but offered to get it back, at first for $30,000. The sheik later dropped the charge, but logistical problems in getting the animal back the states ensued.

There was the bureaucracy of getting Smoke nearly 7,000 miles around the world: blood tests, health certifications and forms from customs, agriculture and airline officials.

To cut through the red tape, Folsom got help from the SPCA, which has a project that transports dogs and cats from Iraq to the United States.

The group, however, had never attempted airlifting a donkey, which is more complicated because equines can't be transported on traditional commercial aircraft and must go by cargo plane.

The donkey's journey has provided laughter — and head scratching — along the way.

"People just couldn't believe we were going to these great lengths to help a donkey because donkeys in that part of the world are so low down on the totem pole," said the society's Terri Crisp, who negotiated the donkey's passage from Iraq to the United States. "Donkeys are not viewed as a companion animal. They're viewed as a work animal."

As frustrating as the journey sometimes was for those involved, including a week-long delay getting Smoke in to Turkey and another three weeks to get out, the donkey found friends and supporters along the way, Crisp said. They included the U.S. ambassador in Turkey, who at one point was getting daily updates.

"I think people did finally come to realize that this is one of these out-of-the-ordinary situations. Once you met him and saw what a unique donkey he was, it was hard to say no to him," Crisp said, describing Smoke as "gentle" and "mischievous" as well as a food-lover — carrots and apples in particular.

The journey, which started April 5, wasn't cheap.

The society estimates it cost between $30,000 to $40,000 from start to finish, with expenses such as $150 to ship Smoke's blood from Turkey to a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in Iowa, $18,890 for a Lufthansa flight through Frankfurt, Germany and $400 a day for quarantine in New York. Folsom says he recognizes some people may be critical of the expense, which was paid for through donations, but he says he considers it payback for the donkey that was such a friend to Marines.

"Why do we spend billions of dollars of pet food in this country? Why do we do that?" Folsom said. "We love our animals. That's why."

Folsom saw the donkey for the first time in years Saturday when he arrived in New York to transport him to his new home in Omaha. The journey to Omaha is expected to take two days, and Folsom said Smoke is already getting used to seeing big, green trees instead of desert.

"He's an American donkey now," Folsom said.

Update: Iraq donkey named Smoke now at home in Nebraska By Margery A. Beck, Associated Press

Smoke The Donkey is now at his new home in an eastern Nebraska pasture after a more than 6,000-mile journey.

Retired Marine Col. John Folsom says Smoke "was a battle buddy, and you don't leave your battle buddy behind.

Smoke arrived Wednesday at Miracle Hills Ranch, where he will live out the rest of his life as a therapy animal.

Reprinted with permission of the Associated Press 2011

WILLIAMSON COUNTY FAIR

2011-06-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

by Diana Poole

Make sure to mark your calendars for Sunday August 7^th for the Williamson County (Franklin, TN) Fair Donkey Show. This show does have some Open classes. For those members that have Mammoth donkeys, there is a Mammoth show also (see link below.)

This fair show is run differently than the other county fairs we currently show at. So, I wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to enter if they were wanting to.

Here are some of their General Rules & Regulations. This is not the entire list; please check the Premium Catalog or website for a full list:

The Donkey Show is open to all residents of Tennessee and to members of the Tennessee Donkey Association.
Proof of negative Coggins will be required on donkeys 6 months and older.
Entry fees are $5 per class
The 2011 LIVESTOCK ENTRY FORM must be completed and postmarked along with entry fees by 7/22/2011. Entries postmarked after this date will not be entered in the show. (They will also have online entry available at some point in June – check their website at www.williamsoncountyfair.org)
Fair premium checks will be mailed to winners the week after the fair. Checks must be cashed 60 days afterwards or they are void.
No alcohol, firearms, illegal drugs or fireworks will be allowed on the fairgrounds.
No pets except service animals will be allowed on the fairgrounds.
Livestock exhibitors are admitted at no charge with their livestock at the livestock interest.
TDA Show rules apply.

We have a new class at this show! Class # 13 is GREEN In-Hand Trail! This class is for anybody that has a young or inexperienced donkey for them to get their “hooves” wet! I think this will be a very popular and fun class!

Our show will be set up – under cover – in what is called the WARM UP ARENA. It is outside, but attached, on the west-side of the main building.

The Judge for this show is Mr. Lee Little from Clarkrange, TN. Some of you may remember him from Mini Mania 2010. Mr. Little was very professional and exhibitors really enjoyed and respected him.

I will submit more information as I get it, along with a map of the fairgrounds as we get closer to the event.

Here is a link to entry forms and the class sheet:

ENTRY FORM: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/events/WilliamsonCountyFair2011Entry.pdf

CLASS SHEET: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/events/WilliamsonCountyFair2011.pdf

MAMMOTH SHOW: http://www.williamsoncountyfair.org/competitions/livestock/jack- jennetmulesmule-pull

Lightfoot’s ASSpect

2011-06-07T13:09:00.005-05:00

Donkey Day Expo

May 2011

Okay……I get that my owner is excited about miniature donkeys; especially me. And, for good reason I might add. I spoiled her by being the genius donkey of her dreams. If I had it to do all over again I would pretend to be difficult on that obstacle course and I would NEVER allow videos to be filmed let alone posted for all to see. But I could do an easy course with my hooves tied behind my back while blindfolded.

So, she goes to your little club function, Donkey Day Expo,...puullleeaase. Are you kidding me? I didn’t even get to go. Then, she comes home with all your grand ideas on how to train. (I overheard her mention the name ‘Dawn Ware’ to Dayle. Who is she anyway?) Doesn’t matter, I’m not happy about any of it. She seems to think, NOW, that she can “LOOK” at my hip and I should move away. Plus, she is talking about Snigging and I thought I had her convinced about “No harness allowed”. Look! What are you doing? You are creating a nightjennet for me! Can you people get a life?

I’m minding my own business, eating in the pasture with my friends when she appears out of nowhere expecting me to do her bidding. And, she’s way more persistent than she used to be. She actually waits until I give in. It’s ridiculous!! I forbid her to attend any more training seminars presented by the Tennessee Donkey ASSociation. Got it?

'Til Next Time,

Lightfoot Lee

May 2011

2011-05-09T05:50:00.002-05:00

A few thoughts....

An update on our members that were in the most effected storm areas. As of today, I have only heard of minimal damage and/or no utilities. What a miracle! Bill (my hubby) was in Tuscaloosa, AL last week and he said that photo's and video just can not tell the real story.
The 2012 TDA Fundraiser calendar is complete! A great big thank you goes out to all the members that participated in the contest and to Theresa Puckett, Dayle Haworth and Kay Allen for your hard work getting it all laid-out and to the printer!
There are no new additions to the event calendar this month. Lydia Spears is putting together the day's agenda for Donkey Day Expo (Saturday, May 21st,) so keep an eye out in you email for it. We can use some volunteers for the day - if you would like to volunteer your time, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@yahoo.com

NEW MEMBERS

Please Welcome/Welcome back these new members:

Larry & Beth Walker, Volunteer Miniature Donkey Farm of Van Lear, KY
lwalker_621@yahoo.com
Julie Murphy, The Funny Farm of Hartselle, AL
jmurphy@regalemployment.com

Since this will be my final installment of the ALL-EARS as President, I just want to thank all of you once again for your support and participation of this club that comes together for the love of the donkey! I will be seeing you around!

~Diana Poole

.

May Storms - We Were Lucky!

2011-05-09T05:19:00.001-05:00

by Jeff & Donna Langston, J & D Little Acres

We were lucky. We only got 1" hail stones, a little wind and heavy rains. Biggest issues here in the valley was that the creeks came out of their banks. We were better off this time than the last time.

The donkeys are truly being watched over. The night before, I had all the yearling's in the lower two lots down near the creek and lower shed. I got up that morning and drove 45 minutes into work. By noon the local streets near work had begun to flood with water. I never dream'd that the small creek running through the lower lots would ever flood. In 25 years of living there, it never had before. Upon turning down our street, I began to worry as I drove through flood roadways near the creek. As I rounded the corner, I could see that both lower donkey lots were 100% covered in water. As I pulled into the drive, I noticed that all the herd, including the yearlings, were standing in the doorway of the upper barn. The lower gate standing wide open. When I fed the evening before, I forgotten to latch the lower gate. Luckily, my forgetfulness had provided the girls with an escape route from the rising waters. The attached pictures are after the water had falling six to eight inches.

Calendar and Photo Contest Winners

2011-05-09T05:12:00.000-05:00

by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

The calendar has been sent to the printer and it looks great. Thanks to all who have participated in this fund raiser thus far. I would like to congratulate the winners of the photo contest. We had so many wonderful photos to choose from.

Monthly winners were:

Blessed Assurance Farm – Kay Allen,

Crooked Creek Ranch – Brian, Theresa and Zach Puckett,

Half Ass Acres – Joe and Dayle Haworth,

J and M Farm – Jacqueline and Martha Brown,

JKV Designs – Julia Vaughn,

Legendary Farms – Richard and Katrina Fleener,

Little Miracles Farm – Jeff, Maria and Katie Randall,

Mini Acres – Lydia Spears,

Red Pines Mountain – Sara Kellogg,

Rocking 615 Ranch – Dena Wilson,

ThomAS’S JACKstock – Joe Thomas and,

Wit’s End Farm – Bob and Sandy Dorris.

The winner of the cover and our “Ahh” photo is Half Ass Acres with HHAA Smalls.

With the calendar at the printers it is time to turn our attention to the sales of the calendars. We are hoping that you, our members will support your club by purchasing a calendar. The officers have looked around at other donkey calendars, in an attempt to price our calendar competitively and we have decided to price the calendar at $12.00. We have also found two feed stores that are willing to help us sell our calendar, one Vet and a couple other places that are considering. This is turning out to be a wonderful project, one that I hope each member will be proud of.

APRIL 2011

2011-04-11T05:20:00.004-05:00

A few thoughts…….

Shyanne Lopp

What a busy, fun time the TDA members can be experiencing over the next few months….. many of our members participated at Columbia’s Mini Mania – either as exhibitors or cheerleaders – this past weekend, and what a fun time we all had! As quoted by Dayle Haworth (who has not shown in several years), “All the classes were full with some great competitors from our donkey club. It was the most fun we have ever had at a donkey show and a great way for Joe and I to jump back into showing once again. The judging was fair, and the atmosphere was filled with camaraderie. ...Even with the cold weather the atmosphere at this show really warmed my heart. If all shows could be like this one we would never stop showing again!”

The show results have been posted on the TDA website at: http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/MuleDayMiniManiaShowResults2011.html

NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome/welcome back these new members:

Emily Grace Lewis (youth) Lewisburg, TN dad’s email: scottlewis2@charter.net
The Willis Family (Steve, Treva, Breanna, Cammie, & Deedra) of Mt. Juliet, TN trevas5kids@yahoo.com
Martha Brown J&M Farm of Smiths Grove, KY mflbro@aol.com
Joe Thomas ThomAss Jackstock of Readyville, TN jgthomas@mtsu.edu
Julia & Donnie Vaughn of Nashville, TN jkvaughn45@gmail.com
Sara Kellog Red Pine Mountain Farm of Danville, VT redpinemountain@gmail.com

In this months ALL EARS:
Spring Meeting
Trail Ride
Cheers for Ears
Donkey Day Expo
Novice Day
Cicada's?
Bedford County Fair Show
New Show!
Mission Statement

We will chat again soon!

Diana

Spring Meeting

2011-04-11T05:15:00.000-05:00

Attendance was low at this years Spring Meeting, which can only mean one thing…. The TDA is taking care of the memberships wants and needs - or probably, it was just a beauty of a day and everyone wanted to enjoy it!

If you would like to review the Meeting Minutes, they can be found in the Members Only area at www.tennessee-donkeys.com The next scheduled business meeting will be the Annual Meeting & Elections. It will be held on Saturday, November 5^th at 4pm.

Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail Ride - April 16th

2011-04-11T05:11:00.001-05:00

Lets go on a trail ride!
This coming Saturday, April 16^th bring your donkeys and carts out for a beautiful trail-ride in Ashland City, TN. This trail is maintained by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the scenery is awesome. Bill and I drove out there this past week to check-it-out. The website states the entire trail is paved or gravel. The area that is for equine travel is gravel, but is PERFECT for driving, walking and biking. It is a 2.5 mile flat pathway from the Eagle-Pass trailhead to the Cheatham dam. If you would like me to email the flyer (I sent it out a few weeks ago) to you, just let me know. Please RSVP by Wednesday April 13^th.

Photo I took of the trail. Looks like this the entire trail!

Cheers for Ears Pet Day – Saturday 5/7

2011-04-11T05:07:00.000-05:00

On May 7^th, Hohenwald, TN will play host to Cheers for Ears, showcasing and exhibiting the area’s beloved pets. If you would like more information about the event, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.net

Donkey Day Expo - May 21st

2011-04-11T05:05:00.000-05:00

This year’s DDE will not be a public event. It will be held for TDA members only at the Skillington Barn at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN on Saturday, May 21^st. The morning will be dedicated to basic clinics (body clipping, hoof care, basic training of your donkey, etc) and the afternoon will focus on advanced training and guidance. Judge Dawn Ware will be on-hand in the afternoon to offer opinions and advice to the donkey-handlers. Watch your email, we will have full details out soon!

Novice Day @ Half Ass Acres - June 11th

2011-04-11T04:57:00.001-05:00

by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

We would like to invite all our members to a day of fun, thrills and excitement. Mark your calendars for our first annual mock show and novice day on June 11^th. Our start time will be 9 AM but you are welcome to show up at anytime. This event will be at Dayle and Joe Haworth’s Half Ass Acres in Chapel Hill, TN. Bring your donkeys and play with them or come and use one of the many that will be available. You also have the option of just coming to visit. Lunch will be provided along with drinks but you might want to bring a chair. This event is designed around helping people do things like trail, jumping and driving along with how to put panties on your donkey. You don’t have to show to get something out of this day. We would very much like to meet your favorite long eared friend. Each newbie (which can be the person or the donkey) will be paired with a seasoned donkey handler to help them with the task at hand. As we all know, donkeys are full of surprises so we expect this day to be full of laughter. More details will be emailed out soon.

The Cicadas are coming...The Cicadas are coming...

2011-04-11T04:55:00.000-05:00

This spring when the soil temperature reaches 67 degrees a red-eyed swarm of critters that emerges from underground every 13 years will fill the air over much of Middle Tennessee with their ear-splitting mating calls. Often confused with locusts, scientists call them Periodical Cicadas, Brood XIX. These insects are not poisonous. They don't transmit disease. They cannot sting and adult cicadas live for only four to five weeks. The adults do not feed on foliage, but the females can cause damage to young trees.

The female cicada has a knife-like ovipositor that she uses to slit twigs before she lays eggs inside the slits. Once hatched the young cicadas fall and burrow underground. Each female can lay a total of 400 to 600 eggs and the multiple punctures pose a threat to young trees by causing twig tips to wilt and die. The slits also provide a point of entry for other insects to invade the tree. Apple, pear, dogwood, oak and hickory are the favorite hosts, but you can see the puncture marks on many tree species. Insecticides have not proven effective for preventing cicada damage. When feasible, small, valuable shrubs and trees may be covered with a loose woven or spun fabric such as cheesecloth or floating row cover for protection while cicadas are present. This covering should be secured at the trunk to prevent infiltration. Delay pruning young trees until after cicada emergence so damaged branches can be removed. If pruning is done before eggs hatch, burn the damaged twigs.

These love-starved critters are a favorite of little boys, but most folks don't enjoy bugs crunching under foot. If 1998 is any comparison, it will require rakes and shovels. Birds, spiders, snakes & the family pets find them tasty so they'll get in on the action along with scientists who eagerly await their arrival. It's going to be "Yuck" or "Cool" depending on your age and perspective. (re-printed with permission of the writer, Teresa Goff, The Grounds Guys of Brentwood)

Volunteers Needed for Bedford County Fair Show

2011-04-11T04:48:00.000-05:00

by Lydia Spears, Treasurer

The Bedford Co. Fair Donkey Show is on Saturday July 23rd beginning at 9:30 a.m. (Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)

The Club needs VOLUNTEERS for registration, setting up/taking down obstacles and possibly Ring Steward.

Contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.com to volunteer.

New Show for this Year!

2011-04-11T04:43:00.001-05:00

The Williamson County Fair (Franklin, TN) has asked the TDA to hold a show during their fair this year! Guess what? It’s under cover! So, mark your calendars for Sunday, August 7^th at 2pm. Lee Little will be the Judge. More information (including class schedule) will come out soon.

TDA's Official Mission Statement

2011-04-11T04:36:00.000-05:00

Here it is! This is the official Mission Statement of the Tennessee Donkey ASSociation: "To bring together people, adult & youth, that own and/or are interested in donkeys of all sizes, with quality family-oriented activities in a spirit of good community. And, to be dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the donkey breed through educational, charitable and social events. "

March 2011

2011-03-04T09:28:00.001-06:00

A few thoughts....

Since I was unable to make the 2010 Awards Banquet last weekend (thanks to the “lovely” stomach bug going around), I want to send a great big PAT ON THE BACK to the Awards Committee for their dedication in pulling off the banquet. I also want to send a great big, gynormous “HEE-HAW” out to everyone that participated in 2010 promoting these wonderful animals! I just know we all will do it again in 2011 and reach out and get more people hooked!

Please WELCOME our New Member!

Jacqueline Brown, J & M Farm of Smiths Grove, KY
Jacqueline.brown785@topper.wku.edu

We will chat again soon!

Diana

Spring Meeting - Saturday March 19th

2011-03-04T09:26:00.000-06:00

TDA’s Spring Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 19^th at 4pm (as voted and passed by members during the Fall Annual Meeting.) The meeting will take place at the Ag-Expo Park 1415 Long Lane Franklin, TN.

Please submit any subjects for discussion to Diana Poole (tda.president@gmail.com) by Wednesday, March 9^th.

ALLEARZ Tiny Thumbelina's Tale-for ALL Ears

2011-03-04T09:23:00.001-06:00

by Lynn Pallota

December 28, 2010 was a cold, but sunny day. I went outside to do my usual chores and checked on all the donkeys-everyone was where they belonged, and content. No one was due to foal, until at least the end of Jan. and all was well.

That afternoon I took a walk outside, and decided to go check on the two jennets in a front field. One of them had had her foal, on Nov. 19, and the other one was due the end of January. Both were in the field grazing peacefully. When I walked into the field, the jennet that had not foaled yet (due the end of Jan.) came walking over to me. She instantly, without any warning or previous signs, lay down next to where I was, and started to push! Within 10 minutes, she had a little (and I DO mean little) foal on the ground! This was her first foal, and it was a shock to me-and to her! I made sure the foals head was out of the sack then I ran as fast as is possible for me- to the barn and got some towels and the iodine. After helping mama dry the foal and iodine -ing the navel, I carried the foal to the barn and mama followed. There was a nicely bedded and clean stall so that they could have bonding time alone.

Thumbelina in December

Well, as all Tennessee residents know, this has been one of the worst winters for nasty rain, and snowy weather ever. So that day, December 28^th, the day little ALLEARZ Tiny Thumbelina came in to the world at 16 inches tall, and only 10 pounds - was to be the only sunny day, for her first month of life.

I worried about her, checked on her hourly, and tried to bottle feed, as I was worried that having given birth way too early, and being a first-timer, that mom would not have enough(or any) milk. That little gal absolutely refused to drink out of the bottle, no matter how many times I tried, or even suck the nipple! Mama received several doses of Domperidone, and I had powdered colostrum, which I managed to get into Thumbelina with a syringe. Then Probiotics. Every time I went out to check on them, the little tiny gal was standing up. She was a stubborn little thing and I believe that she had made up her mind at birth, that SHE was here for a reason, and SHE was absolutely going to stick around.

On Thumbelina's first and second visits to her veterinarian, she rode in the front seat and waited in the waiting room, with the dogs and cats. She stood there and was totally comfortable with it all. At that second visit, she was 16 1/2" tall, and she weighed 18 pounds. Obviously, her mother was doing a fine job!

Each day, she was a little stronger, though it took a month before she tried to run-just a few steps.

She is the first-born "child" of her mom Tina, and her sire, Hickory Hills Zig Zag! She is a spotted little gal, just like her dad, and such a cutie!

Thumbelina on March 2nd

Today (March 2, 2011) she had her hooves trimmed for the third time-but this time, she had a "big girl" trim, actually standing up, instead of me holding her in my arms, for the farrier! She had her shots today, and was microchipped and she is two months and two days old, 19" tall, and she weighed 31 pounds! She is still a tiny girl, but SHE thinks she is big and she has attitude! She bosses the boy who was born November 19th! She still rides to the vet in the front seat of the truck. Thumbelina had -and has - grit and determination and is the "little engine that could" and she did! That is really a "cheers for ears!"

Mule Day - MINI MANIA is April 2nd

2011-03-04T09:17:00.000-06:00

Are you ready?? How will the weather be? Let’s hope it is as nice as it was last year! Go to: http://muleday.org/?p=203 for details.

The Path to the Awards Banquet

2011-03-04T09:14:00.001-06:00

by Theresa Puckett

Wow, we actually made it! This year’s award ceremony read something like an “action thriller”. It began in early November… I started trying to contact the lady that we had been using the last several years for our plaques, only to find out that she no longer worked there and the new owner had no idea how to do them. So, I am now standing there with my pants down trying to figure out what we were going to do. Franticly, we started looking for an alternative for the plaques, but was finding it difficult to stay within our budget. Then we found a lady that could do sublimation (a type of printing for the plaques) but had never done one with photos before… but said she would like to give it a try. So we sent her a design, she printed it, and it looked great. To help keep the price of the plaques in budget, the awards committee designed the plaques.

Things were looking up. The points were tallied, photos were sent in, the date was set and a place was booked. All seemed to being going well then BAM! We found out that the place had double booked and we got bumped. So we were then faced with the question of a different date or place. After talking to several members to see what would work best it was decided to try to find a different place and keep the date. We started calling around trying to find another place and most were booked already. Finally after talking to about a dozen places we located a meeting room and booked it. You would think at this point all was good but, NO. I got a phone call Friday night about 6 PM, the awards are the next day, and the storm the night before had damaged the roof and the room we had booked had gotten flooded. They wanted to know if we wanted to go ahead or cancel. After banging my head against the wall for a few minutes I called them back. They had been working on the room all day and assured me that they felt that it would be fine in time for our meeting but it was our call. So we went with it and everything turned out great.

Front Row (L to R) Zach Puckett, Kay Allen, Shyanne Lopp, Laura George, Lydia Spears, Theresa Puckett
Back Row (L to R) Kandi Wilhoit, Katrina Fleener, Dennis Vonderfecht, Dena Wilson & Travis Henderson

Congratulations winners!

Show Awards:

Grand Champion: Crooked Creek’s Bosco

Res. Grand Champion: Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais

Champion Youth: Katie Randall

Res. Champion Youth: Shyanne Lopp

Champion Halter Jack: Country Music's Rusty Weir

Res. Champion Halter Jack: KKR Stroke of Midnight and Farmstead's William Blount

Champion Halter Jennet: Hill Co Mini's Lexus

Res. Champion Halter jennet: Farmstead's Chessie

Champion Halter Gelding: Wit's End Tumbleweed

Res. Champion Halter Gelding: Farmstead's James Otis Watson

Champion Halter Mammoth: J. B. Royal Alexandria

Champion In-Hand Performance Jack: Crooked Creek’s Bosco

Champion In-Hand Performance Jennet: Crooked Creek’s Beaujolais

Res. Champion In-Hand Performance Jennet: Legendary's Heart's Wide Open

Champion In-Hand Performance Gelding: God's Little Acre Farm Dan

Res. Champion In-Hand Performance Gelding: HHAA Valiant Diego

Champion Harness Jack: Crooked Creek’s Bosco

Champion Harness jennet: Crooked Creek's Beaujolais

Champion Harness Gelding: HHAA Valiant Diego

Res. Champion Harness Gelding: CCC Love Bug

Champion Spotted Color: KKR Merlin

Res. Champion Spotted Color: Ma & Pa's Antonia

Champion Solid Color: God's Little Acre Farm Stormy

Res. Champion Solid Color: Country Music's Rusty Weir

Champion Best Matched Pair: Crooked Creek Bosco & Beaujolais

Res. Champion Best Matched Pair: HHAA Valiant Diego/Circle C Radar

Non-show Awards:

Kerri Little Memorial Rookie of the year: Dena Wilson

Mike Pallota Memorial Ambassador of the breed: Champion: Heavenly Snickers

Res. Champion: J&E Ezra

Martha Wilhoit Memorial Driving Award: Champion: Heavenly Snickers

Res. Champion: Assphalt Acres Good Tipper

Cheers for Ears Pet Day – Saturday 5/7

2011-03-04T09:05:00.001-06:00

Lydia Spears is ironing out the plans for Hohenwald’s SECOND ANNUAL CHEERS FOR EARS PET DAY. It is on the clubs event calendar and as she gets more info – we will update you.

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February 2011

2011-02-04T20:26:00.001-06:00

A few thoughts....

Happy February everyone! Sure hope the weather will start warming up – but even so, just a little more sun would be really good for EVERYONES soul, don’t you think?

This past weekend, the Officers got together and worked out details on some of the things we talked about at the Fall Meeting for the 2011 calendar year. Make sure to read thru this month edition of ALL EARS so you know you have all the great information!

As in 2010, we have already had a couple of our members express interest in hosting a Farm Day at their farm in 2011. If this is something you would like to do, send me an email and we will add it on the calendar.

In this months issue:

Calendar Updates

Mission Statement for our By-Laws

2010 Season - Awards Banquet

Fundraiser – 2012 TDA Calendar

Health Issues

Classified Ads & Business Card Ads

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Calendar Updates

2011-02-04T20:21:00.001-06:00

The Event Calendar has been updated with the following information:

2.26: Awards Banquet
3.19: Spring Members Meeting
4.2: Mule Day Show
5.21: Donkey Day Expo (for Members Only) - Basic Clinics and Advanced Clinics
6.11: Novice Clinic and Mock Show

(more events on calendar for 2nd half of the year.)

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2011-02-04T20:11:00.002-06:00

MISSION STATEMENT

2010 Season Awards Banquet

2011-02-04T20:07:00.001-06:00

The awards banquet for 2010 is on Feb 26th 4 to 6PM. Everyone is welcome! The location is the Ramada Inn at 704 South Cumberland Street Lebanon, TN 37087 (615) 444-7400.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAP

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2012 TDA Calendar - fundraiser

2011-02-04T18:55:00.002-06:00

TDA 2012 Calendar Fund Raiser
by Theresa Puckett, Club Reporter

TDA is embarking on their first ever fundraiser and we are very excited about this project. We are going to publish a calendar for 2012. What does this mean to you our members? Well, this means several things. First off, you can buy the calendars when they are published to help support your club and second, is that you are invited to help us showcase our longear friends. We, the fundraising committee want you, our members, to send in your favorite photos of your donkeys for a chance to be in the calendar. The photos will be submitted to the committee anonymously for the voting process. If your photo is chosen there is a $100 publishing fee. This fee gets you, the winner, a month in the calendar which consists of the full page photo of your donkey, a place on that month to advertise your farm or add a message and one copy of the calendar. You will also receive any additional calendars you may want to purchase at a discounted rate (discount to be decided at a later date).

Calendar Layout:

Rules:

· The photo must be at least 300 dpi to be considered. Anything less will be discarded. If you need help with this or do not understand what we are asking please contact us. Your photo can be submitted via email or regular mail but if you email make sure that the photo does not get compressed in the emailing process.

· The photos can be whatever you like, a donkey at liberty, a person with a donkey, even a show photo may be submitted. A copyrighted photo cannot be used unless it is accompanied with written permission from the photographer!

· The dead line for submitting photos is March 1st 2011.

· Please keep in mind before submitting a photo that you must be willing to pay the publishing fee if your photo is selected.

A person or farm can submit as many photos as they wish but can only win once unless there is lessthan 12 people or farms represented.

All photos must be emailed to Dayle Haworth at minidonks@united.net or mailed to her at 2356 Feed Mill Road Chapel Hill, TN 37034

Any questions about the calendar can be directed to Theresa Puckett, at ccrdonkeys@comcast.net or by phone 615-230-7260, Kay Allen at kayy@united.net or by phone 931-364-5057 or Dayle.

The committee reserves the right to veto any photo or message that they deem to be inappropriate.

A copy of the calendar contest contract needs to accompany your photo (contract found below).

Contest Contrast:

I understand that by submitting a photo or photos to the TDA fund raising committee that I am willing to pay the $100 publishing fee if my photo is selected. I own all rights to these photos or I have written permission from the photographer to use these photos. I am not infringing on any copyrights with the photos I am submitting.

Signature:____________________________________

Health Concerns and TDA's Effort to Educate via Web Page

2011-02-04T18:49:00.001-06:00

TDA At Work on a New WebSite Page
by Katrina Fleener, Murfreesboro, TN

On several occasions, club members have inquired about health related issues such as proper nutrition and feed, plants that are harmful to their donkeys, worming techniques etc. In response to various inquiries, the club has updated the Website and introduced a new page entitled, “Health Issues”. Our goal was to provide the membership, as well as others, current and informative data on equine health issues, allowing us to recognize problems with our own stock. To date, we have articles, videos and links on 23 health issues, including issues such as: Colic, Worms, skin diseases, examining a placenta & vaccinations (and much, much more!) The information has been gathered from equine industry professionals. We continue to search for other interesting topics.

Regardless of your experience level with equine, there is something to be learned by everyone from this page. Feel free to browse this new page and invite your friends to view the information. If there is a topic that you would like to have on the page, feel free to contact a TDA Officer.

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Classified Ads on TDA Website & Business Advertising

2011-02-04T18:34:00.002-06:00

One of the discussions at the Officers meeting was standardization of the TDA's Classified Ad page. Beginning March 1st, the following items will apply:

The classified ad can only contain donkey advertisements or donkey related equipment/services.
Only one photo per ad.
Items will rotate off the classified page after 90 days.
Equine related businesses that wish to advertise (that are not members of TDA) will be charged $40 per year to advertise.

Continue to email your ads to Dayle Haworth at minidonks@united.net

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January 2011

2011-01-07T08:59:00.000-06:00

A few thoughts....

Happy 2011 to each of you! Your Officers are working on lots to activities and events for this year and as we have updates we will let you know. Keep an eye on the CALENDAR OF EVENTS for the first look at updates.

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New Members

Please welcome these new members!

Trevor, Amanda and Clare Collins or Calvert City, KY trevorl@windstream.net

We will chat again soon!

Diana

Specialty Awards Log due now

2011-01-07T08:54:00.000-06:00

This is a reminder that the deadline for turning in your points for the special awards (non showing awards) is January 15^th. So to help you with these I am republishing my article about the awards and how they work. There are several different awards program, so let’s talk a little about the awards programs.

MIKE PALLOTA MEMORIAL AMBASSADOR OF THE BREED AWARD:

Annual award for any event, in any state, that promotes the breed (outside of the show ring). This award is open to all members and there is no sign up fee. Parades, exhibitions, social events, plays, pet days, etc count. Only one event per day will count unless the second event is totally different than the first. Exp: Parade counts 1 point but later that day you do a driving or jumping exhibition that would count separately, but a breed parade two or three times the same day is only 1 point. Group visits, such as schools or other groups to educate or promote the breed also count. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 15, 2011.

KERRI LITTLE MEMORIAL ROOKIE AWARD:

This award is open to a “novice” person or farm. The winner would be the farm or person that has just started participating in our clinics, exhibitions, parades, shows, or any event that promotes our club/breed and each event is worth 1 point. A person/farm is considered a rookie for two years, unless they win the Rookie Award their first year, which will then make them ineligible for this award the next year. There is no sign up fee for this award. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 15, 2011.

The TDA awards committee is responsible for the above awards. If you have any questions or need copies of any of the point tally sheets, please contact one of us. Dayle Haworth minidonks@united.net 931-364-3715, Theresa Puckett ccrdonkeys@comcast.net 615-230-7260 or Kay Allen kayy@united.net .

Next year all the awards will be from January 1 to December 31.

MARTHA WILHOIT MEMORIAL DRIVING AWARD :

This award was named after Martha because she loved to drive, so this award is for the members who have her passion for driving. There is a $5 sign up fee per donkey which must be paid prior to any driving time to be counted. This award is tailored with an emphasis on driving. A member that signs up for this award is expected to keep a driving log of the time spent at the reins, which includes ground driving. The only driving time that a member can’t claim is time in the show ring. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in your driving log is Jan 15, 2011. If you have any questions about this award please contact Lydia Spears, Ph #931-796-4920 or email: miniacre@bellsouth.net .

Your 2011 Officers

2011-01-07T08:38:00.005-06:00

During the fall meeting on November 6^th, members of the Tennessee Donkey ASSociation elected in the new Officers for 2011.

Diana Poole, President
College Grove, TN

LJ Mix, Vice-President
Gallatin, TN

Sandy Carroll, Vice President
Shelbyville, TN

Katrina Fleener, Secretary
Murfreesboro, TN

Lydia Spears, Treasurer

Hohenwald, TN

Theresa Puckett, Reporter & Awards Committee
Gallatin, TN

Dayle Haworth, Webmistress & Awards Committee

Chapel Hill, TN

Kay Allen, Awards Committee

Lewisburg, TN

Membership Dues

2011-01-07T08:22:00.002-06:00

Just a quick reminder, 2011 membership dues are due this month. We are asking each member to complete the MEMBERSHIP FORM on our website so that we can make sure we have the most up-to-date information about each member. Go to: http://tennessee-donkeys.com/MembershipForm.html to fill out the form and then dues of $15 per Senior Member and $5 per Youth Member can be mailed to:

LYDIA SPEARS, Treasurer
142 Salem Road
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Make checks payable to: Tennessee Donkey Association, Inc.

November/December 2010

2010-11-11T07:37:00.003-06:00

A few thoughts....
Our Annual Meeting and Elections were held this past Saturday at Ag-Expo Park and we had quite a turn-out! Thirty people in attendance! We learned a wealth of information about various topics by State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher and a variety of subjects from club members too (more info to come in Meeting Minutes and future ALL EARS.)

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We have new members to our club again this month! Each one have been members before!

Sally Dunn of Parrish, Florida cbfrm1942@yahoo.com
Tiffany Pierce of Hohenwald, TN loveybp@yahoo.com
Ricky Spears of Hohenwald, TN (Lydia Spears husband)

Please join me in sending out a big, “WELCOME BACK!”

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Officers Board for 2011

Elections were held on November 6th and the following members were elected to take office beginning January 1st, 2011.

PRESIDENT – Diana Poole

VICE PRESIDENT – L.J. Mix

VICE PRESIDENT – Sandy Carroll

SECRETARY – Katrina Fleener

TREASURER- Lydia Spears

REPORTER – Theresa Puckett

SHOW COMMITTEE- Theresa Puckett, Dayle Haworth & Kay Allen

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SIDENOTE: I read an article online that referenced this 5k run call the DONKEY DASH. Just wanted to share….. http://www.donkeydash.com/

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This will be the last ALL EARS of 2010. I am giving myself a break in December. Next publication will be January 2011.

So, as I close my thoughts for 2010, I want to thank each and everyone for supporting this club in the ways that you have over this past year! And remember (this is one of my favorites!):

You tell a horse,
You ask a mule,
You negotiate with a donkey!

We will Chat Again Soon!
~Diana Poole, President

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In this months ALL-EARS

Membership Dues
TDA Christmas Party
Reporters Corner
TDA By-Laws
Facebook
Calendar Updates

MEMBERSHIP DUES 2011

2010-11-11T07:28:00.001-06:00

Since the inception of TDA, membership dues have been $10 for Senior members and $5 for Youth Members. During the Annual meeting held this past weekend members were told about the rising costs of running the club. It was voted by the majority to raise the membership on Senior members (only) to $15 per Senior member. This has gone in to effect immediately for the 2011 dues. These dues are due on January 1^st.

Also, we are working on an updated membership form and will get that out to everyone asap.

Until further notice, the option to use Paypal to pay has been suspended.

TDA Christmas Party

2010-11-11T07:23:00.001-06:00

Just a reminder to everyone that the TDA Christmas Party will be on Sunday December 12^th beginning at 2pm at the Williamson County Ag-Expo Park (Franklin, TN). Tiffany Pierce of Hohenwald is putting the fun together this year! We will email more details soon. However, if you have any idea’s or would like to volunteer, contact Tiffany at loveybp@yahoo.com or 931.628.3881.

REPORTERS CORNER: 2010 Awards Programs

2010-11-11T07:20:00.000-06:00

REPORTERS CORNER: 2010 Award Programs
by Theresa Puckett

It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and it is time to tally your points. There are several different awards programs and not all are related to showing. So let’s talk a little about the awards programs.

MIKE PALLOTA MEMORIAL AMBASSADOR OF THE BREED AWARD:

Annual award for any event, in any state, that promotes the breed (outside of the show ring). This award is open to all members and there is no sign up fee. Parades, exhibitions, social events, plays, pet days, etc count. Only one event per day will count unless the second event is totally different than the first. Exp: Parade counts 1 point but later that day you do a driving or jumping exhibition that would count separately, but a breed parade two or three times the same day is only 1 point. Group visits, such as schools or other groups to educate or promote the breed also count. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 15, 2011.

SHOW AWARDS PROGRAM:

There is a $10 fee per donkey. Fee must be paid prior to a show for that show’s points to count for the 2010 show season. At the end of show season, you may only count four (4) Tennessee shows for points. Exhibitor will choose which four (4) shows he/she wishes to count. There is a champion and reserve in all categories. There are 8 awards in halter, In-hand and in harness which are broken down by sex and one for Standard/Mammoth in each category. There are two color awards, one for solid and one for spots, a best matched pair (must be the same two donkeys) and a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. In addition to these awards there are two youth awards (the donkey being shown by youth must be signed up). This program runs from October 1st, 2009 thru September 30th, 2010. Each member is responsible for turning in their own points! The cutoff date for turning in your points is Dec. 1st 2010. The rules for these awards can be found at http://www.tennessee-donkeys.com/HighPointAwardRules.html

KERRI LITTLE MEMORIAL ROOKIE AWARD:

This award is open to a “novice” person or farm. The winner would be the farm or person that has just started participating in our clinics, exhibitions, parades, shows, or any event that promotes our club/breed and each event is worth 1 point. A person/farm is considered a rookie for two years, unless they win the Rookie Award their first year, which will then make them ineligible for this award the next year. There is no sign up fee for this award. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in these points is Jan 15, 2011.

The TDA awards committee is responsible for the above awards. If you have any questions or need copies of any of the point tally sheets, please contact one of us. Dayle Haworth minidonks@united.net 931-364-3715, Theresa Puckett ccrdonkeys@comcast.net 615-230-7260 or Kay Allen kayy@united.net .

Next year all the awards will be from January 1 to December 31.

MARTHA WILHOIT MEMORIAL DRIVING AWARD :

This award was named after Martha because she loved to drive, so this award is for the members who have her passion for driving. There is a $5 sign up fee per donkey which must be paid prior to any driving time to be counted. This award is tailored with an emphasis on driving. A member that signs up for this award, is expected to keep a driving log of the time spent at the reins, which includes ground driving. The only driving time that a member can’t claim is time in the show ring. Due to a change in our by-laws, this year only, the award will run from Oct 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2010. Deadline for turning in your driving log is Jan 15, 2011. If you have any questions about this award please contact Lydia Spears, Ph #931-796-4920 or email: miniacre@bellsouth.net .

CARSON CARROLL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

This is a $250 scholarship based on merit awarded to our youth members as they prepare for college or technical school. This award must be asked for and be accompanied by the member’s high school transcript through the third semester prior to graduation. Any member that wants to contribute to this award fund is welcome to do so. If you have any questions or have a youth member that wants to apply for this award, please contact Diana Poole, Ph #615-807-3848 or email tda.president@gmail.com.

By-Laws on Website

2010-11-11T07:13:00.001-06:00

Our illustrious web-mistress, Dayle Haworth has added the Tennessee Donkey ASSociation By-laws to the members only area of our website. This will enable all members to be able to view the most up-to-date version of the by-laws at any time.

We are on Facebook

2010-11-11T07:11:00.002-06:00

The TDA now has it’s own stand-alone Facebook page. If you haven’t already been by for a visit, make sure to go to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tennessee-Donkey-ASSociation/157669827586808?v=wall and make sure to click the LIKE button This helps promote the page on Facebook and will help it get seen by more people that enjoy donkeys.

Event Calendar Updated

2010-11-11T07:06:00.000-06:00

The calendar has been updated with some club functions for 2011. The Awards Banquet has been set for February 26^th and the Spring Meeting has been set for March 19^th. For more details, go to the Event Calendar.

OCTOBER 2010

2010-10-05T08:23:00.000-05:00

A few thoughts………….

It just seems I can’t be pleased with the weather this year. First it was too wet and cold, then too hot and now its DRY. I know, whaaaa! LOL! I do love fall and am thankful that it is here. Time to be outside and do fun things with the donkeys before it turns wet and really cold again. It’s also a good time to get some maintenance things done also. For example, make sure to check your water trough heaters BEFORE you need them!

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Just a quick reminder that this coming Saturday, October 9th is our Trail Ride/Drive (all sized donkeys, horses or bikes!) in Elkmont, AL http://www.traillink.com/trail/richard-martin-trail.aspx and, next Saturday, October 16th ,is a FUN DAY at Sandy Carroll’s farm in Shelbyville, TN. Information has been emailed and is on our calendar.

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A couple of years ago I started a Facebook page for the Tennessee Donkey Association to help promote the club in Facebook -land . I have had several remarks from members that it is confusing (and I agree) to have the TDA’s facebook page set up as it currently is – under my personal facebook account. I am in the process of setting up a stand-alone Facebook account that can be linked to the TDA’s website etc. And will only have TDA info showing up on it.

As I make changes to convert everything over to the new page, current “Friends” will be notified. Once it is completed I will update all the club membership and invite them to join. This helps promote the page on Facebook and will help it get seen by more people that enjoy donkeys.

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Please join me in welcoming new members to TDA!

Kenny & Sherry Puckett of Cookeville, TN (muleman101@yahoo.com and sassy.p@live.com )

Marybeth McGrath of Mt. Juliet, TN (marybethmcg@comcast.net )

Hope to see you all soon at a future function!

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ALL EARS needs articles! If you have an article you have written that would be of interest to club members OR have seen an article in a publication - please email it to me!

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In this month’s edition of ALL EARS:

OFFICER ELECTIONS & FALL MEETING

REPORTERS CORNER

TN STATE FAIR RESULTS

2010 SHOW AWARDS

OFFICER ELECTIONS & Fall Meeting

2010-10-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

We need members to participate! Is this the year that YOU actively promote the donkey breeds? The Tennessee Donkey Association is a great club. It's your club!

We come together as a group that loves donkeys and wants to promote the breeds. For the club to flourish and grow, members should participate in different ways – could being an Officer be your way to participate this year? Deadline for the election is tomorrow, October 6th. Please send me an email at tda.president@gmail.com to throw your hat in the ring!

Another way to have your voice heard is to take part in the Fall meeting on November 6th (begins at 4pm) – watch for details via email.

REPORTERS CORNER - TN State Fair

2010-10-05T08:10:00.001-05:00

by Theresa Puckett

Katrina Fleener

In 2003, the TN Donkey ASSociation put together the first miniature and small standard donkey show at the TN State Fair. Although I took miniature donkeys to the fair in 2000 and showed them in the draft show to try to introduce the miniatures to the fair and in 2001 the Mix’s took some of their donkeys, it wasn’t till the newly formed TN Donkey ASSociation approached the fair that they entertained the idea of a show. The agreement with the state fair was if TDA could put on a show and if the show was a success (and oh what a success it was) the fair would then take the show over. The club came together and through donations and hard work came up with the funds for prize money and to cover the other expenses also. Sandy and Carson Carroll volunteered to be the department head of the show for the fair. Sandy also worked to get the show sanctioned with NMDA. This September 18th the fair hosted the 8th annual show.

Laura George

The day started out with temperatures in the low 70’s and ended with a high of 88, so not unbearable but warm. The show got off at 9:30 with a parade of donkeys and the presentation of the flag with Dennis Vonderfecht singing the National Anthem followed by our prayer. With 59 donkeys representing 19 different farms and 135 entries it was promising to be a full day and some good competition. Another positive factor at this show was the judge; he allowed the jackets to come off during the performance classes which was nice and also no lap robes in the driving classes. This judge went out of his way to talk to the spectators and let them know what he is looking for in the donkeys, which keeps the crowd interested, especially in the halter classes. Speaking from experience it is rare to find a NMDA judge that acts like they really enjoy what they are doing as much as this one and that makes all the difference in the world. The volunteers helping to run this show were also outstanding, thank you. One more thing I personally want to thank the show staff for being so understanding about, was tack changes!! All in all this was a great show.

Dennis Vonderfecht

The future of the Tennessee State Fair has been a little shaky over this last year and there were times that it looked like there wouldn’t be one at all. With the public’s outcry to not give up on a state fair they managed to push through the 2010 fair. They have outgrown the current location and something has to be done. It is my understanding that the fair is being taken over by a nonprofit organization and the hunt is on for a new location for a fairground and exhibition center. This still leaves the location of the 2011 state fair in question as they would be hard pressed to have the new location ready in a year. I have been assured though that there will be a Tennessee Donkey Show in 2011 just not sure where.

Zachary Puckett

Web site to view State fair photos: http://www.lindasphoto.com/

A note from Sandy Carroll about The State Fair Show Results

2010-10-05T07:59:00.000-05:00

Due to a computer glitch, Sandy is still waiting to get all the points information to NMDA. This will happen as soon as possible.

2010 SHOW AWARDS

2010-10-05T07:58:00.000-05:00

If you participated in shows this year, make sure to contact someone from the Show Committee, (Theresa Puckett, Dayle Haworth or Kay Allen) and get your form to submit your points.

SEPTEMBER 2010

2010-09-05T08:02:00.002-05:00

A FEW THOUGHTS...

Hello Members!

Hope this months edition of the newsblog finds each and every one of you doing great and enjoying this wonderful weekend we are having this Labor Day holiday!

I have mentioned in the last few months the possibility of a show this fall at the Middle TN Fair. They were unable to juggle things around to accommodate us this year. We will keep working on them for the future – as I know we would all love a “not so hot” seasoned show!

We have new members that have joined this past month! Please welcome: Jerry & Betty Sircy of Shelbyville, TN (evergreen316s@yahoo.com) and, Dana Rathbun of Lewisburg, TN (castlewoodjacks@hotshotwireless.com) I, for one, enjoyed meeting you ALL at the Wilson County Fair show!

In this months edition of the ALL EARS:

OCTOBER CALENDAR UPDATE
ANNUAL MEETING & OFFICER ELECTIONS
WILSON COUNTY SHOW
FIVE QUESTIONS
REPORTERS CORNER: Bottle Baby

We will chat again soon!

~Diana Poole, President

October Calendar

2010-09-05T07:24:00.000-05:00

OCTOBER EVENTS

First off, I need to update the members in the East Tennessee area…I am sorry to say, that we (TDA) had to cancel the venue at Lovingood Farms in Louisville, TN for October 9th. After months of planning, only two members RSVP’ed and neither were bringing donkeys. I am sorry this didn’t work out. We will keep trying!

NEW EVENT: Trail Ride/Trail Drive Elkmont, Alabama (just south of the TN border off of I-65) Saturday October 9th. (Time to be determined by those participating) - Bring your mini, standard, mammoth, mule, horse, bicycle…… This 10+ mile trail can handle it all. Follow this link for info on the trail. http://www.traillink.com/trail/richard-martin-trail.aspx . Each animal will need a Negative Coggins & Health Certificate to travel in to Alabama. If interested, contact Lydia Spears at miniacre@bellsouth.net or 931.796.4920.

FUN/FARM DAY: Sandy Carroll is inviting all members and their family to her farm on Saturday October 16th. Mark your calendars now – we will email more info to you (time etc) after Sandy gets the TN State Fair off of her plate.

The TDA Calendar has been updated to reflect this information.

ANNUAL MEETING & OFFICER ELECTIONS

2010-09-05T07:17:00.001-05:00

Take part in “steering” YOUR club!

The Annual Meeting and TDA elections is getting closer….. November 6th! Which means that if you are thinking about “throwing your hat in the ring” for an Officer position, you must let me (Diana Poole – tda.president@gmail.com) know by October 6th. OFFICERS POSITIONS ARE:

PRESIDENT
VICE –PRESIDENT (2)
SECRETARY
TREASURER
REPORTER
SHOW COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
SHOW COMMITTEE MEMBER (2)

Wilson County Fair Show Held 8.15.10

2010-09-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

What a show! First of all we need to give the Wilson County Fair Board shout-out for the awesome new facility they built for us to show in! What a nice place! (We will remind them next year that we need a bigger ring) We had over 120 entries at this show and everyone had a blast!

Lets all send a GREAT BIG SHOUT-OUT to all the sponsors of our show! The Wilson County Fair does not provide payout, so we had to depend on our great sponsors for class winnings! Please make sure to thank:

Appalachian Farmstead, (Dennis Vonderfecht) Jonesboro, TN – SHOW SPONSOR

Little Miracles Farm,(Maria, Jeff & Katie Randall) Wartrace, TN – DISPLAY SPONSOR
2Patriots Property Inspection, Inc. (Bill/Diana Poole) Franklin, TN – DISPLAY SPONSOR
Bonnies Barnyard Feed Store, Triune, TN – DISPLAY SPONSOR

And our CLASS SPONSORS:

Aslan Farms, (David & Susan Elliott) Mt. Juliet, TN
Crooked Creek Ranch, Brian & Theresa Puckett Gallatin, TN
Half Ass Acres, Joe & Dayle Haworth Chapel Hill, TN
(Travis) Henderson Clipper Blade Sharpening, Lawrenceburg, TN
Jennifer & Jim Cline, Columbia, TN
Little O Farm (Crystal Oliver) Culleoka, TN
MiniAcre Farm, Lydia Spears Hohenwald, TN
Peace Pipe Ranch, Shelbyville, TN
Poole's Paradise Hill Farm in memory of youth member, Ashley Howard
The Condurelis Group, Keller Williams Realty - Franklin, TN
THE NO BULL Team - Keller Williams Realty (Marianne & Dwayne Smith) Gallatin, TN
Wee Ones Farm, LJ & Deb Mix Gallatin, TN

Keep an eye on your email, we will have a way for you to view and get print photo's from the show.

Before the show...Officers & Sandy Carroll presenting Zach Puckett
with his Carson Carroll Memorial Scholarship

Five Questions

2010-09-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

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 Kandi Wilhoit of Murfreesboro, TN and Wendy Boone of Knoxville, TN.

1) What is your favorite thing to do with your donkey(s)? Kandi: My favorite thing to do with my donkeys is to play and train them Wendy: Rub the end of his nose and let him nibble and nudge at me

2) Tell us one thing about you we don’t know. Kandi: I love to go to the beach and just sit and read. Wendy: I'm trying to put a house on 2 acres of our family farm. My donkey will be even closer to me then! Maybe I will eventually be able to get my other two donkeys back!

3) Do you have other animals? If so, tell us about them: Kandi: We have a wonderful dog named Aurora and two outrageous cats named Ashes and Aslan. Wendy: Besides lots of cows, we have two Pomeranian dogs, one black, Banjo, and one white, Sebastian. I had a wonderful Shepard/whippet mix, Shady, that had been with me for over 12 years that I had to put to sleep last September. Two weeks later my Dad had a stroke and was in the hospital for over 2 months. We adopted Banjo (named in honor of my Dad who played in a bluegrass gospel group) soon after that so that Bastian would have company and that I could have as a companion. He has truly been a blessing to all of us, because he's so loving and playful.

4) You are granted a day of perfect weather whenever you like. What day do you place it on and why? Kandi: If I could have a perfect day of weather I would have it fall on a Sunday. That is my favorite day of the week. I enjoy going to church and then hanging out with my donkeys in the afternoon. Wendy: October 31. I love fall and I love Halloween! The smell of a crisp fall day is a perfect day!

5) Have you learned a new (household or farm) short-cut/trick/hint lately? If so, what? Kandi: A quick shortcut I learned is using condensed milk to make a lemon meringue pie. Wendy: I learned to "fetch" the mail for my Mom every afternoon, and I occasionally roll over for a good belly rub! …..but, seriously, I can't really think of anything.

REPORTERS CORNER: Bottle-feeding baby

2010-09-04T17:33:00.002-05:00

Kahlua and Cream by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

We were outside playing with our new donkey baby when I got the call. It was Dayle Haworth and in her very concerned voice she said, “Theresa, a baby needs our help.” Dayle went on the explain to me that she had just gotten a phone call from a man whose donkey had rejected it’s foal and as luck would have it, he lived very close to me. I called the man and he told me that it had been 36 hours and the mom had just again thrown the baby to the back of the stall. He said that the other lady (Dayle) had told him that he would have to bottle feed this baby. He went on to tell me that they were packed and ready to leave for Florida. I asked him if I could come over to see the baby and he said please. Dayle had told me that the baby was going to need someone to bottle feed it. If the man would let me, could I do it? Dayle had already done 3 this year and said she just didn’t think she could do another. As I was telling her that I would have no idea where to even start she said she would teach me. As I hung up the phone I looked over as my husband Brian and his head was shaking a very adamant NO!! He said that he would not be able to help me with this and that he felt it was a bad idea because I get too attached to things and if the baby didn’t make it I would be devastated. I then turned to the other man in my life, Zach, who had just graduated from high school the day before, and I said “Will you help me son?” and he smiled and said yes. So off we went to see the baby.

We arrived at the man’s house and as he had said the motor home was loaded and pointed out of the driveway. He greeted us as we got out of the car and said “I just don’t know what to do”. As I looked over the door of the stall, I saw the sweetest little girl huddled tight in the back corner. The man said he had been reading and that in some instances a mom could still accept a baby after up to 48 hours. He asked me if I thought that if he just left them together she might still take the baby. I said that after 36 hours she was not going to change her mind, and if he left them alone he would come back to a dead baby. The baby, to our surprise, looked in much better shape than we figured she would. The man had held the mom down a few times so the baby could get some milk but the mom had hurt his back and he didn’t think he could even do that any longer. I then told him that if he wanted I would take the baby and bottle feed it, but that if I did this the baby would be mine. He agreed without hesitation, he said he wanted to give her the best chance of surviving. So the 3 of us held the mom tight and gave the baby one last chance to nurse. I then scooped the little girl up in my arms and headed home.

Once home I called Dayle and told her to get over here and tell me what to do. I sent Zach to Tractor Supply to pick up the list of supplies that Dayle said I needed. I then sat with the baby in my arms waiting for my first bottle feeding lesson hoping that I hadn’t bitten off more than I could chew. Dayle arrived and I was schooled in the art of bottle making which didn’t seem too hard. Once the bottle was ready Dayle and I went to feed the baby but every time we tried to put the bottle in the baby’s month she would jerk her head away. It was going on 3 hours since she had nursed from her mom so we knew she was hungry. Dayle said that she had never had one that wouldn’t take the bottle and we were starting to get panicked. Then I noticed how she was sticking her head between our legs or under our arms every chance she got. We were sitting on the front steps, Dayle in front of me and when the baby stuck her nose under Dayles arm I quickly stuck the nipple in her mouth and she started nursing like there was no tomorrow. I can’t tell you how excited we were! She had jumped the first big hurdle.

Then I had to break the 2 hour feeding schedule to Zach, that was fun, but we worked that out without any trouble. To make things a little easier we built a pen in the garage so that in the middle of the night all we had to do was step out the back door. Brian had just done a major clean out of the garage so we could get 2 cars in it for a change and he said he knew that wouldn’t last long. We got the pen built and the bedding down, everything was nice and cozy for the baby. Then I put her in and oh my god she started squealing like a little pig when we walked away, spoiled after only one day! So with a little maneuvering a second pen went in right beside her and Beaujolais got to keep the baby company.

The next day we took the baby on a little trip. Zach and she got in the back of his Tracker and off we went to the equine vet. When we arrived instead of pulling around back to the trailer area we parked out front and she followed me in the front door and the girls in the office went nuts. They had never had a patient come through the front door before and she was such a little lady she started flipping her little tail to say “I need to go potty” so I took her out to the grass and she took care of business. Once she stopped showing out for everyone the vet pulled blood and checked to see if she had gotten enough colostrum from her mom and she got a big thumbs up on that. The part of the visit that Zach liked was the vet said with her colostrum levels that he felt that feeding every 3 hours through the night and 2 hours through the day would be good. She had managed to make it over our second big hurdle.

Kahlua and Cream sleeping between my legs after her first full belly

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Dayle had also told me that the baby needed a donkey buddy, someone to teach her to be a donkey. After the forced addition of Beaujolais to the garage this became perfectly clear. Dayle had said a young donkey that wasn’t bonded to someone else in the herd already, but I didn’t have any one like that. The first thought was to see if I could borrow a young donkey from someone, through this idea I found a young donkey that I purchased to buddy with the baby. They bonded immediately which was good because with show season coming up Beaujolais needed to be free to show. We named the new donkey Amicus which is Latin for friend.

As we were preparing to go to Shelbyville we had to figure out what to do with the baby while we were gone. The couple that keeps the house and farm while we are gone were both working, so the only alternative was to take her with us. Once we figured out how to get everyone safely in the trailer without having to make two trips we were off. Brian came up with a good way to heat the bottle by using solar heated bottles of water to mix her milk with. I can tell you one, thing we had the most popular barn at the show. I believe she was out of the stall more than she was in. We had at least 2 little girls that came by 2 or 3 times a day. Other people would say the people at the office said to come by or someone else had sent them. My favorite one was a car full of teenage girls pulled up and they wanted to know where the baby was. She didn’t even need to go into the show ring to be the most talked about animal on the grounds and after that the most spoiled.

Once home again she has settled into her daily routine which consists of days in the back yard with Amicus and the other babies and their moms. Learning all the fun things like how dirty can I get if I get wet then go roll in the dust bowl and who can run the most circles around the backyard without getting dizzy. But when night rolls around she is at the gate ready to go in the garage for the night. At 3 months old, the feedings are getting less frequent but that doesn’t stop her from running from the farthest reaches of the back yard at the slightest noise that may mean it is bottle time. In about a month or so the baby will be faced with her third and final hurdle, weaning we will have to wait and see how that goes, but I have faith. This has been a richly rewarding task for me, Zach and yes Brian. I also need to thank Zach because he more than pulled his weight during those late night feedings. This is a task I hope none of you ever have to do, but if you do, know that there are people out there ready and willing to help you get started.

August 2010

2010-08-04T06:41:00.003-05:00

A few thoughts….

Well, as we move in to August, I think most of us have now forgotten how cold and miserable this past winter was. I must admit it seems that our wonderful donkeys are much more tolerant of these recent weather extremes that we've had – than we are. Here’s wishing us all a cool air-conditioner, lots of ice and plenty of shade.

In last month’s newsblog, I mentioned the possibility of a show at the Middle Tennessee Fair in Lawrenceburg. The steering committee postponed the meeting they were going to have in July. So, at this time I have no update. I will keep you posted.

I recently sent out a couple of emails about the Wilson County Fair show to be held August 15th. We still have sponsorships available. They are: $25 for a class sponsor and $50 for a banner display sponsor. Additionally, we still need volunteers for the registration table and a Ringmaster to help the judge. If you have a friend or family member that would help – that is okay too! Please contact me at tda.president@gmail.com or the co-showchairs: Sandy Carroll at ccarroll@cafes.net or Pauline Gray at lglfarms@yahoo.com

We will chat again soon!

~Diana Poole, President

In this months newsblog:
5Questions
Fun Day
Reporters Corner
Classified Ads
Officer Elections

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5 Questions

2010-08-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

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 Lynn Price of Shelbyville, TN and, Deirdre Tarr of Jefferson City, TN.

1) What is your favorite thing to do with your donkey(s)? LYNN: Just wander out to pet them and watch their silliness, scratch their itchy spots and feed them carrots. DEIRDRE: The babies are tops. I love to gentle them, handle their feet, give them hugs, sit with them in my lap and show them off to visitors as one of the best reasons to raise donkeys. I love to have animals gentle enough for my little Florida city nieces to be able to halter and lead around the farm. They love it, too! A friend recently gave me a little saddle type pad that I am going to put on my friendliest donkey and hopefully teach her to allow my little almost 3 year old granddaughter to ride while I lead the donkey. The fun just keeps on....

2) Tell us one thing about you we don’t know. LYNN: Owned a Bed and Breakfast for 6 years in Wartrace. DEIRDRE: I've had to opportunity to give a hug to two of the people I admire most - James Dobson and Beth Moore.

3) Do you have other animals? If so, tell us about them. LYNN: A mom and baby Scottish Highland cows (and mom is pregnant again :), 2 pregnant goats (due any time), 2 girl babies and 2 boys. They are hilarious to watch. 2 dogs, 4 cats and chickens are coming this spring. DEIRDRE: I have raised alpacas for about as long as I have raised miniature donkeys (15 years). They are very compatible. You just have to make sure there are plenty of feed pans when it is feeding time. (And keep the adult male donkeys separate!) Alpacas are very quiet animals who make a soft humming noise and have some of the softest, warmest fleece in the world. There are two types (huacaya and suri). I have huacayas. When they are unshorn they look like beautiful fluffy stuffed toys with huge eyes out in the pasture. When they are shorn they look like stick figures of E.T. (The Terrestrial). They are great alternative livestock!

4) You are granted a day of perfect weather whenever you like. What day do you place it on and why? LYNN: A Saturday any time so I can get caught up with gardening in my greenhouse. DEIRDRE: Probably Thanksgiving because we have 25-35 relatives come to visit us (sometimes for a whole week!) around that holiday and it is wonderful to be able for everyone to go outside and play Frisbee or corn toss or hike to Cherokee Lake which is quite near us.

5) Have you learned a new (household or farm) short-cut/trick/hint lately? If so, what? LYNN: Letting the hay do the work :) We spread the flakes around for the goats and it self seeds for pasture. DEIRDRE: In my garden this year I decided to plant a row of giant sunflowers next to the delicious greasy beans so that the beans could climb up their large stalks instead of having the normal twine and stakes in the garden. It should be both pretty and practical. If anyone out there in donkey-land knows of some good organic pesticides, I'd love to have you send me the info as I have some very irritating bugs on my tomatoes this year.

Fun Day - October

2010-08-04T06:25:00.001-05:00

October 9th is the day for the next planned TDA get-together. It will be held at LOVINGOOD SPRINGS FARM in Louisville, TN (their web address is: http://tnhorse.com/ ) . This is just outside Knoxville. Though the date wasn’t our first choice, it was the 1st date that Lovingood had open. If members want to stall their donkey(s) over-night on Friday – please contact the farm directly to make a reservation. The fee for the stall is $25. There will be no charge to members for the venue – it will be paid for by club funds.

This is a lovely facility and if you have a driving or riding donkey, there is plenty of space for you to go enjoy the scenery. It is also everyone’s hope that if you are unable to bring your donkey with you that members will still come out and enjoy fellowship.

We hope to be able to hold a couple of quick clinics on this day. As we get more information together it will be updated on the calendar.

Volunteers needed also – if you can help with some things, please email Diana Poole at tda.president@gmail.com .

REPORTERS CORNER: July Shows

2010-08-04T05:47:00.004-05:00

REPORTERS CORNER
by Theresa Puckett, Reporter

July started off with the 19th annual Celebration Mule and Donkey Show. If you haven’t been to this show, I urge you to come next year. Even if you are not a show person, witnessing the diversity of these long -ear equine is truly amazing.

My first Celebration was in 1999 and I can tell you I left in awe, and in search of a gaited riding mule. This show brings in people from all over the United States. While looking at the results, I saw people from New York, Oklahoma, Florida, Wyoming and Texas just to name a few. This show also hosts the ACOSA Nationals, the NASMA Nationals, the AGMA World Show, and is a NMDA sanctioned show. They are also on a rotation for the NMDA Nationals.

There were several TDA farms in attendance and I believe everyone left with ribbons. I’ll start with the TDA mammoths which did very well. J.B. Royal Alexandria, owned by Dennis Vonderfecht of Appalachian Farmstead took 2nd in mammoth jennets 3 yrs +. Then went on to take NASMA National Champion Jennet 3 yrs +. Another very impressive showing came from Joe Thomas, Thom-Ass-Acres’s High Noon won the ACOSA mammoth jack class and went on to win ACOSA Reserve Grand National Champion Jack, I know for sure that this makes at least 2 in a row for him. Joe’s jack Nonami took 3rd in the NASMA mammoth jacks 3 yrs +. Way to go guys!!!!

On the miniature front it is hard to know where to start. So I think I’ll start with our youth. Katie Randall and her donkey KKR High Roller took 3rd in youth costume, 4th in NMDA halter geldings 3yrs +, 1st in youth showmanship, 1st in youth lead race and 1st in youth in-hand trail. Katie also got 2nd in the youth lead race with Little Miracles Katie’s Prayer. Yea, Katie!!!

In the NMDA performance classes there were several TDA farms that stood out. Crooked Creek Ranch showed two performance donkeys. As many of you know this is Zach Puckett’s first year to show as an adult and with his donkey Beaujolais’s driving experience they had to step right into open, skipping the green level. I can tell you that he was a little nervous about this but without reason. He put many of us to shame including his mom (yea!!) and showed against at least 2 professional trainers. Performance driving is Zach’s first love but he decided not to drive in pleasure driving but did all the other driving classes. Zach and Beaujolais took 3rd in open pole bending, 5th in open obstacle driving, 5th in open reinsmanship (this was a wicked class), 4th in open snigging and in the open single stake race they took 2nd , less than half a second off the leader and beating the two professional trainers. I am so proud of you son! Crooked Creeks Bosco took 2nd in open lead race, 5th in open pole bending, 4th in open obstacle driving, 2nd in open in-hand jumping, 6th in open snigging, 4th in open single stake race and last but not least 1st in open coon jumping. Wee Ones Titan owners Deb and L.J. Mix took 5th in the green lead race. HHAA Valiant Diego owned by Lydia Spears and shown by Tiffany Pierce took 6th in open pleasure driving. CCC Triple C’s Love Bug owned by Laura George took 3rd in green pole bending, 3rd in green pleasure driving, 3rd in green obstacle driving, 3rd in green reinsmanship. CCC Triple C’s Hermes owned by Sandy Carroll took 5th in open snigging and 6th in open single stake race. Stock Market’s Cash Bonus owned by Susan Poole and shown by Sandi Costa took 6th in open pole bending, 5th in open pleasure driving, 1st in open obstacle driving, 4th in open reinsmanship, 5th in open in-hand trail, 5th in open in-hand jumping, 1st in open snigging and 5th in open coon jumping. That’s a pretty impressive list!

NMDA halter classes are always very competitive and this show was no exception. The show started off with foals to halter and again TDA members showed what we are made of. Wee Ones Farm dominated this class taking 1st with Wee Ones Ragin Cajun and 3rd with Wee Ones Apache Brave and followed that up with Wee Ones Titan taking 4th in the yearling jack class. East Tennessee member Dennis Vonderfecht showed quite an impressive group of donkeys starting with a 3rd in the yearling jack class with Farmstead’s William Blout. In the yearling jennet class he grabbed 3rd with Farmstead’s Chessie and 6th with Ma & Pa’s Antonia. Farmstead’s James Otis Watson took 1st in the yearling gelding class, Ma & Pa’s Red Dynamo took 2nd in the jacks 2 yrs+, Ma & Pa’s Willa Cather took 3rd in the jennet 2yrs+, Country Music’s Rusty Weir took 2nd in the jacks 3yrs+, Country Music’s Jean Shepherd took 6th in the jennets 3yrs+ and in the geldings 3yrs+ Wits End Tumbleweed took 2nd. Katrina Fleener showed her donkeys with great success placing 5th in the yearling jack class with KKR Stroke of Midnight and 1st in the jennet 2yrs + with Hills Co Mini’s Lexus. Lexus topped her 1st by taking NMDA Champion jennet, very nice Katrina! Alabama member Susan Poole had a good show taking 5th in the yearling jennet class with Magnolia’s Royal Star Gazer, Magnolia’s Royal Court Jester took 1st in the geldings 2 yrs+ and champion gelding, Stock Market’s Cash Bonus was 1st in the jacks 3yrs+ class and went on to win champion jack. Jester came back to win best of breed, congratulations Susan. Kay Allen and Lydia Spears showing Radar and Diego in best matched pair and took 2nd. Way to go members, this is an amazing list of wins!!!!

Last, but definitely not least, would be the color classes. ACOSA in case you are not sure stands for American Council of Spotted Asses and is a registry for spotted donkeys and mules. As I stated earlier, the Celebration hosts the ACOSA national every year, so let’s see how we did. Starting with the mini jennets under 2 yrs, you have 4th and 5th going to Dennis Vonderfecht and Ma & Pa’s Antonia and Ma & Pa’s Willa Cather. Sandy Carroll took 6th with CCC Triple C’s Hello Darlin’. Taking the 1st spot in mini jacks under 2 yrs and was KKR Merlin owned Theresa Puckett, the 2nd spot went to Wee Ones Titan owned by Deb and L.J. Mix, in 4th was KKR Stroke of Midnight owned by Katrina Fleener and 5th to Fisher’s Untouchable owned by Steve Hazlewood. Mini jacks over 3rd went to Crooked Creeks Bosco owned by Theresa Puckett. In the mini geldings class, Laura George and CCC Triple C’s Love Bug took 2nd . The Celebration also has a straight up color class, which is always a crowd pleaser. This is usually a large class of all size donkeys and colors ranging from solid, to donkeys with a vast array of spot patterns. KKR Merlin took 1st, owned by Theresa Puckett, 4th went to Ma & Pa’s Antonia owned by Dennis Vonderfecht, 5th went to Wee Ones Titan owned by Deb & L.J. Mix. All in all I think this was a great show and again congratulations to all the TDA members. I hope that I didn’t leave anyone out, but if I did, please let me know and we will correct it accordingly.

The Bedford County Fair show on July 24th had a good turnout for it to have been sooo hot. We started at 10am in an open arena and the temperatures hung around 100 degrees all day, which was hard on humans and donkeys alike. TDA was able to rent a misting fan which the members could use and we were asked to make a small donation to help offset the price to the club. I would like to suggest that next year, instead of rushing through the show as fast as possible, so we can get out of the heat, maybe we should take small breaks here and there, allowing the contestants and show staff to take a minute to sit down and cool off a little. This might be a better way to go. Kudos goes out to everyone who braved the heat and made this a successful show. Congratulations to the winners and a great big “way to go” to our youth exhibitors Shyanne Lopp and Katie Randall.

Results:

BEDFORD CO. FAIR DONKEY SHOW 7/24/10

ADULT DRIVING - DONKEYS
1ST CROOKED CREEK'S BEAUJOLAIS ZACH PUCKETT

2ND TRIPLE C'S HERMES SANDY CARROLL

3RD CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO THERESA PUCKETT
4TH VALIANT DIEGO LYDIA SPEARS
5TH CIRCLE C RADAR TIFFANY PIERCE

YOUTH PLEASURE DRIVING - DONKEYS
1ST GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN SHYANNE LOPP

ONE BARREL SPEED - MINI DONKEYS
1ST CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO THERESA PUCKETT
2ND ENGMAN'S ROCKY ROCCOCO BILL POOLE
3RD TRIPLE C'S HERMES SANDY CARROLL
4TH CROOKED CREEK'S BEAUJOLAIS ZACH PUCKETT
5TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON

POLE BENDING - MINI DONKEYS
1ST CROOKED CREEK'S BEAUJOLAIS ZACH PUCKETT
2ND CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO THERESA PUCKETT
3RD VALIANT DIEGO LYDIA SPEARS
4TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON

SNIGGING - MINI DONKEYS
1ST CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO THERESA PUCKETT
2ND TRIPLE C'S HERMES SANDY CARROLL
3RD CROOKED CREEK'S BEAUJOLAIS ZACH PUCKETT
4TH VALIANT DIEGO LYDIA SPEARS
5TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON

HALTER WEANLING/YEARLING
1ST HILL'S HAVEN TORRI KAYLA HAZLEWOOD
2ND WEE ONES RAGIN CAJUN L. J. MIX
3RD MJB DIP N DOTS SALLY DUNN
4TH HELLO DARLIN SANDY CARROLL
5TH WEE ONES TITAN DEB MIX

YOUTH IN HAND JUMPING - MINI DONKEYS
1ST GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN SHAYANNE LOPP
2ND KKR HIGH ROLLER KATIE RANDALL

ADULT IN HAND JUMPING - MINI DONKEYS1ST WEE ONES WHITE FEATHER DEB MIX
2ND CIRCLE C RADAR TIFFANY PIERCE
3RD GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON
4TH CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO BRIAN PUCKETT
5TH WEE ONES MIDNIGHT DEB MIX

COON JUMPING - MINI DONKEYS
1ST CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO BRIAN PUCKETT
2ND WEE ONES WHITE FEATHER L. J. MIX
3RD GOD'S LITTLE ACRES FARM DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON
4TH CIRCLE C RADAR TIFFANY PIERCE
5TH TRIPLE C'S HERMES SANDY CARROLL

YOUTH IN HAND TRAIL - DONKEYS
1ST KKR HIGH ROLLER KATIE RANDALL
2ND GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN SHYANNE LOPP
3RD GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S STORMY SHYANNE LOPP

ADULT IN HAND TRAIL - DONKEYS 8 ENTRIES 1ST VALIANT DIEGO LYDIA SPEARS
2ND GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON
3RD WEE ONES WHITE FEATHER L. J. MIX
4TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S STORMY TRAVIS HENDERSON
5TH CIRCLE C RADAR TIFFANY PIERCE

BEST MATCHED PAIR 3 PAIR ENTERED
1ST VALIANT DIEGO & CIRCLE C RADAR KAY ALLEN & LYDIA SPEARS
2ND ROCKY & DAN MELISSA ATYEO & TRAVIS HENDERSON
3RD CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO & BEAUJOLAIS THERESA & ZACH PUCKETT

HALTER 2 YRS & OVER MINI DONKEYS JENNETS - 3 ENTRIES
1ST HILL COUNTRY'S LEXUS KATRINA FLEENER
2ND BIG RIVER VENUS 08 STEVE HAZLEWOOD
3RD TURNPIKE CREEK KATIE SKY O'BRIEN

HALTER 2 YRS & OVER MINI DONKEYS - Geldings
1ST GOOD TIPPER DIANA POOLE
2ND WEE ONES MIDNIGHT DEB MIX
3RD KKR HIGH ROLLER KATIE RANDALL
4TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S STORMY SHYANNE LOPP
5TH GOD'S LITTLE FARM'S DAN TRAVIS HENDERSON

HALTER 2 YRS & OVER MINI DONKEYS JACKS
1ST MJB FIDALGO SALLY DUNN
2ND FISHER'S UNTOUCHABLE STEVE HAZLEWOOD
3RD CROOKED CREEK'S BOSCO THERESA PUCKETT

TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES: 75

Classified Ads

2010-08-04T05:35:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that one of the benefits of TDA membership is the free classified ads you are able to place on the TDA Website. Contact Dayle Haworth at minidonks@united.net to place your ad or to get more information.

2011 Officer Elections

2010-08-04T05:31:00.000-05:00

Though TDA elections are not until November for the 2011 year, I just wanted to put a bug in your ear. If you are thinking about “throwing your hat in the ring” for the following Officers positions, please let Diana Poole know by October 6th:

PRESIDENT
VICE –PRESIDENT (2)
SECRETARY
TREASURER
REPORTER
SHOW COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
SHOW COMMITTEE MEMBER (2)