Kate, Meet Hannah

Kate the donkey was in serious need of a pedicure.  Over a winter of standing around, her hooves had become seriously overgrown and she looked like she was wearing bedroom slippers.

Ta da! Hannah Knox, Farrier to the rescue!

Now while Kate is not technically wild (she'll eat out of your hand if she likes the looks of what's on offer,) she's as independent as a hog on ice and attempts to get a halter on her or to get her into a stall were not immediately successful. 

Kate took a look  at Hannah and decided Something was Up -- of which she wanted no part. We begin to wonder if tranquilizers were going to be necessary -- or a dart gun.

But eventually Kate allowed herself to be coaxed into a stall where Justin and Hannah managed to get a halter on her. (I have no pictures of this or what followed because the stall was dark and it seemed likely that the camera's flash would upset Kate even more.)

It was really pretty amazing. John had a rope on the halter and kept Kate's head in a corner of the stall whiled Justin held her neck in a fairly successful attempt to keep the donkey from moving about or damaging Hannah.

Hannah, let me say, is a small woman who looks about fifteen years old. But she's BWFA certified and  after watching her muscle Kate around and carve those neglected hooves into something more hoof shaped, I'm pretty convinced Hannah could, as they say, beat bears with switches.

 Kate landed one solid kick -- on the wall of the stall, thank goodness -- and the whole operation was accomplished without injury.

If you need a farrier and are in the western NC/east TN area -- give Hannah a call!

Her numbers are: 828-656-2508 or 850-324-3818 (cell)