Bath Time For Donkeys!

Yesterday happened to be donkey-washing day at the farm.  Betsy likes to give the three donkeys their showers every month during the cold season.  When it turns warm and the ground thaws, she increases that to once a week, as the playful trio finds great pleasure in rolling on the ground, getting themselves quite dusty and muddy.

Here is 2-year-old Clive getting hosed down with warm water.  The shower stall has heaters suspended from the ceiling.  The hanging boom sprayer swivels around for ease of use.  The faucets are recessed behind the white door for safety purposes and the lower walls are padded to protect the equines and also the shower tiles.

Sanu Sherpa gives Clive a good lathering.

After a complete rinsing, an equine sweat scraper, or comb, is used to remove excess water.

This is a vacuum called an Electro-Groom.  Betsy says its design has remained the same for decades.  I just love its retro style.  It’s used to vacuum equine coats, but it also serves as a drying mechanism. 

Here is Sanu blow drying Clive while Rufus and Billy await their turns.

Ramon leans over to give Billy a friendly hello.   

Comments

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, What a fun blog! The donkeys look a little anxious while awaiting their turn but seem very calm and relaxed once the cleaning begins. Sanu looks like she is enjoying herself. I love the picture of Billy and Ramon. They are so precious as are all of your animals. How are Martyn and Paw Paw doing? I hope they are both doing much better. Your show today {April 2nd} was absolutely fabulous! You seemed so happy and vivacious all through the show. I found myself smiling just thinking about what a happy, positive person you are. Thanks for always being there for us. You make the world a much better place just by being a part of it. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Pam from California]

Betsy has a wonderful job and the mini donkey's a great new life. How sweet it is!!! They are precious and adorable and I bet they think they've dropped into a piece of heaven on earth!
Martha ,I am not as precious and adorable as Clive, Billy or Rufus but I am am adaptable please consider me for adoption LOL!
Lucky Betsy ,Lucky donkey's!
Pam from CA
http://groups.myspace.com/marthastewartsplace

[maurdel]

Nice looking shower. Is that marble tile on the walls? How great that the donkeys and the horses like each other. Perhaps Martha should add couple of female donkeys to her herd. (I wonder what a group of donkeys is really called.... probably not "herd."--maybe a "gang of donkeys" Guess i'm off to the internet to find out.

[Nan Ashby]

Rufus, Billy, and Clive are three of the luckiest donkeys in the world. I use to have 4 horses and in the winter months their winter coats became caked with mud and dirt. I used a equine scraper, or comb just like the one Betsy and Sanu use on your donkeys. Your monthly and weekly routine are all worthwhile to prevent exzema or dermintitus. If Rufus,Billy, or Clive are anyway like my horses, as soon as the shower or bath is done, they go right out and roll in the mud and dirt immediately after the shower is finished. Nan

[Ann Brennan]

Hi Martha
All I have to say is you are such a good MOM to all your animals, they are very lucky to have you in their life.

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
As Jan says, Clive, Rufus, and Billy all seem very calm during their bathing routine. Seeing the process reminds me of giving my pony a bath long ago. Thanks for the memories!
Kathy

[Martha]

Oh, those donkeys are just so, so cute! I am enjoying your blog. Thanks!

[jessi nagy]

Hey Martha, and sister!
fun post today! those donkeys are adorable!!
fun!
have a great day!
oxoxo,
jessi

[Trish]

I don't know a thing about donkeys but my first impression was they would kick and fuss if you tried to bathe them. Nope, it looks like Clive is loving it and the others are waiting patiently! In the first photo I think Clive is trying to say, "Hey, watch out for my nose with that hose!" The photo with Ramon and Billy is too precious; I'm gonna have to "borrow" that one for my desktop! Thanks again Martha and Laura. Trish

[Cara]

The last picture is too precious!

[Liz]

Martha,
Do you name all your animals yourself??? What is your inspiration for their names?

PS...love that his name is Clive!!!

[lilysmama]

Look at the animals eyes! They look so lively and happy!

What a wonderful life they have :)

[Karen]

Hi Martha~I love your blog. It is one of the first things I check every day! This article about your animals warms my heart! They are so lucky to have someone like you that loves them so much and provides them with such a fantasic home and special care. The thing about your blog is that it is always uplifting and so informational (no gossip or garbage-unless it is about composting). A wonderful way for all of us to start out our day! Thank you so much Martha! Karen

[Rebecca]

Oh my gosh, I think donkeys are the best! I have wanted a donkey for such a long time and while we have the property for one here in Maine, I can't seem to get my husband to agree! Thanks for sharing photos of the gang!

[Kathy]

Lucky donkeys !!! Always a pleasure to visit you. By the way I thought your hair looked really nice today !!! Loved todays show.

Have a great day,
Kathy :)

[Margie]

Okay Martha,
Who took the pictures? I think the person with the camera should also be involved with the slinging, shaking and sharing of bath water. Were you the photographer? We want to see you too in the donkey bath day chores. Donkey hair smeared over the face and in the mouth and on the hands so you can't get it out of your eyes. Great fun.
Thanks again.

[Hardboiledegg]

Martha do you subscribe to the National miniature Donkey Association quarterly magazine -- yes you guessed it it is called The/Asset anyway on the IFAS gardening in a minute radio program the topic was Bluebirds and how at one time in Florida this colorful bird could be seen all over now in the past 40 years to my knowledge the sighting of a bluebird was rare however the announcer spoke of a return of the Bluebird. If this is so we have Humans to thank humans that provide proper nesting boxes -- those with drainage and ventilation as well as easy to clean. the sparrows and wrens I think he sighted for edging out the bluebird population years ago .I would like to see the return of the bluebird to Florida. Maybe the State legislature should consider renaming the state bird to the blue bird they are already trying to politically correct the song from Old Folks at Home they say it is the lyrics I really think the Senior of Senior citizens are wrapping the table with a cane or two LOL anyway I would like to say the state legislature is a bunch of miniature donkeys but I think Clive and friends would be insulted

[Donna]

I love the picture of Ramon and Billy. They are so beautiful. Thank you for posting on your blog. I really enjoy reading it.

[Jon]

Martha,
Love, love, love your donkeys! And what a truly state-of-the-art washing facility. I especially like all the safety features.
Martha you take such extraordinary care of your pets. . .you are the benchmark to whom I aspire.
People, like yourself, who love and respect animals are beyond any doubt the best people in the world.
Excellent posting as usual.
Love ya!

[Nicole's Mom Michelle]

I reaaly enjoy discussing your animals with my daughter since she has 2 donkeys and a horse. She lives in Gainesville, Florida and people who raise smaller animals such as goats or sheep use the donkeys to protect them from cayotes. Some people in Florida even raise donkeys to lease to farmers to guard their animals. Donkeys are really wonderful, intelligent animals.

[rachel]

I love the last picture of the donkey and horse. Really beautiful, sweet animals.

[ShopLittleGifts]

Such happy donkeys! The design of the barn is so well thought out with the hidden faucets and hanging "shower." We have a labrador at home and he has his special hair dryer (super sized). I've never seen the super super size hair dryer like the Electrom-Grom. V. cool.

[Julie in Houston]

I love you Martha!!! I have donkeys on my list of animals to have someday. They are so adorable. And boy, your horses are gorgeous.

[JBrennan]

Martha:

Your blog today is great! It's always a pleasure to see and hear about what your animals are up to.

I've always been partial to donkeys. I had a stuffed one as a child and carried it all over for years.

It seems to me, you have almost all the right animals to have a live Nativity this Christmas. All you're missing are the camels!

Joseph

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Another great blog And it goes without saying that the donkeys are cute as all get out. I just love the way the donkeys look when they are all wet. Betsy and Sanu look like they are really enjoying their job. I bet the donkeys got some good treats for beginning such good babies.
The picture of Ramon and Billy is so precious and I think it should be on the cover of a magazine.
Thanks for another look at the babies on your farm.
Linda Gail

[Patia]

Hee hee hee, they are so cute!

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Hi Martha,

Love your pictures of the donkeys getting a bath...they are so cute.

Have you ever thought about adding some llamas to your family of animals. They are related to the camel family (as you probably are aware of), real cute and their hair is worth alot of money.
There is a farm close to where I live and they allow people to visit in the Spring to watch them being shaved.

Their face is so cute, I do not know the particulars about raising them, but I don't think there are many farms around.
(Heather Brook Farms, Franklin, OH
This is the one I am referring to
Thanks for your pictures.

Joan Fluor, Mason, OH

[Moira Becker]

Dear Martha,

I am writing to you from South Africa. A little while ago we saw you hosting Lipizzaners on your show and I felt it OK to take the liberty writing to you.These magnificent horses have been in South Africa since 1948 and all six original bloodlines are still present in the breeding program today. The SA Lipizzaners have fallen on hard times financially and what with our political situation and more pressing needs in our country, they find themselves without a major sponsor. I live on a farm outside Pretoria and have offered a portion of my farm free of charge to their mares and foals. It brought a tear to the eye to see white mares and their black foals run off into the fields where cattle used to graze. There is nothing quite like that contented sound of munching.I need help to make sure that this breeding herd stays in tact and without financial support, they are going to have to be sold off. I can see that you love your horses and your adorable little donkeys. I too have always longed to own two. I plan to name then Antonio and Donatella! I hope that I have planted a seed of interest from your side and hope to hear from you.With best regards,Moira Becker

[Carolyn]

I love the last pic of Ramon and Billy. Too Cute!

Carolyn

[Kate Harper]

Martha,
I can't tell you how much I just enjoy your blog. The pictures are so awesome. Your animals are fantastic! I think we only get to see a fraction of what there is to offer because of the vastness of it all. Everyday I try to look and could sit for hours on your website. Can you tell us some new things you have planned for the future?

[Deborah]

Dear Martha,
The large and clean shower stall with warm water, heat and a dryer is wonderful to see. I wish that for all captive donkeys, aka burros. Please allow me to post this link to a donkey refuge in Olancha, CA for those who have a special fondness for donkeys - like me! My husband and I live in Los Angeles and sometimes drive to the refuge to volunteer our time and make donations.
http://www.wildburrorescue.org

[Sandra Donovan]

How cute. They look like little children after a nice long bath. Adorable. Where are their pretty colored bandanas??

Sandra Donovan

[Dianna Lewis]

Martha, I love these photos! Clive looks as if he is enjoying himself. How sweet that all the animals are checking it out. I just showed the pics to my teen age son to show him that even their barn is cleaner than his room! LOL Love your blogs, Dianna