The Green Pickle

By the time Stix and Louie arrived they had already experienced questionable uses. Some people get a donkey as a ‘pasture ornament’ because they are ‘cute.’ Others as a ‘companion’ for a lone horse.  Well, they certainly are cute company, but they are so much more. They are known to have impeccable memories and recall of both humans and others of their kind even after being apart for 25 years.

Louie had been put out with a ‘jack’, a mule hybrid with traits of both horse and donkey. Jacks are intact and can be used for breeding. The term ‘jackass’ was derived from this cross as they have been known to be uncooperative, aggressive and bigger than a donkey.

Louie had to fend for himself against such aggression. Hence the mangled ear, and the gangster accent. He was also skilled at ridding the pasture of coyotes!

Styx was originally named Stilts due to his height. His earlier situation is unknown. When Susie and Carol were choosing which guys to bring home, Styx shadowed Carol as soon as she entered the enclosure. He won her heart.

Both were found at the Harmony Equine Center, a branch of Humane Colorado. Styx had been ‘surrendered’, as in ‘of no further use.’ Louie was taken by law enforcement for reasons unknown, as in ‘you don’t want to know.’

Susie and Carol immediately noticed their innate curiosity and sense of humor. They introduced them to toys, starting with the Green Pickle.

The day I was there with my camera they played for over an hour, never tiring of the joy of wrestling for control of their toy.

They toured the pasture; teeth locked together on the pickle.

When the pair finally returned to the barn, they dropped it in front of Carol.

In his final act, just to assert his pickle-superiority, Louie had the last word.

To be continued…….