Harvey never met an equid he didn't like

I got a call from the barn manager Wednesday -- Harv's regular turnout buddy is on stall rest for at least a couple of weeks. Harv is now the "odd horse out" at the farm, and he does not go out by himself. What to do? The solution came in the form of a furry-faced donkey, Skippy.

Harv and Skippy hang out



We weren't sure pairing them off would work. The first time Harv was pastured in a field next to Skippy he tore around and screamed, bringing the barn workers out to rescue him. He would not even calm down in his stall; I happened to arrive at the barn at this point and witnessed first hand Harv whirling in his stall like a dervish. Hardly love at first sight! We hoped that over time he had acclimated to the sound and smell of Skippy.

When they were reintroduced, Harv was not afraid of Skippy, but he was intensely curious. He chased Skip around the field at first, trying to get close enough to sniff and investigate. Fortunately things quickly settled down. While Harv could be more of a gentleman (he likes to assert his dominance when they share their haypile), it's a companionable picture. Whew!