8-29-01; End of Week Evaluations Today marked the end of one week of actual work with the horses and burros. Here's where we stood: The Burros The burros are now allowed out on "excursions." Rose and Fancy can be haltered and for the most part won't leave people alone when we are in the pen. Belle is still pretty cautious but she is thawing out. When they are through with their adventures of the day, they wander back to their paddock on their own for their afternoon nap. We've studied the characteristics and markings of Rose and Fancy. There are so many unique similarities, plus the fact that Rose lets Fancy attempt to nurse that we're 99% sure that Fancy is Rose's 1999 foal. Spirit Spirit has progressed a great deal. He still has anxious moments and can still get very physical. He has some scars on and below his left ear and is pretty shy about being touched there. He is still volatile when he crosses over and picks up a handler in his right eye. The square pen is too small to work out this issue and he has a tendency to go up if he has no other place to go. This is not a behavioral trait that we want to have recur. We're going to back off on pursuing these issues with Spirit until the round pen is up, with sufficient room so that he doesn't swing and hit the panels. and we can work more safely.

Relaxing to being touched on the face

Eva and Spirit with the Quick Halter

Magic Magic is, well, just a great big magical horse. You can work him in the day time, You can work him at night. He's quiet and he is cooperative. He will let us lift and hold front feet, he can be brushed from head to tail, he can be touched all over with a crop or a rope. He leads quietly. It will be nice to get some gates on the paddocks so we can actually lead him out and do some more interesting stuff.

Dave and Magic at night

Jenny picking up feet

Tammi giving him the "brush off"