Donkey carts

As you drive into town, you often pass carts being pulled by donkeys, and it always breaks my heart a little bit, especially the time we saw two sets of kids having a race - which to them must have been great fun.  To the donkeys being relentlessly whipped to go as fast as possible up a hill, it didn't look so much fun.  Every time I see the donkeys out, and especially when there is rather more use of a whip that I think right - like today - I just feel so sorry for these poor tired animals.  Some are clearly treated better than others and this lot look quite content.  

I keep telling Dirk that I'm going to set up Dornoch Donkey Sanctuary, he keeps telling me that I'm not, so we'll see who wins that one. 

Dirk is out late tonight bringing cattle back from the sale he went to today, it's going to be a long drive on bad roads in the dark, which means a late night.  I was on evening feeding duty for the cattle we have and took pity on the two pregnant cows who have been 'set free' into the paddock as they'll be with us for a while, rather than being fed expensive food in the pen.  They clearly aren't too sure about being in the paddock, contrary to what I thought and were lurking with very clear intent at feeding time.  So I caved and put some food out for them, feeling sorry that they have gone from five star (it) feeding to poor, tough grass.