Katie donkey in Garden Field - taken 25th February 2007
The photos this week are a tribute to Katie donkey who died on 1st March 2007. She was in her mid-thirties but like any lady she wouldn’t reveal her true age. Katie came to Herm in 1984 and she was about 12 years old then. She came with her foal Nathan who was 2 but he was a bit of a handful so Pennie found a home for him on Guernsey.
Over the years she brought great pleasure to many adults and children both islanders and holidaymakers and could often be heard calling for her breakfast or supper if she thought she had been forgotten. Until eighteen months ago she regularly gave rides to the island children but she would need some encouragement from them if she was feeling a bit stubborn so even the youngest of riders would need to learn to say “Come on Katie”!
For many children stroking Katie was their first experience of anything equine and as she was so patient with children she was a good animal for that first introduction.
Like all donkeys she was quite a character and if she saw an opportunity to escape from the field she would find a way. She was very clever at opening bolts with her lips and pushing at gates that she knew might ‘give’ a little and so provide a means of escape.
Katie was a familiar sight to many as she grazed in Belvoir Field and was probably used by many parents to encourage little children to walk up Belvoir Hill after a day on the beach knowing that Katie donkey was at the top waiting for a stroke!
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| Katie enjoying a roll - the dustier and grittier the spot the better! |
Out for a walk |
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| Taking a young rider for a walk round the common. |
Elliot taking Katie up to her field. |