ACTIVE DONKEY AWARD SCHEME
THE IDENTITY OF OUR VERY FIRST CUP WINNER IS REVEALED
Download this Word Document for a details of our first Award Winners includes a Review, Photographs and a list of all winners!
THE AIMS OF THE ACTIVE DONKEY AWARD SCHEME
Most donkeys, be they young or old, big or small, will benefit both physically and mentally from a change of scene and a break from the usual routine. With this in mind the Donkey Breed Society runs a scheme called the Active Donkey Award, designed to encourage their members to get out and about and enjoy having fun with their donkeys.
To qualify for an Award, a donkey has to complete eight different activities in the course of a year. These activities can be absolutely anything, except for competitive breed showing classes, and past winners have earned their awards by taking part in such diverse pastimes as :-
- Helping out at various charity events
- Visiting schools and old peoples' homes
- Taking part in Palm Sunday processions, Nativity plays and various parades
- Going for pleasure walks and drives
- Carrying their owners' shopping and helping to deliver parish magazines
- Appearing at Fairs, Fetes, children's parties and coffee mornings.
- Assisting in demonstrations to show correct grooming and showing techniques and general donkey management
- Hauling logs and helping to carry in the vegetable harvest.
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There are so many different activities in which owners can become involved with their donkeys and, while everyone is having a good time, it is also helping to raise the profile of the donkey and serving to demonstrate what a versatile and intelligent animal he truly is.
The award itself consists of a certificate and special rosette presented to the owner of each successful participant at the Society AGM. When a donkey has achieved three (not necessarily consecutive) years in the scheme they receive a special engraved plaque and there are now plans ? to be announced ? for further awards.
Details of participants for the year are available by clicking here:
For further information about the Active Donkey Award please contact
The ADA Adminstrator,
c/o The DBS Secretary
The Hermitage,
Pootings
Edenbridge,
Kent
TN8 6SD
ACTIVE DONKEY AWARDs 2008 - The ADA Cup crosses the Irish Sea
If You Ever Go Across the Sea to Ireland ? You'll Probably Encounter Some Very Active D.B.S. Donkeys
The warmest of greetings to you all and a belated Happy and Active New Year from everyone here at ADA Headquarters.
It scarcely seems possible but it really is twelve months since I was telling you about the third recipient of the prestigious ADA Cup and here I am, about to reveal the identity of the fourth winner.
The past year has just flown by and, judging by all the reports I have received from ADA participants, 38 of whom have gained their awards by having successfully completed 8 activities in the period running from August 1st 2007 to July 31st 2008, you have been extremely busy flying the flag for the Donkey in a multitude of different ways.
For those who aren't yet familiar with the Active Donkey Award, it is a Scheme that came into being nearly ten years ago with the basic aim of encouraging people to get out and about with their donkeys and have fun getting involved in all manner of diverse activities with them. But ADA has come a long way since its original inception with a large number of donkeys, a breed previously much underrated by the great mass of the general public, gaining some justly deserved recognition for all the good work they are doing and the pleasure and enjoyment they bring to so many people in the process.
One donkey to whom this very much applies is this year's ADA Cup winner.
As always our team of judges, Donald Demus, Rosemary Clarke and Barbara Roger, had an incredibly difficult decision to make and I would like to thank them for the time and trouble they took in coming up with the ADA participant judged to have been a really worthy ambassador for the Donkey and to have done the most during the year to raise the profile of our long-eared breed - SON OF JACOB from Northern Ireland, who is owned by ten year old Sarah Carleton Andrews, ably supported by her parents, Vivienne and Mark, has been involved in the ADA Scheme for 7 years. I don't think I can do a better job in telling you about him than Sarah did herself in Jacob's ADA entry so here are her feelings about her donkey:- "In my eyes Jacob is a star. He loves getting out and socialising - you can see it in his face. Over the year he has met people from all different walks of life:- children, adults, people with special needs and the elderly and he has raised money for the USPCA and the Donkey Sanctuary in Sligo by doing sponsored rides. He always makes people smile, chat and laugh when they see him, both in our local community and away from home; MANY CONGRATULATIONS to Jacob and young Sarah and I hope they continue to have fun together for a very long time to come.
A full list of the 2007/8 Active Donkey Award winners follows and I'm sure you'll all want to join with me in a really hearty chorus of 'VERY WELL DONE' to every one of them :-
1st Year
Watergates Pollyana Entered by Miss J Bramwell, Miss Wickham of Kinnards Entered by Mrs J Mackenzie, Tommy Entered by Miss G Owen, Amy Entered by Mrs A Staveley, Trinitas Tintinnabula Entered by Mrs C Travell, Perehill Sir Bart Entered by Miss J Weaver, Violet Entered by Miss O Weaver
2nd Year
Westra Trevorus Entered by Mrs S Bell, Annabel Entered by Mrs C Browning, Country Music Meagan Michaelis Entered by Ms S Farr, Country Music Stella Blue, Entered by Ms S Farr, Westra Gigi Entered by Mrs J Fooks, Sparkler Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace, Treacle Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
3rd Year - Plaque Winners
Brownroad Celandine Entered by Mrs O Brown, Paddy Entered by Miss F Clayton, Charlie Brown Entered by Mrs A Marshall, Denis Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace, Muffin Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace, Popcorn Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace, Irish Coffee Entered by Miss O Weaver, Jackador William Entered by Miss J Weaver
4th Year
Westra Stella Entered by Mrs S Bell, Thistle Entered by Mrs H Little, Perehill Snowie Entered by Miss J Weaver
5th Year - Special Rosette Winners
Buttercup of Brownroad Entered by Mrs O Brown, Joseph Entered by Mrs O Brown, Lil Entered by Mrs D Hirst, Porridge Entered by Mrs D Milligan, Josephina Entered by Miss O Weaver
6th Year
Bertie of Brownroad Entered by Mrs O Brown, Happy Valley Just-August Entered by Mrs J Gadie, Maude Entered by Mrs S Orford, Merdoc Entered by Miss O Weaver
7th Year
Son of Jacob Entered by Miss S Carleton-Andrews, Moses Entered by Miss J Weaver
9th Year
Polly Entered by Mrs M.Bates, Zebedee Entered by Mrs M.Bates My trusty band of secretaries tell me that people are always asking them what sort of activities can count towards their ADA Awards.
Having just come back from their jaunt to the Northern Ireland AGM in a particularly giggly mood ! personally I think they spent too long going round the whiskey distillery! they have actually come up with an idea for a brand new activity - Irish dancing for donkeys. They seem to think that this, with all that pounding of the hooves, would have the added benefit of us needing less visits from the farrier! As I can still detect the alcoholic fumes on their breath - how many bottles did they bring back with them? I don't think we should take this suggestion too seriously!
However I will give you a little taster of some of the things that this year's successful participants got up to in the hope that you will be inspired to have a go yourselves. Basically there are no hard and fast rules except that taking part in showing breed classes doesn't count.
Apart from that, you are only constrained by your own imaginations as you will soon see.
Last years' cup winner, Porridge, had another busy year including appearing in 2 dramatic performances, one of which was a thrilling outdoor reenactment of the story of Macbeth, and another donkey to 'take to the boards' was Denis who appeared with his young owner, Robert Wallace, in a production of Carmen at the National Concert Hall, Dublin ( I do hope he was in good voice!). Actually the part of the donkey in this opera must be extremely integral to the plot as Josephina also took part in Carmen when it was staged in Dartford!
Celandine enjoyed a 40 mile packing holiday on the North York Moors and another energetic animal was Tommy who went for a trek at Chatsworth. His stablemate, Pollyanna, however preferred more gentle pursuits such as visiting an old folks' home and boozing at the pub (Oh dear, underage drinking!). Miss Wickham attended a Palm Sunday Service as did Buttercup, while Paddy played an extremely crucial role in the Challock Village Nativity. Visits to schools were popular activities, with our two 9 yearers, Polly and Zebedee, attending several school fetes and barbecues where they gave rides for charity and Lil, having at last been persuaded that a trailer won't eat up any donkey foolish enough to go into it, ventured out to Giggleswick School to lead the Palm Sunday procession. Muffin and Sparkler also attended Sunday School for a talk about donkeys in the Bible.
Driving is another activity that several ADA donkeys like to do and Joseph and pal, Bertie, both went for a drive in the grounds of Tatton Park while Maude helped to instruct a human in the finer points of becoming a competent whip.
Donkeys are very good at fancy dress classes and Annabel looked wonderful as a dronkey (offspring of a donkey and a dragon - don't ask!) with Shrek and Princess Fiona at the Hereford Donkey Show, as did Gigi, resplendent in her pirate outfit. We long-eared folk are also excellent at gymkhana games, handy donkey courses and pet donkey classes as was ably demonstrated by stablemates, William, Irish Coffee, Violet, Bart, Snowie and Moses who also had the honour of attending the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival at the Civic Hall in London.
Some donkeys like Merdoc, who is now in his forties, like to indulge in more gentle pastimes like going for walks and letting children groom him, while others like 7 year old Amy are more than willing to help with forestry work, carrying the logs on a little trolley car to the foundry. Amy is also one of our 'green' donkeys along with Gus and Charlie Brown who help to transport rubbish to the recycling bins.
On a slightly grander level ADA donkeys have been well represented at some very prestigious events.
In N. Ireland Popcorn took part in the St. Patricks Day parade at the Folk Museum and his stablemate, Treacle was ridden by 3 year old Tristan Wallace in the Donkey Display at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show. Meagan and Stella Blue along with Trevorus and his mum, Stella, made their annual appearance at the Festival of the Donkey at Gloucester Cathedral. And the very first stallion to win an ADA Award, Trinitas Tintinnabula, has taken part in all sorts of events including a Nativity Service at Sidney Sussex College Chapel, Cambridge, driving in the New Years' Day parade in London and being part of the driving display at Burghley Horse Trials.
Phew, I certainly hope that all the above has got your creative juices flowing! And I haven't even touched on visiting hospices and nursing homes, manning (or should that be donkeying) stands at shows like Thistle did in Ballymena and - well the list of possible activities is literally endless. Do you still want to know what your donkey can do? You should be asking., what can't he do?.
I do hope that, having read what ADA's elite band of very special donkeys has accomplished, you might think about joining us.
The Scheme is open to any donkey owned by a DBS member and don't forget ? the sooner you enrol, the sooner you can start having FUN as you achieve your Active Donkey Awards. I look forward to hearing from you at :- The ADA Administrator, c/o The Society Secretary, The Hermitage, Pootings, Edenbridge. Kent. TN8 6SD
Very Happy Active Donkeying to you all. ADA
Post Script
Sarah Carleton-Andrews - A Very Special Little Girl All of us here at ADA HQ were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sarah Carlton-Andrews suddenly at home on Christmas Eve. This remarkable young lady, was the first member in Northern Ireland to join the ADA scheme, and despite having to cope with long term health problems, was an extremely enthusiastic DBS Junior and managed to accomplish a great deal with her beloved donkey, Jacob, embodying the true spirit of the Active Donkey Award. Our most heartfelt sympathies go out to her parents, Vivienne and Mark, who can feel justly proud of all Sarah's' achievements, and Jacob and his stable companion who must miss her very much too. For a fuller obituary go to The Ireland Regional Page
ACTIVE DONKEY AWARDs 2007- The ADA Cup Travels North of the Border
Very Happy New Year's greetings to all my long-eared friends and their humans from everyone here at ADA HQ.
I hope each one of you had a really wonderful Christmas with plenty of opportunities to go out and meet our adoring public and that you're now starting to look forward to all the activities that you'll be able to take part in as Spring approaches.
I am thrilled to report that the ADA Scheme is becoming ever more popular, with a record number of thirty seven animals having successfully completed their eight different activities to qualify for the various awards in the year running from August 1st 2006 to July 31st 2007.
From far and wide, donkeys of all ages, sizes, colours and types have been flocking to join the ADA elite.
The prestigious ADA Cup is, as you know, awarded each year to the donkey who, having successfully completed more than three (not necessarily consecutive) years in the Scheme, is judged to have been a worthy ambassador for the Donkey and to have done most during that particular year to raise the profile of our illustrious breed amongst the general public.
With a steadily rising number of animals qualifying to be considered for this accolade, the task of choosing a winner is becoming increasingly difficult and I am very much indebted to our three judges, Donald Demus, Carole Travell and Rosemary Clarke, for taking on such a tough job and letting me have their decisions so promptly. And so now, without further ado, to the result of their careful deliberations.
For the first time the ADA Cup goes north of the border to Scotland as the winner is the aptly named PORRIDGE who lives in Aberdeenshire. MANY, MANY CONGRATULATIONS to him and his owner, Diana Milligan.
Porridge, a 4th year ADA winner, is the local mascot for fund raising for the Brooke Hospital and has taken part in various charity events. He drives and helps children to learn to ride and, although no longer young, has gone out on many rides, both public and private, and turned out for the local Hunt, showing all the horsey people that a donkey is just as good ? actually far better! ? as any horse or pony. He was much in demand for use in various demonstrations including Pony Club and BDS events, Palm Sunday services and the usual Christmas activities, in particular his annual visit to Father Christmas' grotto at Crathes Castle, a National Trust property. Apparently Porridges' social calendar for this current year is already pretty full so VERY WELL DONE to him and I hope he carries on 'flying the flag' for the Donkey for many years to come.
Below is a full list of all those who deserve our HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS for having been successful in the 2006/7
ADA Scheme:- 1st Year
Westra Trevorus Entered by Mrs S Bell
Annabel Entered by Miss C Browning
Country Music's Meagan Michaelis Entered by Ms S Farr
Country Music's Stella Blue Entered by Ms S Farr
Coble Entered by Billy Fewster
Westra Gigi Entered by Mrs J Fooks
Sparkler Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Treacle Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
2nd Year
Brownroad Celandine Entered by Mrs O Brown
Paddy Entered by Miss F Clayton
Dulcie Gray Entered by Mr P Godbehere
Saracen Entered by Mrs J Mackenzie
Charlie Brown Entered by Mrs A Marshall
Benedict of Wychbrook Entered by Mrs T Morris
Denis Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace Muffin Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Popcorn Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Irish Coffee Entered by Miss J Weaver
Jackador William Entered by Miss O Weaver
3rd Year Plaque Winners
Westra Stella Entered by Mrs S Bell
Thistle Entered by Mrs H Little
Perehill Snowie Entered by Miss J Weaver
4th Year
Buttercup of Brownroad Entered by Mrs O Brown
Joseph Entered by Mrs O Brown
Lil Entered by Mrs D Hirst
Porridge Entered by Mrs D Milligan
Josephina Entered by Miss J Weaver
5th Year Special Rosette Winners
Bertie of Brownroad Entered by Mrs O Brown
Happy Valley Just-August Entered by Mrs O Brown
Maude Entered by Mrs S Orford
Merdoc Entered by Miss O Weaver
Molly Entered by Mrs J Willetts
6th Year
Son of Jacob Entered by Miss S Carleton-Andrews
Moses Entered by Miss O Weaver
7th Year
Mairi Entered by Mrs A Warr-Wood
8th Year
Polly Entered by Mrs M.Bates
Zebedee Entered by Mrs M.Bates
I hope many of you were able to see the interesting photographs and folders which some of the winners had put together on display at the AGM. They were well worth a close perusal, packed full of ideas for activities we could all take part in that may never even have occurred to you. Which brings me to a VERY IMPORTANT point. Talking to various people my trusty secretaries have discovered that there are those who believe that it is compulsory to take part in at least one activity from each of the categories mentioned on the enrolment form. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT SO. They are merely suggested ideas to get your imaginative juices flowing so PLEASE DON'T BE PUT OFF JOINING because you think that you couldn't possibly do all that. The ADA Scheme is all about encouraging people to get out with their donkeys and have FUN together and it's rules are not at all rigid. So, if you have any queries or would like to join, just get in touch with the address at the end of this article where my loyal staff are poised to help you. As the editor hasn't given me 'carte blanche' (yes, we're still studying French at the Throstle Nest Stables!) to fill the entire website with ADA data, I do hope you will forgive me for dealing very briefly with some of the ways which this year's winners have found to achieve their awards.
Our longest ADA members, Polly and Zebedee, were asked to attend the funeral of a donkey-lover. Mairi was the star guest at her local fete, Charlie Brown gave cart rides at a school fete, and Lil had fun at the village BBQ. In Northern Ireland Thistle (being ridden) and Denis(being driven) took part in the Parade of Donkeys at Balmoral Show, the first time donkeys had appeared at this major show and apparently it went down really well with the public. Joseph and Bertie drove in the grounds of Chatsworth at the invitation of the Duke of Devonshire. Muffin, Popcorn, Sparkler, and Treacle visited schools and playgroups, went to various Church services and competed in handy and pet donkey classes. Gus, complete with pack-saddle undertook a gruelling 40 mile walk along the Pennine Bridleway to raise money for the Brooke Hospital. Maude came 2nd out of 6 in the driven dressage at the BDS Annual Show - the only donkey there - and also attended a Palm Sunday service as did Buttercup and Celandine. Saracen took part in the Fancy Dress Class at the 2006 Championship Show and won the Group entry along with Maude and attendant humans. Coble went to a Carol Service with his very young human, Billy, and Ben went out carol singing with a Church group. Molly was the perfect gentle donkey for small children to learn to groom. Mother and son, Stella and Trevor, appeared on the DBS stand and paraded in the ring at the Three Counties Autumn Show. They also went to Gloucester Cathedral for the Festival of the Donkey along with miniature donkeys, Stella and Meagan. Another donkey present at Gloucester was Gigi who took part as well in a play entitled 'Noah's Ark' in a church near Cirencester which was televised on the BBC Television programme, Songs of Praise. Annabel and her two young riders have done lots of hacking out including helping to deliver the Church Newsletter and Jacob has also been out riding with his young owner, Sarah. Dulcie Gray attended a well-dressing ceremony and several animal Services and charity events. Paddy, suitably garlanded (!), transported a bride to her wedding in his cart and also appeared in a Christmas play with a whole menagerie of other animals including three real camels! And, finally (phew!) we come to the Weavers' donkeys, Coffee, William, Snowie, Josephina, Merdoc and Moses, who have done just about everything from fancy dress, to collecting for charity, to the Battersea Horse Harness Parade, to the New Year's Day Parade through the centre of London. Wow! After all that activity I'm just about ready to collapse. I do hope that the above has given you a few ideas for things that you could do and that you might consider joining the ADA Scheme too.
It really is what all the best donkeys are doing these days! I shall look forward to hearing from you
2006 Active Donkey Award ADA's Most Successful Year Yet
Hello to my long-eared friends and their attendant humans around the country and special New Year greetings to everyone from all the staff at ADA Headquarters. And, yes, it's true. Now well into its eighth year, the ADA Scheme just goes from strength to strength with the last year seeing the highest number of participants yet.
Thirty six donkeys enrolled, out of which no fewer than thirty three successfully completed the eight different activities needed to claim their awards.
As you all probably know by now, any donkey belonging to a DBS member can join the Scheme and the age range of animals taking part in the ADA year Aug 1st 2005 to Jul 31st 2006 extended from one youngster who had not even reached his first birthday right up to an "old-timer" in his late thirties (And the relative ages of the owners covered an equally wide range!)
Donkeys from every corner of the British Isles have been working away busily to achieve their awards. From Scotland to Suffolk to Hampshire to Herefordshire and Shropshire and even a very active group across the sea in Northern Ireland, ADA participants have been getting out and about and 'flying the flag' for the Donkey in a multitude of different ways.
Which brings me to the VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT that you're doubtless all on tenterhooks waiting to hear, namely the identity of the second recipient of the ADA Cup. This beautiful piece of silverware is awarded each year to the donkey who is judged to have been a worthy ambassador for the Donkey and to have done most during that particular year to raise the profile of the Donkey amongst the general public and, once again, our three judges, Society Chairman, Carole Travell, editor of The Donkey, Rosemary Clarke and our Society president and editor of Bray Talk, Donald Demus had an extraordinarily difficult decision to make.
My grateful thanks go to them and my HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS go to the donkey that they have named as this year's winner ? BERTIE OF BROWNROAD owned by Mrs Olwen Brown. Bertie, is, I'm sure, well known to many of you as a driving donkey who shows the general public that a donkey can be just as good as a horse or pony when driven, but he also takes part in Nativity and Palm Sunday Services and various other activities usually with children including giving riding lessons, competing in gymkhana games, sponsored rides and donkey talks at schools.
I know that you will all want to join with me in congratulating Bertie and his fellow winners listed below
1st Year
Brownroad Celandine, Entered by Mrs O. Brown.
Paddy, Entered by Miss F Clayton
Saracen, Entered by Mrs J Mackenzie & Mrs J Peel.
Charlie Brown, Entered by Miss C. Marshall
Benedict of Wychbrook, Entered by Mrs T Morris.
Barney, Entered by Miss Jordi Stanley
Trinitas Rubato, Entered by Mrs C Travell.
Coco, Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Crunchie, Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace.
Dennis, Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Muffin, Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace.
Popcorn, Entered by Robert & Tristan Wallace
Irish Coffee, Entered by Miss Jade Weaver.
Jackador William, Entered by Miss Opal Weaver
2nd Year
Westra Stella, Entered by Mrs S Bell.
Thistle, Entered by Mrs H Little
Perehill Snowie, Entered by Miss Jade Weaver
3rd Year Plaque Winners
Buttercup of Brownroad, Entered by Mrs O Brown.
Joseph, Entered by Mrs O Brown
Lil, Entered by Mrs D Hirst.
Porridge, Entered by Mrs D Milligan
Josephina, Entered by Misses Jade & Opal Weaver.
4th Year
Molly, Entered by Miss J Allen.
Bertie of Brownroad, Entered by Mrs O Brown
Happy Valley Just-August, Entered by Mrs O Brown.
John Barleycorn, Entered by Mrs J Mackenzie & Mrs J Peel
Maude, Entered by Mrs S Orford.
Merdoc, Entered by Misses Jade & Opal Weaver
5th Year Special Rosette Winners
Son of Jacob, Entered by Miss S Carleton-Andrews.
Moses, Entered by Miss Opal Weaver
6th Year
Mairi, Entered by Mrs A Warr-Wood
7th Year
Polly, Entered by Mrs M Bates.
Zebedee, Entered by Mrs M Bates
It's lovely to see so many new entrants but it's also great to observe that a good number of the old hands are staying with the Scheme, showing that they are still getting out and having fun with their humans, proof that an active, well-cared for donkey is a happy, healthy donkey.
With so many winners this year, I haven't got room to go into too much detail about the various activities they have all taken part in ? I think the editor needs to fit a few other items onto the website besides this one! ? but I hope the following will give you a flavour of the kind of things, some quite normal and others a little bit more out of the usual, that you too might like to get involved in. Polly and Zebedee, ADA's longest participants, went out to various church services and processions and visited local fetes and carnivals often raising money for various charities, whilst Mairi, another long-standing ADA member, has remained a well-loved character around her home village, assisting with poppy selling.
The Weaver family donkeys, Moses, Merdoc, Snowie, William and Irish Coffee, earned their awards in such ways as taking part in The Battersea Horse Harness parade, attending the Pearly King and Queen Harvest Festival and 'helping to man' the DBS Stand. Another participant in the London Harness Horse Parade was Trinitas Rubato who also appeared in the New Year's Day London Parade. Charlie Brown, complete with panniers to carry the shopping, has made numerous trips to his local Waitrose and Lil helped to deliver the village newspaper and visited an old people's home.
Despite a couple of health problems, Porridge from Scotland managed to complete a full calendar of events including an appearance at Father Christmas' Grotto, a pony club rally, hunting and a summer solstice ride in aid of the Brooke Hospital (Incidentally I hear from Bill Tetlow that Porridge is spoken of as far afield as Egypt for his fund raising for the Brooke!).
Jacob from Northern Ireland is often seen out and about with his young rider, Sarah and, also from that part of the world, Dennis, Popcorn, Coco, Crunchie and Muffin were all filmed for BBC Newsline. Another Northern Irish donkey, Thistle, scored a coup when the livery stable where he lives held a big open day and his photo appeared in the N. Ireland Farm Week although there were no pictures of any of the horses!
Molly from Manor Farm, apart from helping to teach the visitors all about donkeys, was another to make it as a TV 'star'. Stella, in between becoming a proud mum, carried on her good work 'flying the flag' for the Donkey, attending the RDA service at Gloucester Cathedral and introducing her foal to the work of public relations at a young age by taking him with her on a visit to a local school, whilst Barney from Shropshire is also a favourite with pupils at the village primary school who have produced some highly original pictures of him!
Paddy helps his owner out by transporting good 'manure' from his stables to her allotment and last Christmas sold mistletoe from his panniers at a Farmers Market to raise money for the Parkinsons Disease Society.
My own stable mate, Ben, always seems to be in demand for some event or other, but as he has been especially busy this year, what with meeting Princess Anne at the York Minster Festival of the Donkey along with two other ADA donkeys, John Barleycorn and Maude, appearing on TV, visiting the local fete, leading the Palm Sunday procession in Halifax, taking part in fancy dress competitions and handy donkey courses often against the likes of Saracen, Maude and the Brownroad donkeys, not to mention his regular annual date at the Grassington Victorian Nativity, he was moaning that he never gets any recognition for all his hard work unlike these ADA donkeys he keeps hearing about, so to shut him up we thought he ought to get an ADA rosette too.
Hopefully that will stop the muttering from my next door stable!! So, if you're like Ben and feel your owner is hiding your light under a bushel or if you've been inspired by any of the above to start leading a far more ACTIVE life style, then I can only urge you to speak to that human who appears to spend all his/her time clearing up that lovely muck you've spent ages spreading around (these humans do seem to get their enjoyment in the strangest ways!) and instruct them to write off post haste for an ADA enrolment form.
I'm poised in my stable just waiting to hear from you. Very Happy Active Donkeying ADA
