Pace Yourself #21: Donkey Haircuts Traditional Cache

A series of caches meant to provide a little information about my favourite equine - the donkey:-) All of the donkeys in the photos on the cache pages can be found living nearby at The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.

The natural coat of a donkey serves a variety of purposes, from regulating body temperature, protecting them from the weather and helping to keep biting insects at bay.  There are times however, when clipping the coat of a donkey is necessary. In winter, donkeys grow thick winter coats that moult in the spring. Slow moulting of their coat can result in mats forming during the wet and muddy spring weather. Clipping the coat short, especially the belly portion can help prevent the hair from becoming clumped with debris.  Donkeys with skin conditions or wounds may benefit from a shorter coat to allow air to reach the skin and to make it easier to apply antibiotic ointment if necessary. Some donkey’s can also be very sensitive to the heat and humidity of the summer months and will sweat to the point of soaking their hair. Using clippers to shave the coat down can help make the donkeys more comfortable.