Olympus' eyesight continues to deteriorate
Santino has become her helping friend
Donkey Olympe had a terrible and a beautiful story to tell when she was taken in together with her daughter Mona in Henndorf in June 2017. The then one-year-old Mona and her donkey mum Olympe were in a catastrophic, neglected condition. The donkeys were insecure and anxious and we had to earn their trust over a long period of time.“Why get upset, they’re going to the slaughterhouse …”
Two Aiderbichler women saved the lives of the two donkeys. They reacted spontaneously and saved the lives of Olympe and Mona. The animal-loving ladies had 24 hours to get the two donkeys out of the stables and bring them to safety in a new home. The neglect and harshness of the owner was the bad thing, the unborn foal in the belly of the heavily pregnant mare was the good thing. The former owner told us that the foal would be born around Christmas time.
There were tears of joy and tears of horror
Olympus’ hooves had not seen a farrier for several years. They grew upwards like a crescent moon and the mare had been suffering terrible pain for a long time. The donkey foal in her belly weighed around 60kg – every gram weighed on her neglected, aching hooves. We wanted to lead Mona out into the meadow, but she stood rooted to the spot: “Meadow, what is that, I don’t know it,” she seemed to say to us.
The vet, the farrier and all our animal carers had tears in their eyes. Olympus’ hooves were trimmed, his coat brushed and the fresh hay tasted better than good.
Olympe and Mona slowly began to trust each other and both settled in better and better with the Henndorf donkey family.
Christmas has been brought forward - excitement in the donkey stable
The foal was probably due to be born in September. Olympe went into labour and the vet, who had just left the farm, had to return to the estate.
Olympe knew what she had to do and the birth went smoothly. Little Paul stood there – wobbly on his miserably long donkey legs and his mum licked him dry. All the donkeys shouted a loud “Ewww” and Paul was welcomed.
Five years have passed……
Paul has become a handsome donkey who now accompanies his mother around the farm with his sister Mona. Olympe is gradually losing her sight. At first she stood there a little lost, moving her ears in all directions, her nostrils sniffing and sniffing. As if her children had realised what was happening, they no longer leave their mum’s side, but are always very close to her. Olympe is now going her own way with increasing confidence. She feels that she is protected.
The wild Santino becomes a gentle companion
Four-year-old Santino has been Olympe’s constant companion for a few weeks now. He always walks to her right, keeping a discreet distance, but is always close to her, just like Mona and Paul.His sometimes somewhat brash demeanour among the donkeys has changed. He is becoming more level-headed, calmer and a gentle, careful companion to his new friend Olympe.
Santino was rescued from slaughter around two years ago by animal-loving parents and their son Santino. The light grey donkey with the beautifully marked face was tied to a short rope.
Santino, the rescuers’ young son, was desperate to get the desperately braying donkey out of his predicament. So the family negotiated with the owner, who wanted 300.00 euros for the donkey.
“The purpose of my existence is to accompany Olympe”
seems to be signalling Santino. The stupid donkey? The stubborn donkey? No, the donkey is sensitive, senses many things that we humans don’t trust him to do and is capable of changing his behaviour. He has become calmer and more level-headed and stands by his donkey friend Olympe.
How does he do it? He gently nudges her neck or shoulder with his head when he realises that she’s not quite sure which way to go.
Love is not about looking at each other, but about looking in the same direction together.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
