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Farriery apprentices enjoy ‘Donkey Day’

Published
Friday 7 Dec 2018

Myerscough College’s farriery apprentices have enjoyed learning about taking care of donkey’s feet during the annual ‘Donkey Day’.

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Every year experts from The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon are invited to Myerscough to give a lecture and an expert demonstration on the methods and techniques of foot care for donkeys and how it differs from that of horses.

For a 13th year, staff from the sanctuary were on hand to give plenty of advice to the Myerscough learners on trimming donkey’s feet, before the apprentices worked on the feet of the visiting Blackpool donkeys, bought into College by local co-ordinator, Pam Moon.

Every year the students enjoy the day and the chance to work with the Blackpool donkeys. They’re also highly interested in the demonstrations given by the experts and they come away from the day having learned a great deal more about the structure and difference of donkey’s feet compared with horses and ponies.

Donkey’s heels grow three times faster than their toes so their feet have to be trimmed differently to horses, making it an important skill for farriery apprentices to learn.

The Donkey Sanctuary look after around 3,000 rescued animals as well as providing support across the UK and the rest of the world. For more information go to www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

by Dave Salmon

DSalmon@myerscough.ac.uk