Keeping the oldies young at Buxton Farm

Nestled in the sprawling countryside of the East Midlands, Buxton Farm is one of the smallest sanctuaries run by The Donkey Sanctuary.

Housing a modest 38 long-eared residents, the rehoming centre is responsible for ensuring that any donkeys that come in are prepared for life outside of the stable walls – in the loving embrace of Guardian homes across the UK.

However, you might be surprised to learn that eleven of the donkeys who live at Buxton will never become eligible for rehoming.

Our ‘oldies’ herd

These donkeys make up the ‘oldies’ herd – a lovable bunch of age-defying donkeys who bely their advanced years or delicate health thanks to daily enrichment, human interaction and exciting adventures in and around the paddocks.

The oldies are at the heart of daily life at Buxton, situated in the centre of the farm. From here, they constantly watch the goings-on around them and make sure they are heard when they want attention.

Sophie Joseph, Farm Supervisor at Buxton, says: “The oldies have such a sense of adventure and being that bit older, we tend to let them get away with a little bit more.

“They are probably the hardiest donkeys on the farm, so whether it’s raining or snowing, they will still want to go out into the paddocks.

“They are also very inquisitive; they love to watch what the staff are up to and if they see a bucket, they will assume it will have something tasty for them in it!

“The oldies have a forever home here at Buxton, either due to their age or health preventing them from joining the Rehoming Scheme. Donkeys eligible for rehoming need to be under 25 and in generally good health.

“Some donkeys in the oldies group are under the age of 25 – Willow is 14 for example, but she has had laminitis quite a bit in the past so requires specialist care.

The team at Buxton are dedicated to providing a gold standard of care to the oldies.

Whether they’re offering enrichment in the form of warm fruit tea on colder days or jam-lined rubber mats that are perfect for licking, the grooms are dedicated to ensuring their excellent quality of life is upheld 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Sophie adds: “They are a lucky bunch of donkeys. We can’t walk past them without giving them some fuss and attention. Even on Christmas Day, I’ll make sure to see them and give them their Christmas present – a tasty ginger biscuit.

“And when it’s not us fussing them, they lap up the attention of our on-site volunteers.

“The donkeys will come straight over to any volunteer, and they won’t be able to start helping out until they have given out some fuss to every single one!

“It might take them longer to get the job done, but the extra love the donkeys receive is priceless.”

The perfect location

The farm itself is also the perfect venue for the oldies group to thrive. Despite their idyllic location, most rural settings have their pitfalls such as biting pests.

However, Buxton’s flat, exposed location means there is constant air movement that doesn’t allow flies to settle, forcing them elsewhere and away from the donkeys.

“The summer months at dusk and dawn are the times we appreciate the lack of midges and flies,” Sophie says. “And we can see the benefit this has on one donkey in particular.”

Shocks, who many will remember as a beloved adoption donkey, is allergic to pretty much everything – including flies, tree pollen and sap.

However, since moving to Buxton from our Donkey Assisted Activities Centre in Birmingham, the team has seen first-hand the benefits Shocks has reaped from life in the East Midlands.

“He used to have to wear special rug 24/7 that protected his skin,” Sophie adds. “From his first day at Buxton, we took the rug off and he has never had to wear it since.

“We can all see how Shocks has become a happier donkey because of it.”

An extra special group

The oldies hold a special place in Sophie and the grooms’ hearts because they are the final elderly cohort to call Buxton home as the farm develops to become a rehoming centre.

In the future, elderly donkeys will live at different farms managed by The Donkey Sanctuary as Buxton narrows its focus on training younger long-eared residents for rehoming.

“While it’s a sad thought that Buxton won’t house any more elderly donkeys in the future, we are certainly making the most of the ones we do have here,” Sophie says.

“I can’t imagine they would be happier anywhere else, and we all love them to bits.”

And who is Sophie’s favourite donkey? “It has to be Neddy,” she smiles. “He is full of expression and makes it very clear what he’s happy or unhappy with.

“If the sun is shining, he’s at the gate waiting to go out but if it’s raining he’s at the stable door waiting for breakfast instead.”

Neddy arrived at Buxton from Manchester, where he was a much-loved participant of Donkey Assisted Activities.

His move to the East Midlands was promoted by his ongoing battle with equine asthma.

“When he first came in, he had to have an inhaler,” Sophie says. “Now he’s not currently on any medication for his asthma. He just has regular check-ups to make sure he’s okay.

“I put this down to the air quality at Buxton and the work we put in to ensure his shelter remains dust-free. Our volunteers damp-dust weekly, which has had an amazing impact on his quality of health.”

While every donkey in the oldies group has a story to share, Buxton is only open to the public on select days of the year.

Sophie adds: “If you’re fortunate enough to make the visit to us, be sure to pencil in some time visiting the oldies.

“Whether you’re scratching Frankie’s bum, introducing your little one to miniature donkey Dixie or struggling to tear yourself away from affectionate Blossom, I’m sure you’ll find a donkey to connect with.

“They really do find a place in your heart.”