Archive for August 17th, 2008

Handicaps and infirmities

Jake doesn’t let his missing leg slow him down much:

Jake on top of the ladder

Although down is a bit trickier:

Jake getting a hand down

In a similar vein, this is Blaze:

Blaze is 16

It’s not as obvious in that photo, but Blaze, who is 16 (getting on for an alpaca), has collapsed hocks — her ankles are nearly on the ground, leading to that bent-kneed look in the front. She’s not so good on the hills, and not very spry or active — when the rest of the herd is running around the paddock, she tends to find a hill to stand on and just watch. So we were thoroughly startled yesterday when she sprang gracefully over the door of the chute when we tried to weigh her. Granted, the door is only about a meter high, but she did it from a standing start and cleared it with several inches to spare.