The crowd was eagerly awaiting the unloading of horses and burros from the transport trucks. After the bravest horse took his first tentative steps down the loading ramp, the rest of the horses followed. The burros were a little more tentative, but pretty soon they all made their way down the ramp; Jennys and their babies, Jacks... all except Digger. Digger wouldn't come out of the truck.

Gene, layinng on the roof of the transport trailer, gently prodded Digger through the vent holes with a plastic pole. Digger wouldn't move. He poked a little harder. Digger wouldn't move. He went inside the trailer to get Digger out. No way, Jose. Wrangler Tom Cannon had to get on his horse, rope Digger and bring him out, step by patient step.

Digger didn't appear really upset or terrified. He'd been to several adoptions before, wasn't adopted and was hauled back to the holding pens, so surely new the drill. Digger appeared to say, "I'm just not doing this any more!"

In the adoption pen Digger hung out quietly with the other burros. The mentors felt a little sorry for Digger, travelling from adoption to adoption, so Patty Thomas adopted him and decided to gentle him.

Digger could get into trouble. His pen was next to the hay barn and he figured out how to gnaw through some plywood just outside his pen and get to the hay. Unfortunately for Digger he must have gotten snagged on the plywood then frightened because the next morning we found him with a pretty good scrape across his face and the paddock pipe panel was bent out a good 6 inches! (We straightened the panel and covered the rail with white 3" drain pipe.)

Gentling Digger was slow going at first. Patty and Sharon spent a bit of time using the bamboo pole to settle him down. Pretty soon he could be approached and haltered if he knew you and you were quiet.

Patty could eventually lead Digger around the ranch, exploring all the interesting things, however we're not quite ready to turn him out in anything larger than a small 35x60 pasture.