Peanut and Popcorn are ready for their next chapter

Two young donkeys who were born at our Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, in Aberdeenshire, are now looking for a loving home together. The pair, named Peanut and Popcorn, were born at Belwade Farm after their mothers were rescued last year whilst heavily pregnant. Now they’ve learned all the skills they’ll need in their new home, they’re ready to start the next chapter of their lives.

Having been born in safety at Belwade Farm, the donkey duo have had compassionate, expert care from day one, including remedial farriery for Popcorn when she needed it. “During her routine appointments with our specialists, we picked up that Popcorn was developing conformational issues. Luckily, since she was born in our farm, we were able to correct this with extra attention from our farrier and physiotherapist,” explains Belwade Farm groom Paige, who has cared for Popcorn since she was born.

Popcorn saw the farrier every week for several months to keep a close eye on her feet and the physio provided specific exercises to improve Popcorn’s posture and build her strength. “In-hand polework might look simple but it can be incredibly effective,” says Paige. “It’s made a huge difference to Popcorn and because we’ve been able to correct her development at such a young age, she should be much more comfortable for the rest of her life.”

The steepest learning curve Peanut and Popcorn have encountered was going out in a herd for the first time. “They didn’t quite know what to think!” says Paige. “When they were first born, it was just the two of them and their mums, so learning about being in a small herd was an important part of their education. We carefully picked out some of our smaller, younger ponies, so they were as suitably matched as possible, and Peanut and Popcorn soon got the hang of being in a herd.”

Donkeys will form an extremely close bond, so Peanut and Popcorn, who were born just ten weeks apart, are ready for rehoming as a pair. “They really are inseparable now – they do absolutely everything together,” says Paige. “They’re never seen apart in the field, and they much prefer to be brought in together, although they have coped with Popcorn needing to be taken out of the field to go and do her physiotherapy exercises.”

Peanut’s groom Jodie highlights what the team are looking for in a potential rehomer: “They’re both very good to handle and they love a cuddle and a good scratch. We’re looking for a home where they can live with some slightly older donkeys or ponies who can help them continue to develop their social skills, since they are still only just a year old.”

If you think you could offer Peanut and Popcorn the perfect home, check out our rehoming pages now.