Heasley
Type: Large Standard Jack
Born: March 2004
Height: 13 Hands, 1"
Weight: 425 lbs.
Color: Grey w/ black cross
Position: Packer First Class
Heasley was born here at the pack station. Bonnie is his mother (dam) and the two possible fathers (sires) are Andy and Eeyore, however his appearance suggests that Eeyore is the sire. Bonnie had been showing signs that she was ready to give birth so she was kept in the large stall at the back of the barn, away from the others and with plenty of warm, dry cedar shavings.
Former pack station owner Kim took turns with Greg checking on Bonnie until Greg found her at three in the morning standing over her new baby. Greg woke up everybody to come have a look and Kim videotaped Heasley's first day as a donkey. When he was born, his right ear was bent forward and to the left so that it sometimes covered his eyes. He also had what the vet called "windswept legs." This was a bend in one direction caused by his position in the womb. The ear and the legs eventually straightened out and Heasley grew into a big, strong boy.
Heasley's mother, Bonnie, is classified as a Mammoth Donkey. A donkey mostly takes his size from the dam, but the two possible sires are both on the small size, so Heasley didn't grow to the 56 inches needed to be called a Mammoth. Nevertheless, he is a very big boy and is still getting stronger. This fortuitous considering his namesake, Jim Heasley.
The man for whom Adams' Pack Station is named, Bill Adams, used to come up to visit often, and he sometimes brought Jim Heasley with him. Jim was a packer that operated out of Sierra Madre. Before Heasley (the donkey) was born, Kim Kelly started considering possible names. The station already had a Bill donkey and a Lila donkey, so she picked Heasley, thinking that it would be acceptable for either sex. As luck (or maybe something other than luck) would have it, Heasley turned out to be a boy. And he is bis and strong like Jim was. Heasley the donkey also turned out to be a very goo man. When Calico (then Buttercup) was introdeuced to the herd, young Heasley took a shine to her and has never left her side. They eat together, pack together, swat flies together, and he will always defend her honor.