Jigsaw takes up the reins at Carisbrooke Castle
Jigsaw – a four year-old brown and white donkey has arrived at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight to take over from veteran donkey Joseph, who retires next year after 17 years service working the 17th century waterwheel – one of the castle’s most popular highlights for visitors.
The pretty ‘coloured’ donkey who stands just 10.1 hands high takes up the reins alongside Joseph (25), Jimbob (8), Jack and Jill both aged 7 and six year-old Joffee.
Old timer Joseph is showing Jigsaw the ropes until he retires next spring from his 10 minute a day stint demonstrating the treadmill, which was used for centuries to draw water up from the 49 metre well.
The latest arrival – who has just been named ‘Jigsaw’ following a local Isle of Wight newspaper competition – is being introduced to her new chums and to her new tasks by trainer Rachael Hunter, who said: ”I chose this lovely little donkey because of her easy going temperament. She is nice and quiet and will get on well with the other donkeys and will I am sure be an instant hit with our visitors.”
When he retires, Joseph will remain at the castle as a role model for his young apprentice and to keep his hoof in with occasional part-time work on the wheel.
Group visitors to Carisbrooke Castle can see Jigsaw and her new friends and find out about their day-to-day care in the Donkey Centre, with its stables and hands-on exhibition. Also to enjoy are interactive exhibitions and a museum tracing the castle’s fascinating history, including the imprisonment of Charles I. Visitors can see the room from where the king tried unsuccessfully to escape through a window – his bid for freedom ended when he got stuck!
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