By:
Sally Dunn~Country Blessings Farm~Parrish, Florida
JUAN VALDEZ and Conchitta (aka Sudie Mae)
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Little did I know I would be saying, “I’m with the mule,” to get into an exclusive party on South Miami Beach. I never know where the wonderful longear creatures will take me next; it seems every day is a surprise and never the same.
In general we raise, sell and show miniature donkeys. Being partial to those long ears and big brown eyes, we added three mules to our family. We even have a sign on our drive that reads, Longears Lane.
My newest experience started with a simple call to the American Donkey and Mule Society (ADMS) office, and a talk with Leah Patton. Once Leah heard I lived in Florida the story began.
Juan Valdez, the Columbian Coffee icon was desperate for a mule for a promo being held in Miami November 1. I love promoting my longears, so I made the call to the Columbian Trade Commission. Next, they needed a picture of my mule. Of course, knowing more than they did, I argued Juan Valdez had a donkey, not a mule. Wrong…..it really is a mule named Conchitta. I sent a picture of my sorrel mule, Sudie Mae to the Columbian Coffee Federation. A few days went by and I decided they must not have chosen my mule.
The week of the promo I received a note from the Columbian Coffee Federation saying it was “a go”. I had three days to get Sudie Mae ready. I was thinking it was an advertisement shoot for the Columbian Coffee. Wrong again. Sudie Mae had to report to the Colony movie theater in South Beach Miami. Sudie would be walking in on the red carpet with Juan Valdez to the movie premier, Love in the Time of Cholera; following that she would be going to the Sagamore Hotel to the after party. All of this would be from 7 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
We arrived in South Beach a little early; we wanted to make sure we had no problems and would be on time. South Beach is a really busy area with little parking. We found a temporary place to park to be able to get Sudie out to walk around a while. We had not given her much water or food, so she would not ‘decorate’ the red carpet. I did give her some electrolytes and she grazed on the grass and was given a little water.
When it was time my husband drove us closer to the theater, and we got out with Sudie. We got her coffee bean bags on her back, and down a very busy street we went. Can you picture that? I will admit the coffee bags knocked a few people aside, but at least it was not Sudie that did it. We met Juan Valdez at the theater and he took Sudie, whose name changed to Conchitta. I walked behind to make sure all went well. Sudie did a fantastic job.
Conchitta (aka Sudie) stood outside with the media for at least 45 minutes. My daughter, Shannon Warren and I stood inside the theater watching. When Juan and Conchitta finally walked in on the red carpet I was told to stay on her side and walk along with them. I was beginning to feel somewhat like a bodyguard. After the celebrities went inside to watch the premier, Conchitta walked back down the street with the coffee bags still on her back….a perfect performance by a mule!!
Conchitta got a chance to rest before going to the next stop. A man came by on his bicycle; Conchitta was watching him closely. He said, “Obviously your horse has never seen a bicycle before.”
I replied, “Obviously you have never seen a mule before.” The man did not say a word, he just stood there staring.
Conchitta and I had a little discussion about no pooping in buildings. So, she was much relieved to get in the grass in front of a house to take care of business. Can you imagine the owners coming out the next day and wondering what size dog had done that? This was not an area where you would see equine going down the sidewalk.
Next we reported to the Sagamore Hotel, a few blocks over. This time we unloaded in the middle of Collins Avenue, while people waited to get around our vehicles. Conchitta, Shannon and I had to walk up a short flight of stairs. Conchitta did it with grace and dignity; she didn’t even hesitate. The only problem I had was seeing the stairs with all the media cameras and flashes in my face.
Inside the Hotel, to the left of the door was a loud Columbian band with drums, flutes, ect. I was not sure how Conchitta was going to handle this; once again perfection! Conchitta stood for hours with lights flashing in her face and loud music playing. Celebrities were coming in and taking pictures with her. She stood with Juan Valdez. I didn’t have to play bodyguard any more because at this point they all knew what a perfect mule they had doing the promo. My husband, Shannon and I checked on her constantly; I wanted her to know her family was there with her and she had not been abandoned.
JUAN VALDEZ, Conchitta, SHANNON WARREN and SALLY DUN
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I was told I could go to the back where they had a bar and food to eat. Shannon and I decided we were hungry and headed back to find the food. First we had to go through a doorway where they had the guest list. When they asked my name I politely said, “We are with the mule”. Does anything sound strange about that to you? Conchitta was important and I was extremely proud to say she was my mule.
Last, but not least. About the little talk we had about no pooping in buildings. I noticed Sudie was clamping her tail down tight; I thought it might be nerves, so I tried to scratch her behind so she would relax. It didn’t work.
After her photo shoot with Benjamin Bratt, a star in the movie, we left the building. Perhaps I should have said, “Conchitta is leaving the building”. We stopped traffic once again to load her. As soon as she felt the shavings under her feet she let go; I had to back out of the trailer running, or I would have been wearing it. Sudie knew exactly what she was doing. She knew not to poop in the buildings, and had held it. You can’t get any better that.
Well, that is the scoop.
The Columbian Trade Commission and Coffee Federation were wonderful to work with, and I hope Sudie will work with them again. You never know where the love of longears will take you. It could be meeting new friends, showing in the ring, or doing a promo shoot with Juan Valdez in South Beach! And never, never underestimate the intelligence and trusting spirit of the longears family of equine.
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