How Do I Train The Abused Donkey or Mule?

Howdy,

I received an e-mail today that made me cry, made my heart ache I have been praying for this mule and his new human family and will continue to pray. We must never forget that animals just like people who are abused need time to feel safe before any form of training or education can begin. I believe animals get post traumatic stress from extreme abuse just like us humans.

Animals need to be tamed first and the human needs to stay safe, not be abused this can take lot’s of time even years.  I am a home study student of Parelli as they offer the best training tools for all equine (horses, donkeys and mules) and most importantly they teach the equine personalities.  I highly suggest learning this natural equine training method.  Parelli home study teaches in great depth the importance of taming an equine before attempting to train.

Here is the edited question:

Hi Melody! I was thrilled when I found your website. I have a three-year old gelded mule that I purchased from a stockyard auction. He has been abused badly. I would love to talk to you , perhaps you can provide some insight. I am in Mississippi and can not locate anyone to provide assistance with his training. Thanks so much, Linda.

My answer

Hello Linda,

I am here to help you for free, due to the car accident I am not able to start my business, not able to attend Parelli.  I am helping for free as my health allows me for the love of all the Donkeys, Horses and Mules in need via the website and blog.  Horrific events animals and humans endure at the hand of the cruel human.

Taming First NOT Training

This magnificent equine needs to be safe, provide him with a safe environment, fresh water, medical attention if need be, NO TRAINING in the beginning it is imperative you tame him first. Please understand no animal or  human can learn anything when they are living in fear, donkeys freeze when scared.  Does he have an equine buddy?  What is his living arrangement like now?  Photos always help me to connect so if you can send me some.  Send me the living arrangement and your plan to provide the best optimum care for this boy and I will do my best to help guide you.

Training tips:

Donkeys are visual learners the mule is half horse and half donkey - I highly suggest you take your honor horse, donkey, mule out and let the equine see them getting brushed, taking a walk for a bite of grass, picking feet. One step at a time for taming to begin, donkeys are really smart so be sure each and every time you are with them you are in the leader role and you have a plan for safety. My arena is strategically placed in front of the paddock for the donkeys to watch me training my horse the lead mare amazing how they respect me when they see her doing what I ask. smile.

Help my donkey or mule is running at me with his ears back!  Donkeys and mules are very playful, their ears go back when they are in deep thought and playing when abused anything is possible, safety is most imperative when working with equine.  Be careful keep your personal space safe.  Jumping jacks work, yelling whoa, snapping fingers, clapping and most important tool carrying your parelli carrot stick.

Learn the difference between respect and fear. Donkeys and mules are very athletic they can kick, forward, backward and like a cow.  Taming them is a necessity before attempting training.  Safety is one hundred percent the most important first step, having a plan as working with any equine is dangerous. My mare can look at the donkeys and they run out of the barn, just a look this is respect not fear, Parelli is an excellent teacher to learn these important techniques.  Body language is essential and timing think about all of these things before you go into the same space with your equine.

You can not make a donkey or mule do anything donkeys must respect not fear their leader learn what this means and execute your plan each and every time you are with your donkey, mule or horse.  This is why a relationship formed with the human teacher and the donkey and taming is the first step to success. Donkeys and mules can learn faster with leadership, love, patience and a few small pieces of carrots or apples.  Keep your training sessions short and never ever get frustrated when they don’t learn as they never learn like a horse.

Training these magnificent equine is similar to fishing you may catch a fish and you may not as you are on donkey time slow and analytical every step of the way.  Keep the training sessions short each new task is no more than three or four times of teaching the task and no more than 30 – 40 minutes total in school time.  Remember to end school with something the equine has mastered, stop school on a good note. Remember how hard it was to learn from a teacher in school that was not friendly and boring, very difficult to learn from this kind of teacher.

With the donkeys I am continuously amazed how I can come back to training, weeks, months later and the donkeys do not need a tune up thus they never forget the good or bad.  Amazing how one day they just get what I have been attempting to teach them enjoy each and every moment you get.

Withholding Water? Never this is not training in my eyes.  I highly disagree with this old school training tool, donkeys, mules and horses can colic and by the time the human realizes the donkey or mule has coliced it can be too late.  Donkeys are so strong they don’t want to show any form of pain or suffering.  Donkeys are donkeys they are not horses, mules are half donkey and half horse and depending on the mule they can have more attributes towards the donkey or the horse one thing is consistent they are indeed a mule.

Free information on feeding and care of Donkeys and Mules by Dr. Andy K. McLean, PHD, DVM.

Melody

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

 

Teach Your Donkey To Pick Up The Foot

How Can I Teach My Donkey To Pick Up His/Her Foot?

Most important first step to training any animal horse, donkey or mule is taming.  Make sure your donkey trusts you and comes to you when called take your time during this process as you do not know how the donkey was treated before moving in with you.  After the donkey comes running to see you each and every time you come into his/her space you can bet the taming is well on its way.  If the donkey will not come up to you on his/her own continue working on taming the donkey and building trust.

How can I help my donkey relax and trust me?

1.  Sit down and read a book use reverse psychology on your donkey ignore him/her

2. Clean the barn and do not go to the donkey let the donkey come to you

3.  Sit down in the pasture on a log and wait for the donkey to come to you

4. Relax your mind and body focus on your breathing to be calm and enjoy this gift from GOD the donkey

5.  Remember quality time with your donkey is the best so if you only have fifteen minutes two or three times a week make sure you are doing the right stuff.  The wrong training is really difficult to fix in a donkey as donkeys never ever forget anything ever.

5.  Feed/water your donkey on time each and every day

6.  Never beat your donkey, or abuse your donkey and do not authorize a human or animal to hurt your donkey

7.  Never over feed a donkey as laminitis, abscesses, fat cresty neck and eventually a slow death occur from over eating just like humans get sugar diabetes equine get laminitis

How would I want to be treated if I were the donkey?

Remember you brought the donkey into your life.  The donkey cannot speak your human language in the beginning!  All donkeys can learn verbal words i.e., foot, back-up, over, whoaa, NO (doing something naughty) gee (turn right), Haw (turn left), you can see the sky is the limit as donkeys are really smart, smarter than some humans.  Most important word the donkey needs to learn is his/her name.

All wonderful relationships take time, do not be in a hurry with your donkey if you relax I promise your donkey will relax – Try it!

Next step is putting the rope halter on your donkey and touching his/her body all over while staying safe thus why I am a Parelli student and highly recommend learning Parelli, getting the rope halter, carrot stick and lead line.  Additionally learn the Seven games taming is number one.  The flat halter will not teach as well as the rope halter in my experience to stop pulling and dragging the human around.

Teach your donkey to stand tied and say whoaa – Eventually you will not need to tie your donkey he/she will stand without being tied and you can pick up the foot while your donkey is eating a meal.  This is how honor donkeys get the hooves cleaned out (like an honor student in human form) takes time and patience to get here.  You can do this!

Teach your donkey to understand the words you want him/her to learn Whoaa, walk-on, foot (picking up foot), back-up, gee (turn right) and Haw (turn left) used for pulling a cart, over, trot, cantor and my personal favorite “down” teach your donkey to lay down.

How To Teach The Donkey To Pick Up The Foot?

After you have tamed the donkey and taught the donkey how to be safe with you and learn to Whoa now you can start to teach to pick up the foot.

* Rub the donkey all over and stay relaxed massage his body start around the withers not in his face, work down the front leg wait for the back legs until you are sure your donkey is your buddy and the Donkey has Respect for you.  Donkeys can kick forward, sideways, and backwards additionally donkeys can kick like an acrobat three legs on the ground and one is always landing where the donkey wants it to land.

* Start with the front feet and use your Parelli stick on the back feet gently massaging the legs to see if the donkey will kick, never put your head down where the donkey can kick you in the head.

* Safety is number one for you and the donkey – Never try to teach a donkey to pick up the foot until you have established a clear and safe relationship with the donkey, clear leadership is essential to becoming an outstanding human leader without abuse.

* Working with Donkeys, Horses and Mules can be dangerous so be sure you understand what you are doing to stay safe and keep your donkey safe.

* I use the Parelli rope halter, carrot stick and lead line for training the donkey and I never ever begin with the feet always begin with winning the donkey in trust and establishing clear leadership along with clean and fair boundaries for the safety of myself and the donkey.  I am a home study student of Parelli, I am not authorized or trained to teach Parelli.  

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Warning Leaving A Halter On A Horse, Donkey or Mule Can Cause Death Or Self-Mutilation

Howdy,

The photo above is of me & Lily taken in the summer of 2009, truly one of my favorite photos a wonderful memory.

Did you know leaving the halter on is dangerous and can be deadly? My horse and donkeys are very athletic they can take their back hooves and itch their face.

Important considerations

*  The halter could get stuck on their hooves, fence or other objects.

* Strangulation can occur when they get the halter stuck on something and fight to get it off

* The halter can grow into the head of the equine (horse, donkey, mule) I have personally seen this and it is abuse

* Dirty itchy halter causes the equine to scratch and work to get it off it’s not natural (think  how you would want to be treated)

Please learn how to teach your equine (horse, donkey or mule) To Catch You!

When interacting with your equine try to make this a time to connect bring a couple of pieces of green apple with you or a carrott  to build a relationship of fair and safe leadership.  Equine work best in training programs that do not require the equine to stay in the prisoner role.  Yes, I said prisoner role, old school training techniques use fear to train equine and this is not a partnership.  Donkeys cannot be trained this way they require natural training with fair, balanced and an honest trainer.  Horses dream of being trained the way donkeys demand to be trained with dignity and respect.

The joy you will receive when changing your training methodology is enormous and your frustration will vanish.  People say “treats make my equine nip” I say “Nope, use this as an opportunity to train” watch your timing let the equine turn their head away and then give them a reward takes just a few training sessions for them to learn how to politely accept a treat.  Creativity is the answer you can do it!

Study Parelli if you don’t know how to play the friendly game and the catching game as they can teach you how to teach your equine to catch you. Bonus your membership is free for one month.  On line videos, magazine and Parelli connect, everyone is studying under the Parelli’s very positive equine support and training.  Working with equine is a dangerous sport you must be careful, have a plan, stay safe and not abuse the equine.  

All of my equine come up to us every time we call them just like my dogs.  The key is setting the animal up for success if each time you have time to be with your equine you are doing things to them that are not enjoyable why would they want to come up?  Treat your equine the way you would want to be treated if you were living your life as an equine and watch the blessings start flowing freely.

The first step in training any animal is taming!  The animal must trust that you will NOT abuse them or hurt them so try to think of it from their point of view and remember awareness is the first step in change.  We subscribe to The Brayer a journal of the American Donkey and Mule Society magazine.  Take a look this is a lovely way to learn more about donkeys and mules!

GOD bless you and your family two and four legs

Melody

www.donkeywhisperer.com

 

Starting Baby Horses Out Naturally – Parelli Video

Howdy,

Are you looking for some inspiration and creativity perhaps a few fresh ideas to start youngsters.  Check out these video’s from Parelli.  Enjoy!

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

What A Farrier Needs

Friends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm,

Thank you for reading my blog, sharing information, photos, posts and most importantly helping our worlds most beloved equine (Donkey, Mule and Horse).

You are the human angel our world needs, Thank You!

Perhaps you are wondering what in the world a farrier is?  A farrier is the human who will be certified in balancing, trimming and possibly shoeing  equine (horse, donkey or mule) every seven weeks.

What is a natural trimmer for Donkeys?  Pete Ramey site explains more

No shoes, balance, trimming and helping keep the equine in optimum balance without shoes

Select Pete Ramey Hoof Rehab for more detailed information on the hoof.

Why should I care how happy my farrier is?

A great farrier is essential to optimum health of your beloved equine.  I highly suggest you do your homework before hiring a farrier to work on the hooves of your equine. Balance, no blood, no soreness is what your equine needs to stay happy.  Remember equine pick up on the emotional mood swings us humans have so keep your farrier happy and calm.

What A Farrier Needs?

A safe equine to work on!  Please do not ask your farrier to train your equine as this is not their job.  A  farrier needs to feed himself and his family and a farrier that gets hurt working on your equine will not be able to work and provide himself and family with an income.  Additionally, a farrier that can’t concentrate on the hoof and is worried for his life will more than likely not be able to do as good a job.

1.  A tame and gentle equine – Teach Your Donkey To Pick Up the Foot

2.  No dogs or children running around causing a distraction for the equine, farrier and you the handler

3.  Put the cell phone down and pay attention to your equine to keep the farrier and equine safe

4.  A place that is close to his truck as he needs to get to his tools without taking a hike

5.  The equine to be held by a competent human that can control the equine and help the farrier stay safe. – Remember this is a really dangerous job

6.  The equine to be standing calmly and as ready as possible

7.  Make sure your equine has had his hooves picked up at least twenty-five times before the farrier arrives – do not make the first trimming appointment be the first time the equine get’s the foot picked up.

8.  A dry place to work, flat, swept clean

9.  No dark places as your farrier needs to see what he/she is doing

10.  A shady place to work and don’t forget Insect repellant sprayed on your equine

11,  Pay him/her the same day he trims the hoof

12,  Make your appointment for seven weeks and keep up with the farrier work

Bonus:  A cool beverage on a hot day

Remember no one knows your equine like you do!  Keeping up with a regular trimming schedule is best for the equine and your farrier.  Partnerships via human and animal form take time and a bit of watering.  You can do this!

Caring for equine takes a team effort; a vet, dentist, and farrier let’s not forget acupuncture, chiropractor and massage therapy as needed.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Parelli – Teaching Our Horse To Jump The Ball

 

Alf The Mini Baby Donkey

Currently helping Alf the mini baby donkey’s human partner Rannveig all the way from Norway for free, my gift to give back and share information to help the donkey have a great life.  Hmm the power of the internet to be able to share free information to help people understand how to best care for their beloved and sweet donkeys.  Please remember a donkey is not a horse with long ears.  A donkey is a donkey and we need to adapt to the training of a donkey as donkeys are always on donkey time.  

I am excited to share that Alf is now a Parelli donkey as his human is learning Parelli and is waiting for the rope halter, carrot stick and lead line to be delivered.  I am not authorized to teach Parelli as I am just a student I share why Parelli works for donkeys,  horses and mules. Go to http://www.Parelli.com to learn more.  I highly suggest the rope halter, carrot stick and lead line. Learn the 7 games and learn the personality of your donkey.  Here is the link for 30 days free training from Parelli.

Training tip for young donkeys - Remember to be careful around the ears as they can break and not stand up.

1.  Baby donkeys are like human children they have very short attention spans. They are going to learn from the human exactly what the human teaches. First thing to teach the donkey is to not be afraid of the human. Safety is always important for the human so have a plan.

   2.   Keep training sessions short 15-20 minutes and always end the session with something the donkey loves to do. Kisses, massages, a bite of grass on the other side of the fence.

   3.  Please don’t beat your donkey use your voice and say NO when they do something wrong.  Use your hands by snapping fingers, clapping or waving with the correct timing for incorrect social skill. Remember how hard it is to learn from a nasty teacher who is mean and not patient.

   4.  The donkey needs us humans to slow everything way down.

   5.  Training a donkey is a bit like fishing you may have a fish on the line – you may see the donkey learn or not.   Who cares enjoy your donkey and remember a donkey is Not a horse with long ears.

   6.  A donkey is a donkey they are deep thinkers. The human has to be on donkey time and not take things so seriously when working with the donkey.

   Please love and appreciate your donkey as each donkey is indeed a gift from GOD.  Remember your donkey did not choose you, you chose the donkey, you are responsible for teaching your donkey social skills, picking up the foot, whoaa, walk-0n, hoof trimming every 7 weeks, vet and dentist is essential to optimum health of your donkey.

 

Notice the cross on Alf”s back

Alf (mini donkey) with Rannveig all the way from Norway

 GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

A Dream Barn For Linda Parelli

1. Select Linda’s Dream Barn - Enjoy!

MD Barn Master – my favorite things

* Fire proof

* Chew Proof

* Barn kit – Fast to install

* Custom doors swing open with saddle racks, tac etc.,

* Custom latches to open the barn door

* Open concept

It’s fun to dream and see what is possible in our world. Never stop dreaming, never settle in life as today may be your day!

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Parelli – Puyallup, Washington

Howdy,

I was able to attend the first 4 1/2 hours of the Parelli show in Puyallup, Washington today, sadly I could not stay for the entire show or return tommorow for the remaining show.  The rods (screws) in my pelvis cause great pain in my hips and back when sitting too long on hard surfaces or trying to walk on cement or hard surfaces.  Still I made it today and I am grateful to my husband for helping me acheive this goal.

Two years ago I was in a life threatening car accident my select pelvis shattered in six or seven places, illium, sacrum and coccyx leaving me with permanent screws in my pelvis.  I am so very grateful to my Surgeon Dr. Chip Routte of Harborview Hospital in Seattle, Washington as without his extensive experience, education, passion and knowledge I would no doubt be in a wheel chair or have to use a cane. 

Being able to park in the handicap parking and walk into the fair grounds and sit to watch the show was a huge accomplishment for me as even last summer I was not sure I could ever return to the fairgrounds again a place of great fun for the summer fair and rodeo events.  I just did not think I could ever withstand the pain it took to walk on cement or sit in uncomfortable seats again but I did it.  Never give up!

Never give up, pray for everything in Jesus Christ name and be thankful for all of your blessings.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Training Donkeys, Mules and Horses To Ride In The Horse Trailer

Howdy,

Did you know donkeys prefer to ride loose in a horse trailer? Yes indeed donkeys prefer to ride loose in a horse trailer with the added bonus they are safe and much more comfortable.  I was really surprised to learn this after purchasing my donkeys as my horse is locked in the front for her safety. Why? She is not a donkey she is a horse smile. 

Donkeys freeze when scared so they are safer and more comfortable riding loose in the horse trailer and this helps them find a place to stand and hold their butt against the trailer to balance.  Most important consideration is to have a two door trailer in the back to unload them.  I highly suggest teaching your donkey to back out of the horse trailer in lieu of jumping out fast.  Here is a video of Rio backing out of the horse trailer what a good boy just took a few training sessions to teach him how to do this.   Keep one side of the door closed so to keep them calm and backing out slow.

In an emergency situation I wanted to ensure I could get all of them in the trailer fast and by myself. I highly suggest each of you do the same as you don’t want to be training trailer loading and unloading during an emergency. Donkeys freeze when scared!

Six Steps To Successful Trailer Loading of Your Donkey or Mule: 

1.  Ensure Your Donkey or Mule Trusts You – Taming is number (1)

2.  Always load the honor donkey, horse or mule first as Donkeys Are Visual Learners if you load the naughty one first your trailer loading experience will not go smoothly.

3. Plan ahead, practice trailer loading and letting the equine stand in the trailer and eat go no where. After you load them to eat lunch stand on the outside and talk to them let them know they are safe.

4.  Practice taking the donkeys, mules and horses for rides, just give them 40 minutes or so of time to adjust to the trailer, get  their legs and not have any more stress on them. DO NOT TAKE THEM ANYWHERE AND EXPECT THEM TO GET OUT AND IN until you are sure they understand trailer loading.  Just go for a drive a few times, practice getting in and out at home.

5.  Remember when driving to accelerate slowly and stop slowly as it is very difficult for the equine to keep their legs on the ground.  If you don’t understand have someone drive the trailer and get in the back ride down a bumpy road and see what it feels like for your equine I think you will have a new perspective.

6.  Gradually work up to trail walks, yes walking next to the youngster as they are too young to ride and then riding when of age.  I think it is safer for older equine to have the opportunity to observe what is expected a few times before riding.  We did lot’s of these before Lily and Rio were old enough to ride (preparation) is the key.

7.  Another important consideration in teaching trailer loading and unloading; is do not take them out of the trailer when the truck stops wait for about ten to fifteen minutes.  If you take them out immediately upon the truck stopping they will expect it and get impatient every time the truck stops.  Equine learn from consistent repetition so remember to always be a good leader and have a plan be consistent.  When the emergency comes and they all come in life have a plan and be prepared as preparation makes the process much easier on the human and the equine.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com