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

 

When Life Is Too Hard – Hold On To GOD’s Promise

We must never forget that most of life is about praying, waiting, dreaming, having faith and then one day GOD answers our prayers and we move to the next level.

Blogging has become a way for GOD to wipe my tears, recharge my mind, plant a dream and finally write down what I see in faith.  Big difference between faith and pushing to get something my way without including GOD in my plans.  I have learned the hard way that GOD wants to be part of every single inch and detail of my life.  GOD does not want me to pray only when I am desperate and nowhere else to go, give GOD a try nothing else to do.  GOD wants me to pray each morning after I open my eyes, during the day, before I get in the car, before I go to sleep.  GOD wants to be the most important part of my life and GOD does not like to be second or the last plan he wants to be driving our life.

GOD wants us to share how GOD helped us, How he did what no other human could ever do

GOD loves all his children and GOD is a GOD of Justice and Mercy.  GOD can make the mountains crumble, GOD can restore what has been betrayed, broken, destroyed and make new again.  GOD can not make us love GOD as he gave us free will, if we choose not to believe in GOD how can we expect GOD to release the angels from heaven to go to work for us.

When life is just too hard, everything has went wrong our mind, bodies and soul seems to be physically defeated this is when we must dig in, Hold on to GOD’s Promise and never give up  as GOD is in control of his children.   We are not in control over much other than the ability to pray and have faith Jesus will hold our right hand and make a miracle, crooked roads straight.  We must never forget GOD’s children are to lend not borrow we have been given favor to help others.

When we are weak and shattered this is the time GOD can use us to help others, it’s really hard to use us humans if we think we never need GOD.  This is the time when GOD can show up and show off to share with the world he is the great I AM.  GOD can show the world what GOD accomplished not what we accomplished.  No human can do what GOD can do.

Prayers For Hard Times

The Lord causes my enemies who rise up against me to be defeated before my face; they shall come out against me one way and flee before me seven ways.  DEUTERONOMY 28:7

And my people shall never be put to shame.  Joel 2-26

I am just a person I shall live by faith.  HABAKKUK 2:4 (NKJV)

He Spoke to them, saying, Take Courage!  I AM Stop being afraid!  Matthew 14:27

It is GOD’s desire that I be free from all anxiety and distressing care.  1 Corinthians 7:32

Consider the lilies, how they grow.  They neither (wearily) toil nor spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory (his splendor and magnificence) was not arrayed like one of these.  Luke 12:27

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Trust GOD For All Things

A few photo’s I snapped of my garden, yes my fountain has a really soothing sound but the big bonus is watching the birds bathe in the fountain and take a sip of cool water.

Usually I am writing about the animals specifically donkeys, horses and mules, pets, farm living and gardening but today I want to share a little deeper. Pain is a constant reminder to reach up to GOD in Jesus Christ name and believe he will hold our right hand as it is written in the bible, GOD will hold his children’s right hand.

Pain can shatter the strongest person and bring them to their knees begging GOD for mercy, help and healing as pain has no time limit it just keeps going on and on, day after day and hour after hour.  Pain removes the smile from the human who suffers from pain day after day and if not attacked with a purpose to enjoy life in the midst of pain, pain will win by destroying our soul.

“Without Jesus Christ pain will destroy the human as pain attacks the core of our soul our dreams, goals and every day life experiences become more difficult.”   Pain slowly sucks the joy and life completely out of the person kinda like a tree that needs a big drink of water after a few days of 90 degree weather.  The good news is GOD can restore everything stolen and GOD can make his children soar like an eagle, never fainting and GOD can combat pain and suffering as he is the great I AM. The beginning and the end of everything in this precious world we live in.

Pain is like the wind you can feel it but you cannot see it.  Frustrating as can be as no modern technology can show on a computer screen the amount of pain a person is withstanding thus doctors rely on what number is your pain today and a body diagram showing where you have pain.  I have been suffering with chronic pain since April 13, 2010 after surviving a semi truck smashing into the passenger door of my GOD mothers little tiny 1980 truck after she ran a stop sign.

Select What is a Physiatrist to read more about pain doctors.  The physiatrist often coordinates a team of other doctors and health professionals in developing and carrying out a comprehensive rehabilitation plan; s/he may specialize in the care of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The coordinated treatment plan extends beyond hospital walls into the patient’s family, community, occupation, friends, and ultimate life style.

A friend sent me a new blog to read you may enjoy this too select Finding Purpose In Pain - Walking through the hard days, living to glorify God this is a wonderful blog to read.

What Can I Do To Help My Body, Friend, or Loved One Suffering with Pain?

1.  Most importantly understand that pain is the body saying “something is wrong”

2.  It is important to find a pain specialist, I was given the name of a physiatrist after suffering with insane amounts of pain for over one year.  The doctors just did not know what to do to help me survive chronic pain. My physiatrist is indeed a human angel as she has helped me the most with pain.

3.  Be a great friend, family member and have mercy for the person suffering from pain little things mean a lot to a pain suffer.  Stopping by and visiting, little gifts of your time mean the world to people suffering from physical and emotional pain as they remember what it was like to be busy.

4.  People who are suffering with the worst of pain (emotional or physical) usually live their life in isolation it is indeed a special place as GOD is always number one on my mind, I can’t live without Jesus Christ helping me navigate life it is just too hard. Sharing a few prayers or words of encouragement is always a drink of fresh water for people suffering.

Pslam 18

I love you, O  LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer: my GOD is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold,

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Hoof Abscess

 

The Donkey Whisperer Farm is officially six years old in 2013; time has literally flown by so much has changed and yet so much remains the same.  Rio is now a full-grown Mammoth donkey as he turns seven years old in 2013.  Rocket Man turns nineteen and my horse Lily is eight years young.

The most frustrating and difficult issues I have had with our Mammoth donkey is hoof abscesses. It appears that Mammoth donkeys should live in the desert with no rain poor boy was born in Western Washington with too much rain.  Each of them get their feet picked out daily and their paddock has very little mud and yet the Mammoth donkey suffers from abscess, networking via the internet I have learned this is sadly the health issues associated with Mammoth donkeys.

Before I brought all three equine home I researched, networked and read every book I could get my hand on to create the dryest paddock to prevent hoof problems as I have lived in Western Washington most of my life.  I placed 3/4 clean gravel down on the hill between the two barns to avoid mud, thrush and abscesses.  Rio has had horrific abscesses and we are now laying pin chips down (no cedar) to help him.  I made the decision to shoe Rio’s front (absessing yearly) with Dr. Hills overseeing the process this last fall.  Rio’s custom-made Mammoth Donkey shoes are helping him get more exercise on the gravel as he is running and playing again, he is much more comfortable.

I place 3/4 clean gravel in between the two barns where they walk back and forth day after day to stop the mud.  Additionally I suggest laying pin chips down so they have a place to lay outside and it is soft and dry the only problem I have noted with pin chips is it needs to be replaced at least every other year or it will turn to mud.  

Hoof abscesses in donkeys are not the same as the horse.  Why? 

Donkeys hoof anatomy is of a donkey not a horse. Donkeys are strong and will not show any pain until it is a serious medical matter.  Here is another post I wrote explaining the emergency kit and the hoof abscess.  The horse would be limping much faster than the donkey or mule with an abscess thus the seriousness and need for a vet immediately. Please call the vet for draining a hoof abscess do not leave this to the farrier.

What can you do for your donkey, horse or mule suffering from a hoof abscess?

Call the Vet hopefully you have a vet that has experience with donkeys.   Donkeys are not horses and thus their hooves do not behave the same as a horse.  Please only authorize your vet to find the abscess and drain it,never let the farrier do the vet’s job!  Your vet will cut out a very small hole for drainage releasing the pain and pressure almost instantly.  Never authorize the farrier to do this as this is a medical need not a farrier need.

Follow up maintenance is necessary the hole needs to be kept clean, pick the stuff out of feet every day, I suggest getting a spray bottle and using Beda dine solution with some water in a water bottle to spray the hole clean every day.  We use the solo spray bottle as it gets all the gunk out and keeps it clean, Soaking a cotton ball in beda dine solution and sticking it in the hole is necessary until the hole has grown out.   The hoof will not grow completely out for at least ten months to a year so keeping the hole clean from mud and gunk is a full-time job to say the least.

One of the best things we can do as an owner of donkeys, horses and mules is keep the hooves trimmed and make sure they are being trimmed correctly.  Select Pete Ramey to learn how to trim a donkey, trimming needs to be done at least every 6-7 weeks.  I highly recommend you the owner viewing this dvd and asking your farrier to review it.  Trimming equine is not a back yard hobby and it needs to be left to professionals in my opinion as incorrect trimming will cause abscesses and sand and grit to travel into the white line.  As the owner we must be picking the hoof out each and every day and making sure no thrush is growing in the hoof.  Diet of the equine is imperative to optimum health so test your hay, do not give grain and treats to the donkey just clean water and low sugar hay.  Orchard hay around the Pacific northwest is what we use and a slow feeder is also a good idea as long as it is covered to keep the rain out.

I am trying a new slow feeder out will follow-up with the results in my upcoming blogs.

Video of a Donkey Suffering With A Hoof Abscess

Summary:

Diet, exercise, professional trimmer of hooves every 6-7 weeks, clean out hooves each and every day, clean dry padock, morton loose salt, white salt block, clean water, low sugar hay and no grazing in green grass for the easy keeper. Donkeys are always easy keepers.

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Courage Vs Strength

They say the sun rays coming out of the sky captured in this moment is “the fingers of GOD” I say they are truly one more sweet opportunity to feel GOD all around us.

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Iron Sharpens Iron

Wow I have heard this statement over and over again; I guess this is what helps people feel better saying such a thing when trauma hits our sweet loved ones.  Another one I hear over and over is “GOD only gives you as much as you can take, you must be really strong.”

GOD loves his children and he authorizes pain and suffering to his children for a short time and then GOD in Jesus Christ name brings justice for his children.  When GOD steps in everything changes and people will have no doubt it was GOD as no man can do what GOD can do.

No human can really understands life as GOD is in control not us. 

Prayer:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but I remember the name of the Lord my GOD. Pslam 20:7 (NKJV)

I trust in, rely on, and am confident in You, O Lord, I say, You are my GOD.  My times are in your hands.  Psalm 31:14-15

The fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.  Proverbs 29:25

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my GOD, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I trust and take refuge, my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.  I call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.  Psalm 18:2-3

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Prayer, Courage, Hope and Love

Courage steps out onto a ledge made of hope a mile wide – Maya Angelou

The happy heart runs with the river, floats on the air, lifts to the music, soars with the eagle, hopes with the prayer – Maya Angelou

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Happy Birthday Jesus By The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Merry Christmas,

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Christmas is all about the birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday Jesus is a beautiful song with Christmas lights synchronized by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  You may want to share the link with your family and friends.

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

Melody

htttp://www.donkeywhisperer.com

 

Staying Grateful

Life seems to have a way of reminding us of the bad things more than the good when we are living in the middle of the storm in our life.  Seems to me this is the time it appears nothing is alive and growing, we must remember  “GOD has planted each one of his children to be a light in a dark world.”

This video is really a wonderful way to stop and smell the roses in our life, take a moment to thank GOD for all of our blessings.  Being able to see, walk without pain, sleep, smell, be healthy is indeed a blessing.

Select staying grateful – 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

 

The Trauma Is Gone – Now What?

What happens after trauma settles and things calm down?

We try to keep our life the way it was before the trauma hit as well this is much more comfortable for most of us humans than trying something new.  All the while GOD is giving us a little nudge to be brave and step into our new life; the key is being flexible sometimes letting go of our homes, career, dreams and education to pursue a completely new life, a life GOD has created just for us full of dreams, presents and surprises way beyond our human brains ability.  GOD is able to do miracles, healing, create new jobs, save a marriage, heal a family.   Just like nature has seasons I believe life has seasons nothing stays the same.  I have learned to Trust GOD for all seasons of life as GOD is the great I am, the beginning and the end he knows what is best for his children.

We must remember to not stay in the past look at what GOD makes new every day, remember GOD placed our eyes facing ahead not behind us.  Hang on to the great memories and live in the moment, stay grateful, have a good attitude and never ever fall into the trap that this is it GOD can do no more.

Today may be your day, keep trusting GOD to help you and your family as he Loves you.

Prayer For Help

I leave my troubles with the Lord, and He will defend me, He never let’s honest people be defeated. PSLAM 55-22 (GNT)

The Lord my God holds my right hand, he is the Lord, who says Fear Not I Will Help You!  ISAIAH 41:13 (GNT)

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer