GOD, Jesus Christ, Donkey, Pets, farm, Miracle, laughter, peace, Marriage, Farm, garden, love, hope, Mammoth donkey, Mini donkey, Faith, Animals, Dogs, Cats, Horse, and life on the Farm
In 2011 we watched the movieBuck“a powerful movie explaining the importance of training a human to train the equine (horse, donkey or mule) in a natural way without physical abuse.” This movie clearly explains how the horse is one hundred percent a reflection of their trainer and or owner. The movie helps to explain the difference between natural training and breaking a horse.
We must never forget that a human who will torture a child, animal, woman or man must be stopped!Please if you see abuse have the courage to be bold and stop this abuse as each of us can be the angel GOD sent to remove the pain and suffering of another. Never forget we live in a fallen world, good and evil, black and white.
The domesticated horse, donkey or mule is truly the mirror of the emotional intelligence and training ability of their human who owns and trains them.
I highly suggest the movie Buck, I believe each of us can learn how to have empathy if we want to learn and most importantly we can influence others by helping make this world a better place for humans and animals.
We must never forget what it would be like to have a person forcing us to do something with pain and suffering as motivation with the big whammy the person speaks in a foreign language, how very sad. Please be an angel when you see abuse, be bold, step up and make a difference to stop abuse of any kind for humans and animals.
Empathy is truly needed in our world for how we treat others starts within ourselves, just because we were abused is no reason to continue the horrific abuse cycle. Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer
If you know a living human or animal being abused please step in and do your best to stop the abuse and be a human angel.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
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!
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 kitand 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 bottleas 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!
Thank you for reading my blog as it is my desire to help you become educated in understanding donkeys, horses and mules; education creates awareness and this new awareness may spark a fire in your soul with a direct result of a change for our world’s animals. Will you become avoice for a donkey living in your home town “a human angel” making a difference?
Did you know all my equine have been trained with resistance free training?
Yes, our horse, mammoth donkey and mini donkey have been trained utilizing Parelli natural horsemanship tools. No bit, no spurs all resistance free! Lot’s of video in Youtube for inspiration. Please note I am a student of Parelli I am not authorized to teach Parelli due to a car accident I am healing. Parelli has a free 30 day trial offer and I consider them to be the worlds best on-line educator.
Did you learn something new today? Please do your part to help teach the youngsters of our world how to respect animals.
A few More videos with comments:
Donkey Basketball - “I think it sends a really bad message to children on how to raise them and cruelty to animals and to all beings, and what does that teach our children?” said protester Carol Guilbault.
What can you do to help stop this abuse? Select Donkey Basketball video for more information.Share your opinion on your social networking sites, say NO to school fund raisers abusing Donkeys!
DONKEY BASKETBALL ‘GAMES’ ENCOURAGE KIDS TO BE CRUEL
Thank you for being a human angel doing your part to help stop abuse of donkeys, horses and mules.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Today was a milestone for me as my physical therapist told me I am strong enough to graduate from physical therapy, I have been in Physical therapy for almost two years, this car accident has been one of the most challenging things I have ever had to do in my life. Surviving a semi truck accident is indeed a miracle from GOD; walking and not living in a wheel chair is indeed a miracle from GOD, having the strength and courage to persevere day after day when the pain does not go away is a miracle from GOD. GOD has placed a gift in my mind “Look Where You Are Going” and never ever give up. The photo above is me and my horse Lily before the semi truck accident, I love this photo it is a great memory.
Now the hard work begins as I must continue to do all the exercises on my own. No more physical therapist providing me with new exercises, I must be the physical therapist for my body now, I must push myself when I am tired to keep going to the gym, my core must stay strong or pain and suffering will return in insane amounts.
When I lift weights to keep my core strong I wear my ariat horse riding gloves to remember what my goals are and “look where I am going” as each day is indeed a gift from GOD. I like to touch things and see things to keep motivated “look where I’m going” just like the cross I wear around my neck to call out to Jesus.
No doubt we must always remember where we are going in life in order to get where we want to go. I found this excellent article Look Where you’re Going explaining how horse, donkey and mule people must look where they are going in order to mirror with their four-legged ride. Enjoy!
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
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 INuntil 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; isdo 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!
Donkeys naturally have deep-rooted self-preservation skills. What are predators for the donkey? Coyotes, wolves, cougars, bear and yes our precious pet dogs. If we think about it the dog resembles the wolves and coyote the donkey does not know the difference until they are trained and understand their life is not in jeopardy.
Donkeys can learn to tolerate a dog but it takes a really good trainer utilizing outstanding leadership with the dog and the donkey. Did you know adult mammoth donkeys are used for protection of livestock? Make sure your donkey has at least one more donkey as a companion as all equine are healthier and happier when not left alone. Here is a Video of me working with Rio with the Parelli carrot stick.
Safety tip:
Place hot wire beneath the paddock fence to ensure no dog or predator can get in by crawling under the fence. The Parelli carrot stick works as a great tool for me creating an extension of my arm and helps me stay in the leadership role when working with the equine and the dog. Please never abuse the dog or the donkey with the carrot stick, that’s why Mr. Parelli named it the carrot stick no abuse.Remember donkeys never forget anything ever.
Safety is the most important concern when working with equine (donkeys, horses and mules) and our beloved dogs.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
As I sit at my computer writing my three dogs and two cats are all laying next to me. My female dog Jewel is the oldest dog in our pack of three Jewel is laying under my feet to provide the foot stool I need to type and be next to me. Our big dog Sampson is laying right next to me and the little Carin terrier beside him. My two female cats I adopted from a local shelter four years ago are sleeping in their kitty beds just inches away they are both manx mix a little bob tail like a bunny rabbit.
My husband often jokes that I am Dr. Doolittle as each time I get up to move from room to room all the animals follow me, “I guess they know who the momma is.” Since I was a child I have loved animals actually wanted to become a vet as a kid but life came in between me and my dreams.
Animals are healing no doubt they help us humans feel connected when life has left us traumatized and burned out. People can let people down but animals are loyal to the end they just know how good they have it when they get a great human to love them.
The last photo of me riding my horse Lily training Rio our Mammoth donkey 2010 – God willing I will ride again one day for now I have the memories and for this I am grateful
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
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Rural life of a West Virginia family. We love horses and blacksmithing, hunting fishing, cooking camping and teaching the little ones about the garden.
