Donkey - loading advice?

[RMJacobs]

This is a great update!

When I moved my elderly pony from Colorado to South Carolina, there was a donkey at the SC barn where I boarded. The BO asked me if my pony had ever seen any long ears–I told her not in the 15 years I had him, but didn’t know if he had in his first 15 years. She tried him in a pasture with the donkey and an old gelding, and he made immediate friends with both.

The BO warned me to be careful of the donkey when I was spending time with my pony. He’d been abused and could be very unfriendly. I was out there the first time since my pony became roommates with the other two, and felt someone breathing down my back. I thought it was the old gelding, but nope, it was the donkey, making friends. He loved to have his ears scratched, and of course back scratches like most equids.

The first time the BO saw me petting the donkey, she said “well, that’s a first!” Made me feel good to make friends with such a cool critter.

Rebecca

[skydy]

Thanks for the update. I’m glad it went smoothly and that you had a good experience to boot.
It was interesting to learn something about Donkeys/Burros (I know nothing about them.)

[goodhors]

What a great report back! So glad to hear things went so well for everyone.

[OverandOnward]

Foster mom had told me that because she felt she knew so little about donkey behavior, she had not really “worked with” the donkeys at all.

But what I saw is that she had been spending time with them daily, just doing ordinary farm stuff in and around their pens. And she moved them to pasture and back, and pen to pen. She said she did “tapping” to move them although I did not get a chance to see that. And of course fed them on a daily schedule. (They’ve also had vet & farrier care.)

Because foster mom is by nature a calm and methodical person, the donkeys warmed up to her presence and learned to have confidence in her.

So just following a confidence-inspiring daily care routine over many months was enough to win the trust and cooperation of these notoriously stubborn animals. In spite of their troubled background.

[chai]

Yay! Thank you for the update. She is lovely and I’m glad it went so well. Here are a few more tips from my years with donkeys: they are incredible herd-protectors and they can go from being cute little munchkins to Rambo in a fur suit if they think there’s a danger in their pasture. Watch for the head going low and the ears going flat back if there is a strange dog they perceive as a danger. Also, most of them love an ear scratch. Our standard jack, Barnaby, would lay his head on your shoulder for an ear scratch. Donkeys are sweet, incredibly smart and so much fun. I wish you many years of happiness with your new addition!

[SLW]

Congrats on a great outcome with Jenny!!