Mammoth Jacks

Lucara · 01-15-2009, 10:23 PM

Okay so I've been searching around for a few months to get a horse and a couple have caught my but none like the mammoth donkeys! I absolutely love their over sized heads and sonar ears!
I know that they differ from horses but I would like to hear from the owners on what they think of owning a mammoth. How expensive are they to care for instead of a horse. What are their dispositions usually like. How hard are they to train. What do you like best about your donkey?
Are they stalled or kept 24/7 in the field.
If I got a mammoth, it would have to be boarded somewhere.

Any info you have would be appreciated and I LOOOOVE pictures!

Thank you so much in advance!

Lucara · 01-16-2009, 10:39 AM

really? 16 people viewed and not one person knows how to care for a donkey? o.O

westmar · 01-16-2009, 06:42 PM

Hi, I raise and train mammoth donkeys as well as fine saddle mules.
The mammoths, if they have been raised right, are great! They are calm, gentle giants.
Look for one that has been handled a lot and from a person who knows donkeys. Make sure the owner can pick up all 4 feet, as they are very protective about their feet.
Donkeys are cautious animals and do what I call a 'donkey freeze'. Basically they will stop dead in their tracks when uncertain and will not move until they are sure it's okay. When you have their trust they will do most anything for you.
I prefer to keep them in a dry lot pasture, this way I can regulate their feed. Donkeys are very social animals and it would be good to have a pasture mate or two.

Range · 01-17-2009, 10:50 AM

I don't have a mammoth, but a standard. I'm not sure about the stalling...I stall mine at night with my horses, but that's an agreement that we came to very slowly. He doesn't like it and would prefer NOT to be in there, but he puts up with it because his buddies are in there.

Perhaps if he'd been stalled his whole life....

He gets the same vaccinations as the horses, but I don't do Coggins on him because he doesn't leave. He gets very attached to his friends. He's wormed on the same rotation as the horses, making sure that Ivermectin is in that rotation every 12 weeks because donkeys get lungworms.

My boy maintains very easily on a handful of grain and free-grazing. I have to watch the grass intake when it's good so he doesn't founder or get too fat...donks tend to do that easier than horses.

I do ride him sometimes, also an agreement we came to. He's a smooth ride because donks travel like cats...in a straight line with their feet.

Training is a whole 'nother story. Donks do what's best for them, not necessarily what's best for you or the situation. You have to really follow a "what's in it for me" approach. So, I don't "treat" my horses when I train (except as a reward at the end) but I went through bags and bags of carrots to train the donk. You turned left? You get a carrot bite!!! You took a step forward? You get a carrot bite!!! You stand for the farrier? You get carrot bites the whole time!!!

westmar · 01-17-2009, 03:19 PM

Hi-I raise saddle mules as well as mammoth jack stock for sale. Have you ever had a Donkey?
They are very different from a horse-mostly in good ways.

When you get ready to purchase, make sure the donk has been handled a lot, this will help you in the long and short run in getting to know them.
They are cautious, very loving long ears. Once they bond with you, you will have a friend for life!
Here is a pic of one of my donks- mammoth jack. Murel is a 4 yr old and is 14.3H. Murel in 0807.JPG
Will get another pic of my young jennie as well.

westmar · 01-17-2009, 03:33 PM

Here is Darla. She is 2 yrs and 14.2H and growing. I have found that the donks are easy to train once you have their trust. Most of mine I can start under saddle within a 3 week period of time because they learn so fast. One thing I love about them is their unconditional love. Mine are always happy to see me and often Bray at me to come over and give them a hug or scratch. My husband is brushing and scratching those big ears in this pic.
sm Darla 4.JPG

Lucara · 01-19-2009, 02:06 PM

Thank you all for your replies! I LOVE the pics! =D I actually have a mule in mind and I'm planning on possibly going to see him next week. Hes a bit younger that I would like but hes been started under saddle and isn't afraid of a thing! Hes been trailed through the city and into parks and walked over a metal bridge his first time out without batting an eye!
We'll see how it goes.

It seems that feeding them is extremely cheep in comparison to horses. Mine will have free range of a field and I doubt that I will stall him up at night unless it gets extremely cold (which is RARELY does in Fla).

Any tips on how to go about training them once you have their trust?
Joe (the mule I'm interested in) wont stand still when being mounted. What is a good way to go about correcting this?

westmar · 01-19-2009, 07:08 PM

Much like you would a horse. Make them stand still and start with lifting your foot towards the stirrup. If they move stop them and tell them 'whoa, stand'. If they have gone more than a few feet, take them back to where you started the exercise. Once they will stand still when you lift your foot to the stirrup then go to the next step of putting weight in the stirrup. If he moves do the same-whoa, stand, until he does so.
Now-if he gets good at that part, but starts to walk as soon as your butt hits the saddle seat, take your seat [sit the saddle] stop him, whoa, stand. Get your feet set in your stirrups and ride back to the exact spot you were mounting at, stand the same direction and just sit there until he is good and standing still. Then his release is to ask him to walk off before he thinks about moving on his own. He might need reminders off and on but he will learn it. This has always worked for me.

Sunlei · 01-22-2009, 10:51 AM

I have seen a lot of trained donkeys, mules and even many mammoth sized go through the AC4 rescue. Many have been in the listings of slaughter bound equines they try to place from the horse-broker who will sell to slaughter any that don't get placed.

Some the rescue takes and places in foster homes..they are a 401c rescue which means the costs are tax deductable. You'd have to contact the rescue for their details. Several of the mules and other longears are rescued by NEER through AC4 help. Morgans and TB aswell have a strong rescue network.

Here is the url for this weeks listed, plenty of nice registered horses/drafts too there aswell. Save them from the dinner plate. contact info for ac4h is there aswell.

http://www.ac4h.com/brokerownedhorses.htm

edited in the aged Molly mule on that first page steals your heart. Look at her letting the horse broker ride her bareback in the barn. This Molly mule needs some people! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwZoZbtpbMc

westmar · 01-31-2009, 11:11 PM

I would say about 1 time out of 10 a mule would be worth 'rescuing' from a sale. The reason I say that is, when a person has a good mule, they do not let them go through those type of sales where they may go to slaughter. A good mule is better given away than taking a chance.
I know, I raise, train, buy, sale mules. When you have a good mule, that mule will be the last animal to go on your place-even after the dog!
One of the unfortunate parts of buying a mule at a 'sales' barn where the canner might be is this-a mule has self preservation and will out perform itself-to an extent-, meaning if it has been ridden in the past it will perform that task under pressure. That mule in the video was scared. So someone may out bid the canner thinking they bought a really good riding mule. They have a slim chance-but they do have one. Is it worth that chance?
Just my experience.

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01-15-2009, 10:23 PM
Lucara Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 47	Mammoth Jacks Okay so I've been searching around for a few months to get a horse and a couple have caught my but none like the mammoth donkeys! I absolutely love their over sized heads and sonar ears! I know that they differ from horses but I would like to hear from the owners on what they think of owning a mammoth. How expensive are they to care for instead of a horse. What are their dispositions usually like. How hard are they to train. What do you like best about your donkey? Are they stalled or kept 24/7 in the field. If I got a mammoth, it would have to be boarded somewhere. Any info you have would be appreciated and I LOOOOVE pictures! Thank you so much in advance!

01-16-2009, 10:39 AM
Lucara Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 47	really? 16 people viewed and not one person knows how to care for a donkey? o.O

01-16-2009, 06:42 PM
westmar Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kalispell, Montana Posts: 23	Mammoths Hi, I raise and train mammoth donkeys as well as fine saddle mules. The mammoths, if they have been raised right, are great! They are calm, gentle giants. Look for one that has been handled a lot and from a person who knows donkeys. Make sure the owner can pick up all 4 feet, as they are very protective about their feet. Donkeys are cautious animals and do what I call a 'donkey freeze'. Basically they will stop dead in their tracks when uncertain and will not move until they are sure it's okay. When you have their trust they will do most anything for you. I prefer to keep them in a dry lot pasture, this way I can regulate their feed. Donkeys are very social animals and it would be good to have a pasture mate or two.

01-17-2009, 10:50 AM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,958	I don't have a mammoth, but a standard. I'm not sure about the stalling...I stall mine at night with my horses, but that's an agreement that we came to very slowly. He doesn't like it and would prefer NOT to be in there, but he puts up with it because his buddies are in there. Perhaps if he'd been stalled his whole life.... He gets the same vaccinations as the horses, but I don't do Coggins on him because he doesn't leave. He gets very attached to his friends. He's wormed on the same rotation as the horses, making sure that Ivermectin is in that rotation every 12 weeks because donkeys get lungworms. My boy maintains very easily on a handful of grain and free-grazing. I have to watch the grass intake when it's good so he doesn't founder or get too fat...donks tend to do that easier than horses. I do ride him sometimes, also an agreement we came to. He's a smooth ride because donks travel like cats...in a straight line with their feet. Training is a whole 'nother story. Donks do what's best for them, not necessarily what's best for you or the situation. You have to really follow a "what's in it for me" approach. So, I don't "treat" my horses when I train (except as a reward at the end) but I went through bags and bags of carrots to train the donk. You turned left? You get a carrot bite!!! You took a step forward? You get a carrot bite!!! You stand for the farrier? You get carrot bites the whole time!!! __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery www.goatsandsoaps.com for all your Boer goat and bath soap needs.

01-17-2009, 03:19 PM
westmar Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kalispell, Montana Posts: 23	Hi-I raise saddle mules as well as mammoth jack stock for sale. Have you ever had a Donkey? They are very different from a horse-mostly in good ways. When you get ready to purchase, make sure the donk has been handled a lot, this will help you in the long and short run in getting to know them. They are cautious, very loving long ears. Once they bond with you, you will have a friend for life! Here is a pic of one of my donks- mammoth jack. Murel is a 4 yr old and is 14.3H. Murel in 0807.JPG Will get another pic of my young jennie as well.

01-17-2009, 03:33 PM
westmar Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kalispell, Montana Posts: 23	Here is Darla. She is 2 yrs and 14.2H and growing. I have found that the donks are easy to train once you have their trust. Most of mine I can start under saddle within a 3 week period of time because they learn so fast. One thing I love about them is their unconditional love. Mine are always happy to see me and often Bray at me to come over and give them a hug or scratch. My husband is brushing and scratching those big ears in this pic. sm Darla 4.JPG

01-19-2009, 02:06 PM
Lucara Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 47	Thank you all for your replies! I LOVE the pics! =D I actually have a mule in mind and I'm planning on possibly going to see him next week. Hes a bit younger that I would like but hes been started under saddle and isn't afraid of a thing! Hes been trailed through the city and into parks and walked over a metal bridge his first time out without batting an eye! We'll see how it goes. It seems that feeding them is extremely cheep in comparison to horses. Mine will have free range of a field and I doubt that I will stall him up at night unless it gets extremely cold (which is RARELY does in Fla). Any tips on how to go about training them once you have their trust? Joe (the mule I'm interested in) wont stand still when being mounted. What is a good way to go about correcting this?

01-19-2009, 07:08 PM
westmar Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kalispell, Montana Posts: 23	Much like you would a horse. Make them stand still and start with lifting your foot towards the stirrup. If they move stop them and tell them 'whoa, stand'. If they have gone more than a few feet, take them back to where you started the exercise. Once they will stand still when you lift your foot to the stirrup then go to the next step of putting weight in the stirrup. If he moves do the same-whoa, stand, until he does so. Now-if he gets good at that part, but starts to walk as soon as your butt hits the saddle seat, take your seat [sit the saddle] stop him, whoa, stand. Get your feet set in your stirrups and ride back to the exact spot you were mounting at, stand the same direction and just sit there until he is good and standing still. Then his release is to ask him to walk off before he thinks about moving on his own. He might need reminders off and on but he will learn it. This has always worked for me.

01-22-2009, 10:51 AM
Sunlei Long Yearling Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,353	I have seen a lot of trained donkeys, mules and even many mammoth sized go through the AC4 rescue. Many have been in the listings of slaughter bound equines they try to place from the horse-broker who will sell to slaughter any that don't get placed. Some the rescue takes and places in foster homes..they are a 401c rescue which means the costs are tax deductable. You'd have to contact the rescue for their details. Several of the mules and other longears are rescued by NEER through AC4 help. Morgans and TB aswell have a strong rescue network. Here is the url for this weeks listed, plenty of nice registered horses/drafts too there aswell. Save them from the dinner plate. contact info for ac4h is there aswell. http://www.ac4h.com/brokerownedhorses.htm edited in the aged Molly mule on that first page steals your heart. Look at her letting the horse broker ride her bareback in the barn. This Molly mule needs some people! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwZoZbtpbMc Last edited by Sunlei : 01-22-2009 at 11:02 AM.

01-31-2009, 11:11 PM
westmar Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kalispell, Montana Posts: 23	I would say about 1 time out of 10 a mule would be worth 'rescuing' from a sale. The reason I say that is, when a person has a good mule, they do not let them go through those type of sales where they may go to slaughter. A good mule is better given away than taking a chance. I know, I raise, train, buy, sale mules. When you have a good mule, that mule will be the last animal to go on your place-even after the dog! One of the unfortunate parts of buying a mule at a 'sales' barn where the canner might be is this-a mule has self preservation and will out perform itself-to an extent-, meaning if it has been ridden in the past it will perform that task under pressure. That mule in the video was scared. So someone may out bid the canner thinking they bought a really good riding mule. They have a slim chance-but they do have one. Is it worth that chance? Just my experience.