Are they all that shy?

TxHorseMom · 11-25-2007, 06:26 AM

I've owned 3 donkeys in my life. The first was Festus. He wouldn't let you get NEAR him unless you had food, and you were lucky if you could touch him then. But he did his job (guarding against critters) so we weren't worried about it until he started stealing the horses food. Since we couldn't really get near him, we couldn't move him or confine him during feeding time. Feet were impossible to do. For worming we would have to top dress his feed with wormer. He was traded for a pony.

The next donkey was Elvis. He was/is the cutest thing. Although he wasn't as bad a Festus, he still was very shy. He would come up to you and very carefully sniff your hand. You could pat him occasionally and if you "caught" him he was fine and would let you do the necessary things. It was like he wanted attention but was afraid of people. We had him since he was aprox 6 months old, and with the exception of gelding, he was never hurt by us. (took him a long time to forgive us for that!) We recently gave Elvis to a friend who really likes him and since we have stopped breeding (with the exception of those who are already bred) we didn't need 2 guard donkeys.

The third donkey is Fred. He is a very sweet boy. He is still shy, but will let you come up to him and pat him and scratch him if you approach him very slowly. (no sudden moves)

My question is this. Are they ALL that shy? Are they just less trusting than horses? I don't have lots of experience with them so I am not sure if that is just what we are experiencing or they are all that way.

seloc · 11-25-2007, 07:50 AM

I have had 4. My first 3 (1 jack and 2 jennies) the jack was very friendly and not shy at all, but the jennies were very shy. They were all 2-5 years old and not sure of their pasts. I now have a 2 yr. old gelded mini jack that I have had since he was 4 months old. He is INCREDIBLY friendly (to a fault). I think it is common for them to be put out to pasture to protect with little interaction, or abused because they are so stubborn. Do you know the history on them?

Rebecca · 11-25-2007, 07:52 AM

Our donkey did not like to be touched or groomed.

Mule Fool · 11-25-2007, 10:40 AM

Jen my mule was very shy and suspicious when I got her. I could catch her, brush her, do feet, etc, and while she would not kick or bite she was VERY tense and would sometimes try to bolt if I did something not quite right(Not sure what). I just tried to work quietly with her, not tip toeing around, but always calm. I also worked her in the round pen mostly to work on drawing her to me and to look at me as a comfortable place. I'd say now after 3 years she is mostly comfortable and at ease with me, and she loves to be rubbed and have her ears stroked and her butt scratched. Still I'd say maybe 10% of the time she looks at me like I've got two heads and I need to remind her I'm okay. when she does that instead of continuing toward her I step back and draw her to me. That somehow seems to break something loose and she seems to remember I'm okay. I think it all has to do with the HIGHLY developed self protection aspect. It's funny though, she seems to know mule folks. she's almost always friendly with them, but horse people she is shy of. wierd!

**taelesean** · 11-25-2007, 10:48 AM

Hmm...I haven't met many donkeys, but all three of the ones I have interacted with were absolute Pests! In your pocket, in your face, in your lap, in your way Pests.

**Range** · 11-25-2007, 11:02 AM

I think they have a more well developed "prey" instinct. Our donkey is extremely friendly and in your face with ME. Not anyone else. However, I'm the one who gives him treats, feeds him, grooms him, loves on him, and basically does everything for him. He's extremely suspicious of ANYone else.

We've had him for 5 years, since he was 6 months old.

TxHorseMom · 11-25-2007, 08:50 PM

I am not sure of any of their pasts. They were all bought at the auction. (seperate times) I do know that Fred was used as a breeding donkey. He was sold with a bunch of Jennies and the guy kept trying to sell me a jennie or two to "breed" to Fred. He is fairly friendly to all of us, but as I said, he seems fairly nervous at first until I'm actually scratching him.

How do you work them in the roundpen? Is it similar to working horses? I'm sorry if it's a dumb question, but I am really unknowledgable about donkeys.

**Range** · 11-26-2007, 06:52 PM

Speaking from my experience, it's not the same. You have to earn a donkey's respect and trust and the round pen isn't really the place to do it at first. They will see you as a predator and will consistently run from you.

Now, I have round penned my donk - AFTER I got him to trust me and after he'd seen all his buddies do it. It was more a matter of "fun" for him. He got in there, trotted twice both directions, cantered twice both directions, and then he was done. I just stood in the middle, issued no commands.

AlbertaGirl · 11-26-2007, 07:15 PM

My donkey is quite cautious who he'll let near him too, but I'm glad to say he seems pretty trusting of me

! It took time, patience, and work though, but I never tried the round pen. He didn't lead well enough for me to get him that far, so the idea never even occured to me

.

He's pretty good with my son, who has even climbed on his back a few times out on the pasture, while Gus was laying down. One time I turned around to see he had done it again, and Gus got up and started speed walking away from me

, while my son went for a ride in a 20 acre pasture. I started walking out at an angle and talking to Gus and saying "easy boy" and he stopped, and waited for me to get my son off, it was pretty scary, but in the end I was proud of Gus. He doesn't really like to let other kids near him though, he tends to just walk away - before they do something like go and get ON him

.

They're just really smart, and have a real sense of self preservation, and I just found that bringing him treats, giving him scratches, etc and trying to handle him for good stuff, not just the wormings, needles, etc - made all the difference with Gus. Good luck with Fred!

Chic · 11-26-2007, 09:36 PM

I've have about the same experienced at everyone above. My donks are a bit shy and as long as I approach them slowly they are fine but they don't really relax until I start scratching on them. After that, they realize I mean them no harm.

Funny story... our jenny got out one day and ended up down the road in a large grassy area next to a local Amish school. My husband drove down to catch her (I stayed with the kids). Between him and three Amish guys helping they couldn't even get near her. After about an hour of chasing her around my DH comes back home and says "You go get her!". We drove down to the field. I got out of the truck, lead rope in hand. I started walking toward her saying "Come ere Rosy Bosy" and she started walking toward me. We met in the middle and she let me clip the lead rope on her without a fuss.
I turned around to see four males looking at us like a space ship just dropped us off.

What do they expect? I'm the one that feeds her every day...

Mule Fool · 11-26-2007, 11:11 PM

The other day Matt and I were getting ready to go somewhere and he said he would bring in Jen from the pasture for me since I was still getting ready. I finally go out and he's still in the pasture with her in a stand off. As soon as I opened the gate she let him catch her.

TxHorseMom · 11-27-2007, 03:52 AM

I try to see and scratch Fred every day. Some days he lets me, others the doesn't. I don't try to push him though. I think we'll skip the round pen, unless he wanders in it, then I may try what Range does. We've had Fred between 6-9 months now. He is so funny, he is NOT afraid of my car. The other day he was standing in the driveway and I almost had to bump him to get him to move! (going very slowly of course.)

AllUpHill · 12-16-2007, 05:34 PM

We have 2 of the very pesky variety. They follow us everywhere, take our tools if we turn our back too long, untie shoe laces anything they can sneak up and get away with -and boy can they jump! Our baby (1 yr old and 13 hands) jumped a 40" gate from a standstill. And they are comical - We put some barrels in the pasture for my daughter to ride her horses around but the donkeys would knock them over and roll them away as we went.

If they trust you they are hard to get rid of - if you are a suspicious character they wait and watch before sharing their antics. And they are so darn cute I just can't get upset about it all.

Norman set for his close up.

Norman working very hard to get my attention, Side stepping all the way down the fence with his head over keeping an eye on me.

Sadie, 40" of sweet love unless Norman is reaching for her treats.

11-25-2007, 06:26 AM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	Are they all that shy? I've owned 3 donkeys in my life. The first was Festus. He wouldn't let you get NEAR him unless you had food, and you were lucky if you could touch him then. But he did his job (guarding against critters) so we weren't worried about it until he started stealing the horses food. Since we couldn't really get near him, we couldn't move him or confine him during feeding time. Feet were impossible to do. For worming we would have to top dress his feed with wormer. He was traded for a pony. The next donkey was Elvis. He was/is the cutest thing. Although he wasn't as bad a Festus, he still was very shy. He would come up to you and very carefully sniff your hand. You could pat him occasionally and if you "caught" him he was fine and would let you do the necessary things. It was like he wanted attention but was afraid of people. We had him since he was aprox 6 months old, and with the exception of gelding, he was never hurt by us. (took him a long time to forgive us for that!) We recently gave Elvis to a friend who really likes him and since we have stopped breeding (with the exception of those who are already bred) we didn't need 2 guard donkeys. The third donkey is Fred. He is a very sweet boy. He is still shy, but will let you come up to him and pat him and scratch him if you approach him very slowly. (no sudden moves) My question is this. Are they ALL that shy? Are they just less trusting than horses? I don't have lots of experience with them so I am not sure if that is just what we are experiencing or they are all that way.

11-25-2007, 07:50 AM
seloc Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 75	I have had 4. My first 3 (1 jack and 2 jennies) the jack was very friendly and not shy at all, but the jennies were very shy. They were all 2-5 years old and not sure of their pasts. I now have a 2 yr. old gelded mini jack that I have had since he was 4 months old. He is INCREDIBLY friendly (to a fault). I think it is common for them to be put out to pasture to protect with little interaction, or abused because they are so stubborn. Do you know the history on them?

11-25-2007, 07:52 AM
Rebecca Started Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East Texas Posts: 2,748	Our donkey did not like to be touched or groomed. __________________ Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. - Job 37:21

11-25-2007, 10:40 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Jen my mule was very shy and suspicious when I got her. I could catch her, brush her, do feet, etc, and while she would not kick or bite she was VERY tense and would sometimes try to bolt if I did something not quite right(Not sure what). I just tried to work quietly with her, not tip toeing around, but always calm. I also worked her in the round pen mostly to work on drawing her to me and to look at me as a comfortable place. I'd say now after 3 years she is mostly comfortable and at ease with me, and she loves to be rubbed and have her ears stroked and her butt scratched. Still I'd say maybe 10% of the time she looks at me like I've got two heads and I need to remind her I'm okay. when she does that instead of continuing toward her I step back and draw her to me. That somehow seems to break something loose and she seems to remember I'm okay. I think it all has to do with the HIGHLY developed self protection aspect. It's funny though, she seems to know mule folks. she's almost always friendly with them, but horse people she is shy of. wierd!

11-25-2007, 10:48 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,631	Hmm...I haven't met many donkeys, but all three of the ones I have interacted with were absolute Pests! In your pocket, in your face, in your lap, in your way Pests. __________________

11-25-2007, 11:02 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,684	I think they have a more well developed "prey" instinct. Our donkey is extremely friendly and in your face with ME. Not anyone else. However, I'm the one who gives him treats, feeds him, grooms him, loves on him, and basically does everything for him. He's extremely suspicious of ANYone else. We've had him for 5 years, since he was 6 months old. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

11-25-2007, 08:50 PM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	I am not sure of any of their pasts. They were all bought at the auction. (seperate times) I do know that Fred was used as a breeding donkey. He was sold with a bunch of Jennies and the guy kept trying to sell me a jennie or two to "breed" to Fred. He is fairly friendly to all of us, but as I said, he seems fairly nervous at first until I'm actually scratching him. How do you work them in the roundpen? Is it similar to working horses? I'm sorry if it's a dumb question, but I am really unknowledgable about donkeys.

11-26-2007, 06:52 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,684	Speaking from my experience, it's not the same. You have to earn a donkey's respect and trust and the round pen isn't really the place to do it at first. They will see you as a predator and will consistently run from you. Now, I have round penned my donk - AFTER I got him to trust me and after he'd seen all his buddies do it. It was more a matter of "fun" for him. He got in there, trotted twice both directions, cantered twice both directions, and then he was done. I just stood in the middle, issued no commands. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

11-26-2007, 07:15 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,259	My donkey is quite cautious who he'll let near him too, but I'm glad to say he seems pretty trusting of me ! It took time, patience, and work though, but I never tried the round pen. He didn't lead well enough for me to get him that far, so the idea never even occured to me . He's pretty good with my son, who has even climbed on his back a few times out on the pasture, while Gus was laying down. One time I turned around to see he had done it again, and Gus got up and started speed walking away from me , while my son went for a ride in a 20 acre pasture. I started walking out at an angle and talking to Gus and saying "easy boy" and he stopped, and waited for me to get my son off, it was pretty scary, but in the end I was proud of Gus. He doesn't really like to let other kids near him though, he tends to just walk away - before they do something like go and get ON him . They're just really smart, and have a real sense of self preservation, and I just found that bringing him treats, giving him scratches, etc and trying to handle him for good stuff, not just the wormings, needles, etc - made all the difference with Gus. Good luck with Fred! __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

11-26-2007, 09:36 PM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,208	I've have about the same experienced at everyone above. My donks are a bit shy and as long as I approach them slowly they are fine but they don't really relax until I start scratching on them. After that, they realize I mean them no harm. Funny story... our jenny got out one day and ended up down the road in a large grassy area next to a local Amish school. My husband drove down to catch her (I stayed with the kids). Between him and three Amish guys helping they couldn't even get near her. After about an hour of chasing her around my DH comes back home and says "You go get her!". We drove down to the field. I got out of the truck, lead rope in hand. I started walking toward her saying "Come ere Rosy Bosy" and she started walking toward me. We met in the middle and she let me clip the lead rope on her without a fuss. I turned around to see four males looking at us like a space ship just dropped us off. What do they expect? I'm the one that feeds her every day... __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

11-26-2007, 11:11 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	The other day Matt and I were getting ready to go somewhere and he said he would bring in Jen from the pasture for me since I was still getting ready. I finally go out and he's still in the pasture with her in a stand off. As soon as I opened the gate she let him catch her.

11-27-2007, 03:52 AM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	I try to see and scratch Fred every day. Some days he lets me, others the doesn't. I don't try to push him though. I think we'll skip the round pen, unless he wanders in it, then I may try what Range does. We've had Fred between 6-9 months now. He is so funny, he is NOT afraid of my car. The other day he was standing in the driveway and I almost had to bump him to get him to move! (going very slowly of course.)

12-16-2007, 05:34 PM
AllUpHill Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Posts: 651	We have 2 of the very pesky variety. They follow us everywhere, take our tools if we turn our back too long, untie shoe laces anything they can sneak up and get away with -and boy can they jump! Our baby (1 yr old and 13 hands) jumped a 40" gate from a standstill. And they are comical - We put some barrels in the pasture for my daughter to ride her horses around but the donkeys would knock them over and roll them away as we went. If they trust you they are hard to get rid of - if you are a suspicious character they wait and watch before sharing their antics. And they are so darn cute I just can't get upset about it all. Norman set for his close up. Norman working very hard to get my attention, Side stepping all the way down the fence with his head over keeping an eye on me. Sadie, 40" of sweet love unless Norman is reaching for her treats. Last edited by AllUpHill : 12-16-2007 at 05:37 PM.