Little donkey "trainers"

Crazy4paints · 01-19-2008, 04:49 PM

Hey all,
I was wondering if any of you use donkeys, to teach your young horses to lead and get them halter broke? I have seen this done a few times, and thought, it looked like a neat idea. If anyone has had good ,or bad experience with using them, I would appreciate hearing your stories, before buying one and trying it out, even if it does'nt work, I think I MUST have a little donk of my very own, they are cute little boogers

AlbertaGirl · 01-19-2008, 04:57 PM

I haven't used my donkey to teach a horse to lead, as he himself did not know how to lead until recently - lol! It does sound like a neat idea though, and someone did once post a photo of their donkey doing that with a calf. Here is the thread What Do Your Donkeys Do?

And yes, you do need a donkey, they're great

dproaps · 01-19-2008, 06:21 PM

I use to have an old donkey that would teach my young ones to lead. He had a rather unorthodox way of doing it though. I would put the young one in the pasture with a halter on and John Henry (the donkey) would grab the halter in his teeth and pull the little fellar around. Worked every time, pretty soon they just went along wherever JH said. Wish I had thought to get a video of it.

John Henry lived well into his thirties (he was over 20 when we rescued him) and was worth his weight in gold.

Chic · 01-19-2008, 08:23 PM

I have heard of it but haven't tried it myself. Might have to try it later in the summer.

Bandit · 01-19-2008, 09:22 PM

Interesting concept. My donkey seems more interested in following me around like a puppy dog than teaching any of the horses to lead.

**TDH** · 01-19-2008, 09:27 PM

A friend of mine has used a donkey to teach youngsters to lead, with success. You do have to keep an eye out though, that an accident doesn't happen, what with having 2 equids tied together.

Crazy4paints · 01-20-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDH

A friend of mine has used a donkey to teach youngsters to lead, with success. You do have to keep an eye out though, that an accident doesn't happen, what with having 2 equids tied together.

Yes, that is what sort of scares me about trying it. I suppose you give them just enough slack to lower their head to graze. If I decide on trying it, Im going to look for a donk thats already been doing it for awhile, sort of a "professional" at his job

iris_surreal_euphoria · 01-20-2008, 01:47 PM

I use Payne my mini to teach other young minis how to lead. She want to follow me and they want to follow her. We just form a big donkey train.

Word to the wise, though: It can be dangerous. Always use a lead donkey that is easy going and the one learning to lead needs to have some expirence being restrained. I teach stand tied first. For donkeys, it seems like that one is easier. Also, I never tie Payne to someone stronger than her. It does work though!

missa · 02-05-2008, 05:42 PM

I had just recently heard of this method on a website for a ranch that raises over 80 foals a year. They explain how they do it and even have pics.

pasopony · 02-06-2008, 01:15 PM

I have an OLD brochure from AQHA from when I was a kid. It explained the procedure and had an actual picture of a donkey with a colt tied to its neck. This has been done for years

MatchMaker · 02-06-2008, 09:00 PM

they also use donkeys to lead bulls around apparently. I have never seen it done, but I've heard of it.

mustbeme · 02-26-2008, 02:23 PM

The trick is to use a donkey that is NOT broke to lead its self, otherwise it will let the other animal lead it around.........but you have to be careful not to get one that will kick TOO much, or they can really cause harm to the young one.

Our Lulabell earns us extra vacation money every summer, about a month before fair there is ALWAYS someone who has put off braking a calf or just has a really stuburn one. They spend a few days tied to her and get a much better attitude about leading.

ToveroMom · 02-26-2008, 04:27 PM

They are called necking donkeys and sometimes you can find trained ones for lease during the season.

AlbertaGirl · 02-26-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToveroMom

They are called "necking donkeys" and sometimes you can find trained ones for lease during the season.

First thing that comes to mind is a donkey make-out session

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01-19-2008, 04:49 PM
Crazy4paints Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 1,699	Little donkey "trainers" Hey all, I was wondering if any of you use donkeys, to teach your young horses to lead and get them halter broke? I have seen this done a few times, and thought, it looked like a neat idea. If anyone has had good ,or bad experience with using them, I would appreciate hearing your stories, before buying one and trying it out, even if it does'nt work, I think I MUST have a little donk of my very own, they are cute little boogers __________________ Offering for your pleasure and enjoyment,exceptional AQHA and APHA Palomino horses.

01-19-2008, 04:57 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,259	I haven't used my donkey to teach a horse to lead, as he himself did not know how to lead until recently - lol! It does sound like a neat idea though, and someone did once post a photo of their donkey doing that with a calf. Here is the thread What Do Your Donkeys Do? And yes, you do need a donkey, they're great __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

01-19-2008, 06:21 PM
dproaps Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 1,489	I use to have an old donkey that would teach my young ones to lead. He had a rather unorthodox way of doing it though. I would put the young one in the pasture with a halter on and John Henry (the donkey) would grab the halter in his teeth and pull the little fellar around. Worked every time, pretty soon they just went along wherever JH said. Wish I had thought to get a video of it. John Henry lived well into his thirties (he was over 20 when we rescued him) and was worth his weight in gold. __________________ Those who suffer with the suffering are dancing to the rhythm of God.

01-19-2008, 08:23 PM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,207	I have heard of it but haven't tried it myself. Might have to try it later in the summer. __________________ 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

01-19-2008, 09:22 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	Interesting concept. My donkey seems more interested in following me around like a puppy dog than teaching any of the horses to lead. __________________

01-19-2008, 09:27 PM
TDH Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,202	A friend of mine has used a donkey to teach youngsters to lead, with success. You do have to keep an eye out though, that an accident doesn't happen, what with having 2 equids tied together. __________________ You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

01-20-2008, 01:47 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,051	I use Payne my mini to teach other young minis how to lead. She want to follow me and they want to follow her. We just form a big donkey train. Word to the wise, though: It can be dangerous. Always use a lead donkey that is easy going and the one learning to lead needs to have some expirence being restrained. I teach stand tied first. For donkeys, it seems like that one is easier. Also, I never tie Payne to someone stronger than her. It does work though! __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

02-05-2008, 05:42 PM
missa Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oklahoma Posts: 821	I had just recently heard of this method on a website for a ranch that raises over 80 foals a year. They explain how they do it and even have pics.

02-06-2008, 01:15 PM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 808	I have an OLD brochure from AQHA from when I was a kid. It explained the procedure and had an actual picture of a donkey with a colt tied to its neck. This has been done for years __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

02-06-2008, 09:00 PM
MatchMaker Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 175	they also use donkeys to lead bulls around apparently. I have never seen it done, but I've heard of it.

02-26-2008, 02:23 PM
mustbeme Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 72	The trick is to use a donkey that is NOT broke to lead its self, otherwise it will let the other animal lead it around.........but you have to be careful not to get one that will kick TOO much, or they can really cause harm to the young one. Our Lulabell earns us extra vacation money every summer, about a month before fair there is ALWAYS someone who has put off braking a calf or just has a really stuburn one. They spend a few days tied to her and get a much better attitude about leading.

02-26-2008, 04:27 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,296	They are called necking donkeys and sometimes you can find trained ones for lease during the season. __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson