Question for Donkey experts

StefanieLeann14 · 02-17-2008, 02:28 PM

I have heard from a lot of people they use donkeys to help halter break their calves. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I was also wondering what kind would be best for this type of work? What would be a safe way to attach the calf and the donkey?

cascy · 02-17-2008, 02:33 PM

I've not heard of it on calves, I've heard some farmers used donkey's to halter break thier foals though...

They just put the (oh crud, now i don't remember the word for it...) harness thingy and goes around the neck??? on the donkey and tie the foal to it. Leave them together for a couple days and let the donkey pull the foal around.

I don't htink i would personally do that though... Seems awful risky to me...

I have used our older horse thought and let them pull a colt around while I was with them leading the older horse, I don't think I would be comfortable leaving them together without supervision though

StefanieLeann14 · 02-17-2008, 03:37 PM

Oh they would be supervised. I wouldnt leave them tied for days. That would be more than a little uncomfortable for the donkey and the calf lol. But I thought it might be good to do for a couple hours while we are in the barn or riding in the pens. You know when we are still close enough that if something happened we would be right there. I think I know what you mean though. Im not real knowledgeable about harnesses but I think I have an idea. Hmm. So the donkey would probably need to be broke to drive to have that sort of equipment on it. Am I right?

cascy · 02-17-2008, 03:46 PM

Well it's just like a collar, and donkey pretty much pulls around colt (or calf) where ever donkey decides he wants to go (hence learning ot lead)... I don't think he'd need to know how to drive per say, the colt won't be steering donkey.

I don't know, I think I just perfer to do it myself vs. having the donkey do it, or if the colt is to big for me to handle, I lead the older horse (or donkey) since they are more stout then I am and colt follows suit....

Hope that helps

StefanieLeann14 · 02-17-2008, 03:51 PM

Well I just meant that it may be better than one that wasnt broke to drive since it would be wearing that sort of gear. Who knows what would happen if the donkey wasnt used to the stuff on him and then a calf following him around lol!

AlbertaGirl · 02-17-2008, 06:00 PM

Read this thread, it was about using donkeys to teach young horses to lead, but also has a link to another thread with a picture of a donkey teaching a calf to lead. Hope it will help

Little donkey "trainers"

StefanieLeann14 · 02-17-2008, 09:21 PM

Thank you Alberta Girl! I will read it.

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02-17-2008, 02:28 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Question for Donkey experts I have heard from a lot of people they use donkeys to help halter break their calves. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I was also wondering what kind would be best for this type of work? What would be a safe way to attach the calf and the donkey?

02-17-2008, 02:33 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,006	I've not heard of it on calves, I've heard some farmers used donkey's to halter break thier foals though... They just put the (oh crud, now i don't remember the word for it...) harness thingy and goes around the neck??? on the donkey and tie the foal to it. Leave them together for a couple days and let the donkey pull the foal around. I don't htink i would personally do that though... Seems awful risky to me... I have used our older horse thought and let them pull a colt around while I was with them leading the older horse, I don't think I would be comfortable leaving them together without supervision though __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-17-2008, 03:37 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Oh they would be supervised. I wouldnt leave them tied for days. That would be more than a little uncomfortable for the donkey and the calf lol. But I thought it might be good to do for a couple hours while we are in the barn or riding in the pens. You know when we are still close enough that if something happened we would be right there. I think I know what you mean though. Im not real knowledgeable about harnesses but I think I have an idea. Hmm. So the donkey would probably need to be broke to drive to have that sort of equipment on it. Am I right?

02-17-2008, 03:46 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,006	Well it's just like a collar, and donkey pretty much pulls around colt (or calf) where ever donkey decides he wants to go (hence learning ot lead)... I don't think he'd need to know how to drive per say, the colt won't be steering donkey. I don't know, I think I just perfer to do it myself vs. having the donkey do it, or if the colt is to big for me to handle, I lead the older horse (or donkey) since they are more stout then I am and colt follows suit.... Hope that helps __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

02-17-2008, 03:51 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Well I just meant that it may be better than one that wasnt broke to drive since it would be wearing that sort of gear. Who knows what would happen if the donkey wasnt used to the stuff on him and then a calf following him around lol!

02-17-2008, 06:00 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,259	Read this thread, it was about using donkeys to teach young horses to lead, but also has a link to another thread with a picture of a donkey teaching a calf to lead. Hope it will help Little donkey "trainers" __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

02-17-2008, 09:21 PM
StefanieLeann14 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 705	Thank you Alberta Girl! I will read it.