Donkey training

[SophiStrut]

I need some serious advice on how to get my pregnant mini Donkey to trust me and let me close. I bought Ms. Dolly last Nov. (over the phone) as a companion to my almost blind 24 yr old jenny, Nellie Mae. I bought her the very day I had to let my mare cross the river to eternity. She was 12 when I bought her. She was treated BADLY the first 5 yrs of her life, then this lady aquired her and put her in a pasture for 7 yrs and didn't mess with her at all. I found this out after she was mine, of course! It's been 5 months and I don't seem to be getting anywhere with her. I can't get closer than 12 inches to her. She runs away in the pasture. She rears up in the stall, kicks out and starts running in circles. I don't want her to get hurt in the process and mistrust ppl (me) more or worse cause her to go into labor. HELP!

[HorseMomToSage]

I don't have any advice except to give her time and be patient. If you have a place that is larger than a stall but smaller than a pasture maybe put her in there and have her start getting used to you. Don't try to pet her, just be there. Sit in a chair, read a book. Talk to her. Make her rely on you for food. It's hard after 12 years but love will win in the end.

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

I know all about wild minis. When I moved in these here were UNTOUCHABLE.


Be warned! This is going to be LONG!

I tell you the most sure fire way is when they get sick and require constant care. I have had to do so with ones that were very wild, so fearful they were dangerous. Within a week, they were very calm.

Here are my suggestions... You need to get her out of the big pasture. You need to have her in a small area were you can easily approach and she cannot run into the great wide open. The area needs to be safe. She will test the walls, fence, anything. Get the halter on her. This takes one good time of some 'donkey wrangling'. Minis are strong... make sure you have help.

To do this, the safest way I have found is to corner her and place a hand on her back. Typically, a fearful donkey will freeze. Soothe her with your voice while some puts a rope on her, holds her still long enough to put the halter on. Make sure it isn't too tight but won't come off. This may very well take 4 people--- 3 to do the above and one to call 9-11 when she rears up and comes down on someone. Joking about that, but do be careful.

During this process I pick a word that lets them know what's going on. I usually repeat the word "caught". After so many times of doing this.. they may just freeze and let you do all this alone, once they know they are 'caught'.

Bring treats... and have someone hold her the first few times. She will pull, the best thing to do is when she takes off is to pull her in a circle like you were lunging her. She can't get the momentuem up that way to take off and possibly hurt herself.

Make it routine. Make it enjoyable as possible, treats and itchies. She will probably be more comfortable with your hand on her neck and upper back. Don't touch the ears, rump or feet until she is used to this.

I leave the halter on in confined spaces... provided thier isn't anything for them to catch themself on. I try to do everyday things around them (I like to gentle them in my backyard... they see every day stuff, coming and goings,ect) I spend alot of time ignoring them. If they are used to you giving them attention when you are around, they will expect to be caught. Most of the time they get disappointed they aren't getting attention and come to you, even if it's just a few curious steps toward you it is progress!

They are very smart animals. They are also herd animals. I have found the best tool I can possibly have in gentling them is another donkey that is already gentle. I can't stress that enough! It makes this whole process so much easier!

I hope this info helps... the main thing is to make it as safe as possible for both of you. I do leave a lead rope on my babies to get them used to the leading thing, just for about 15 minutes at time. They step on it and learn to give to pressure but I would not recommend this until she is comfortable with you and the space she is in. If she is still pacy don't leave the rope on. When she's content to mosey around and be petted is the time to begin lead breaking.

Best of luck to you! If you have additional questions let me know!

[SophiStrut]

"Very Strong" is an understatement! Nellie Mae is little but when the vet tried to float her teeth after being sedated 3 times, it still took 5 ppl to hold her. I have been sitting close to Dolly for 30min to an hour twice every day for 5 months. I cuddle, brush, massage Nellie with Dolly staring, everyday. I talk softly the whole time. She is curious but can't push through her fear. She's smelled my hair once when I was kneeling to cuddle with Nellie but that's it. She won't take any treats, won't even eat them from the feed bin. I was hoping it wouldn't come down to "wrangling" her. Gosh, I don't know if my friends would join in the fun. They've seen her antics and already thinks she might be the donkey from down-under and they don't mean Australia! I might have to hire some Buccaroos!

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

How tall is she? The tallest one here is 36", she's quite the handful.

I sure wish I was closer... I'd love to help...It may be best in your situation however to hold off any wrangling until the baby comes... and a while after that since a stressed donkey is more likely to abandon a foal.

What I would do in your situation is bring her into an enclosed area since she's close to foaling, since you'll have to clean the baby's navel and make sure everything goes well. I have found little donkeys have a lot of trouble getting thier bowels working right and diarehha (sp) can cause them to go downhill quick. You'll need to keep them in a place were you can "monitor the poopies" as I call it.

Don't forget to post pics!!

Oh yeah, sedation is tricky in mini donkeys... I know how that is! They are a lot different than horses!

[SophiStrut]

Ms. Dolly is not very "mini", she looks to be 40". She's HUGE compared to my 32" darling Nellie Mae. I feed her in the stall with Nellie in there and while she ate I picked the stall. She was terribly nervous but I didn't give her the chance to run out. I moved really slow and talked softly without looking at her. When I was done she seemed to sigh. I can't even imagine what's going on in her head. Poor thing! I think you're right. I'll close her in when it's gets closer to the due date. Let her have her time with the baby and then start getting more hands on. Hopefully she'll come around before that. You don't think she'll get really protective of her baby? I'm new to this baby stuff. I'll be sure to be on poop patrol! LOL Thanks for the advice!

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

I have never, ever had a donkey get 'mean' over a baby.... I have had them run behind me crying b/c I moved thier baby for one reason or another! But it is a possiblity she could be defensive, like I said though... I've never seen any aggression before... I have had 2 abandoned babies I had to hand raise. It was for no reason either... I had no idea the jenny in question had even foaled!

I'm happy to report both babies ended up being just fine being hand raised, just a little species confused.

It will take a lot of time to get your Jenny comfortable about people... it is slow going when you are having to be careful not to stress her. Once the baby comes though and she is good and bonded is when 'invasive' stuff will come into play.

Donkeys are alot different than horses I have learned, just conveying the idea you aren't going to hurt them doesn't always work, especailly with the tricky cases (sounds like your Jenny has alot of emotional baggage!) Sometimes it takes you showing them you are not going to hurt them...

For example I have a jenny right now (not mine but I'm taking care of her) with a bad case of fungal infection. The vet had to trim a good portion of her hoof off. The bad news? She is wild as she can be and the hoof needs soaked for 20 minutes 2X a day!

Amazingly, after only a week I can put a hand on her, tell she's caught, put the lead on her halter and put her foot in the bucket. She will stand there for as long as you want her to. She doesn't too much like it but has learned we aren't going to hurt her, just annoy a little.

They are so smart it sometimes amazes me. This Jenny I'm talking about was so wild before it took 4 people to catch her...We just showed her that we would catch her and when we did, we weren't going to eat her.

Good luck... I'd LOVE to see pics of your little problem child!

[SophiStrut]

My problem child! LOL

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

Awwwwwwwwwwwww....... I love her... she looks so serious! My prediction is you care alot about her and she'll come around even if it takes her awhile... the harder they are to make friends with, the better friends they make!