Welcome donkey lovers, my name is Melody Johnson, I love donkeys. I began my business in 2013 after getting frustrated with the lack of tack and training available for donkeys. I am the voice for the donkey. I train the owner or caretaker worldwide how to tame and train the donkey using resistance-free exercises, never pain. I do not teach clicker training (R). I teach you how to use words, voice, facial expressions, timing and quality exercises that are powerful for you and your donkey to build a fantastic relationship. Donkeys are smart, not stubborn. Donkeys have a photographic memory. Donkeys bond for life to the animal or human they trust. Donkeys are gifts from God. All of my training series (video on demand) is sold with lifetime access and can be accessed using any smart device, take me to the farm with you.

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® E-Training Courses Order in our store Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand, print out my E-book located in the first video of all of my training series.
Donkey hoof abscess video on demand. Print out my shopping list located in the first video.
Donkey Trailer Loading video on demand. Print out my E-book located in the first video to speed up your learning time. I am training you to learn how to become a fair leader each time you step into your donkeys space.

Training a donkey is a bit different from a horse as donkeys are deep thinkers. Donkeys naturally push into pressure using our soft yacht rope halter with strategically placed fiador knots is a game-changer. Once you use our soft yacht rope halter and lead line you will never go back to the flat halter.

How can I clean my tack? Wash in a bucket of warm soapy water and dry. Donkey Whisperer Farm ® soft yacht rope will never shrink is mildew, frail, dirt, rot, and UV resistant. This means that your tack will stay in its original form longer, without breaking, fading saving you money.

Thank you for investing in your donkey,

Melody Johnson, Trainer, and Owner
E-mail melody@donkeywhisperer.com
Donkeywhisperer.com

“Horses Dream Of Being Trained The Way A Donkey Demands To Be Trained” Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Blog

Featured / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Does A Donkey Need A Blanket?

September 19, 2023September 20, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkey Care:

Donkeys evolved from the desert, donkeys are not horses with long ears. Healthy young donkeys can usually handle winter. Please remember extreme wind chill and cold can kill even the most healthy animal if preventive care is not provided. Donkeys are stoic meaning they hide pain. I do not blanket a donkey because I am cold I blanket a donkey due to health needs. A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready in case of an emergency. Once you blanket any equine it is important to check the blanket every day for dampness rubs etc., Always replace a wet blanket with a dry blanket quickly. Remove the winter blanket when the weather is back to rain. I do not blanket my donkeys in the rain as they have shelter.

Providing preventative action to prevent colic, hyperthermia should be every donkey owners plan of action. Think about the part of the world you live in, do you get into the the teens and lower with the wind chill? If you said yes, you need to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Are you looking for a miniature donkey blanket? Order Miniature donkey blanket in my store Donkeywhisperer.com.

How do I keep my donkeys healthy during winter?

Provide shelter to get out of the rain, snow and wind. Use a slow feeder provide three meals a day during extreme cold and wind. Provide clean warm water and lose granular free salt with minerals add selenium if your hay does not have it and remove if your hay has selenium. Make sure your donkey has his/her teeth checked by a veterinarian at least once a year. Provide a worming schedule using fecal samples, fecal samples do not show tape worms so always give ivermectrin after the first frost. Over worming creates resistance parasites. I send fecals to my vet in the spring and fall.

When does a donkey need a warm dry blanket?

Donkey is shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea, stands still frozen, tail tucked and the ears are very cold. Frost bite is a major concern for donkeys as they are more prone to it than a horse. Senior donkeys, donkeys with health illness such as cushings and endocrine metabolic disorder and obese donkeys need to have a blanket that fits and is ready to go. Donkeys that have cushings and endocrine metabolic disorders need a blanket right before the weather drops into freezing as these donkeys cannot regulate their body temperature. Even fat donkeys age eleven or older can start shivering and shaking from the cold.

How difficult is it to find a blanket to fit a donkey?

Very difficult as most companies sell horse blankets not donkey blankets. Make sure you measure your donkey correctly avoiding having to return the blanket for a new size.

How do I measure my donkey for a blanket?

Thank you for investing in your donkey,

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey has a lump

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Please understand donkeys are not horses with long ears. Donkeys have a unique biological system that needs to be treated by a veterinarian experienced with donkeys. Please be sure and ask your veterinarian to do his/her research before treating a donkey with drugs and surgery. Please ask your veterinarian to check all lumps you find quickly.

What causes sarcoids?

No one knows for sure what causes sarcoids, but we do know that:

they are infectious and linked to a virus called ‘bovine papilloma virus’
flies play a role in their spread so insect control is important, particularly during the summer months.
certain animals are more susceptible than others. All equine can get a sarcoid.

Where are sarcoids found?

Sarcoids are most often found on the head, legs and trunk. Male donkeys sadly can develop sarcoids on their pennis or sheath.

Sarcoids may develop at sites of wounds and areas where trauma or injury has occurred.

Use your hands to check your donkey for any new lumps regularly. Include this in your daily grooming routine.

Drug Metabolism In Donkeys:

Donkeys digest drugs different from a horse. Donkeys process drugs much faster than the horse. As a result, practitioners should prescribe drugs carefully less is more with donkeys to ensure the donkey does not over dose and die from the drug. Each donkey is a unique individual some donkeys need far less drugs for pain or sedation so again its best to treat each donkey with extreme caution to drugs and sedation.

Resources:

U.K Donkey Sanctuary

Sarcoids Bell Equine Veterinary

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Miniature Donkey Singing

August 8, 2023August 9, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Miniature Donkey Singing

Donkeys are emotional and intelligent beings. Read five sounds a donkey can make.

Did you know only a few donkeys can sing?

Yes its true! Rocket Man is the only donkey on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® that can sing. Did you know that some donkeys never bray? Introverted donkeys do not bray ever. They communicate a bit differently and are always deep inside their head, donkeys are seriously deep thinkers.

Donkey 101 & 102 video on demand with my E-book trains the owner or caretaker how to train the donkey using resistance free exercises proven to work worldwide. Take trainer Melody Johnson to the farm with you using any smart device connected to the internet.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Paradise Paddock Track

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Watch our six donkeys one standard, two formerly wild burro’s and three miniature donkeys running and playing on our mares (horses) track. Enjoy!

How can I create a track for my equine?

Read the book Paddock Paradise, Jaimie Jackson for some ideas. We have three tracks on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®, one connected to our mares (horses) shelter, one to the standard and burro’s shelter and one connected to the miniature donkeys shelter. Due to the diet of the miniature donkeys they need their own shelter and paddock. After meals we let them go out with the larger donkeys on the track.

Do I feed our equine on the track? No. The equine love to try and find food on the track and love to walk, run and play. I want them to walk or run back to the shelter to get water and salt. Please understand in the wild horses and donkeys walk fifteen to twenty five miles a day. The track keeps them fit, prevents obesity, laminitis, stops cribbing for horses and well its a paddock paradise.

What size is the track?

Twelve feet wide corners are twenty one feet to run and lay on. We drive the A.T.V with the cart behind to pick up the poop once a day. Remember to mow and bag the grass before letting the equine on the track. The track is for exercise, mental and emotional enrichment. Meals are fed in the shelter with portion control.

Materials:

Electro-braid hot wire

Tee posts with caps

Gate connecting to the track and back to the shelter.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner
Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Bonded Donkeys What Do I Do When One Dies

July 12, 2023July 13, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Please understand that when donkeys are bonded its for life. To learn more read my blog post Goodbye Tuba It is vital that we show the living donkeys the body before burying if we do not the donkeys will bray non stop calling for the deceased donkey. Next we must get another donkey or two quickly. Why? Donkeys are intelligent and emotional beings they can grieve so deeply that they stop eating and drinking and can die.

Oboe (red bigger donkey) grieved for seven months after Tuba his bonded companion died. We brought home Mario and Luca a bonded pair to live with Oboe quickly. We watched as they began to push Oboe around the hay he refused to engage as his grief was so great, he was sad missing Tuba.. Finally after seven months he started to play with them and push back on the food. He is now happy and whole again. Please understand that donkeys are emotional beings and highly intelligent be careful to always watch and learn their unique individual personalities so you can take care of them.

Signs of depression or sickness is standing alone not engaging with the other donkeys, laying down way too much and their eyes staring off into the blank world.

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Fireworks and Pets Not A Good Combination:

Plan ahead to keep pets safe; owning pets is a huge responsibility and for those of us who have equine (donkeys, horses, and mules) living in rural areas, we must be extra careful. The equine is a flight or fight animal when terrified of death. Meaning; they can get scared when the fireworks start, and the smell is in the air. Some horses have been known to run into fences. Locking them in their stalls is the safest when neighbors are shooting off fireworks I turn the radio up and give lots of hay and fresh water. Donkeys have died from fear, yes fear. Colic is a life-threatening matter. Donkeys are stoic will not show pain until it is too late. Do your best to stay calm and keep your donkeys, mules, and horses locked up safe in their stall until the fireworks are over. Long-distance fireworks are not that big of a deal, fireworks right over the farm or barn can kill your equine.

Want to read more tips on pet safety and fireworks? Select Blue Cross Pets Fireworks for more details.

Dogs and cats can get so scared of fireworks they can run off and not be able to find their way home best to keep them locked in the house too. Our doggies get very stressed, turning the radio up helps, some people tranquillize their dogs until the fireworks are over. I say do whatever you have to do to keep your pets safe as they don’t understand fireworks. Please remember animals do not understand fireworks “they are truly scared and think they will die.” It’s our job as the smart human to protect them and take care of them.

What do you do to keep your pet(s) safe during the fireworks? Please leave a comment to help others.

Read my blog Fireworks and Pets Is A Bad Mix

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Fireworks Your Animals Need You To Have A Plan

June 25, 2023June 26, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Looking To Adopt Donkeys?

June 15, 2023June 15, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys needing forever homes located at Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in Riverside WA.

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, Riverside WA

Satellite Adoption Center Mgr, Paulette Quiroga-Jacklin

(509) 322-4995

All of these donkeys have went through the training program at Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. Please remember to get two donkeys never one unless you have a lonely donkey needing a buddy. Donkeys need to live with another donkey.

Please remember that even if you get a trained equine, donkey, mule or horse you must do the taming and training yourself. Do not throw out in a pasture and expect the donkey to come when called, halter and get the hooves done. Donkeys are so smart they will train you the owner to do exactly what they want to do and nothing more. The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® teaches the owner how to tame and train donkeys and sells adjustable premium soft yacht rope halter lead combo. Order in our store at Donkeywhisperer.com.

Here are some details of our recent arrival:
We received 8 donkeys. 6 geldings (castrated) and 2 jennies.

Of the geldings, we have:
A 13.5yo pink roan
A 4yo pink roan
A 17yo large brown standard
A 2yo gray standard
A 4.5yo blue roan
A 3yo red roan

Of the jennies, we have:
An 11yo white standard
A 3yo gray standard

Note:
*The 17yo large brown gelding (named Clyde) and the 11yo white standard jenny (named Lilly) are a very bonded couple and must be adopted together. Clyde CANNOT be around any animals smaller than a standard sized donkey.

*The 4yo pink roan (named Bodie) is bonded to 3yo Rowan (a standard brown) and MUST be adopted together.

This is all the information I have for you at this time. Denise Christensen will, once again, be coordinating the donkey adoptions this year. Once she has Completed her prior commitments and is able to come in to the facility to tag the donkeys with their names, we will be able to share current photos and basic history of each donkey with you on this Facebook page.

She will, then start working with each individual donkey to get a feel for their personalities, characteristics and idiosyncrasies to better serve you with assisting in finding the best choice for your farm, family and animal residents.

When she is ready, we will open our gates to the public for our official Donkey Adoption Meet & Greet. In all fairness to everyone, we will not allow anybody to personally meet the donkeys ahead of the official adoption meet & greet. This way, everybody will receive the news at the same time. That is only fair. I hope you understand.

Also, PVDR has adopted a policy change on adopting a single donkey as a companion to a single horse. Due to the many returns we have gotten from owner’s whose horse did not like and/or could not get along with the donkey or the donkey being bullied by their horse, we will only adopt out a single donkey if there is another donkey at the farm. If not, the adopter will be required to adopt 2 donkeys (however the adoption fee will be discounted). Feel free to give me a call, text or email if you have questions, concerns or comments about this new policy.

Paulette Quiroga-Jacklin
Satellite Adoption Center Mgr
(509) 322-4995
wari@pvdr.org

Denise Christensen
Adoption Coordinator
(360) 556-1577
mama_nise@hotmail.com

Donkey Livestock Guardian

June 13, 2023September 15, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Will a donkey make a great livestock guardian?

I am happy to share sixteen years of experience with donkeys. Very few donkeys make great livestock guarding donkeys. Donkeys are intelligent and emotional beings that prefer to live with their own species, eat, drink, play, groom and sleep together along with grabbing the neck, biting, playing tag and tug with a jolly ball. Always get two donkeys geldings with gelding’s jennies with jennies (female), jacks (stallions) must become geldings. Very few donkeys make great guardian donkeys. Why? Donkeys evolved from the desert their diet is strict. Donkeys metabolize food and drugs different than a horse as this is one of their gifts to survive living in the desert forging for food. Please stop and think about what kind of food is in the desert, this is what we are trying to create for donkeys living on the farm.

Donkeys can kill smaller animals quickly by grabbing the neck or stomping to death. Can donkeys live with livestock? Yes and no. Donkeys need a large space and another donkey as listed above and it depends on the donkey as each has a personality and life experience. Miniature donkeys cannot guard anything they need protection. Donkeys need to live on desert pastures to prevent obesity. When livestock babies are born they must be moved away from the donkeys to avoid death by the donkey grabbing and killing the baby by the neck. I highly recommend a Great Pyrenees dog to live with your livestock they are the best and will cost less to care for.

Donkey care is extensive, donkeys need a farrier visit every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter. Donkeys need vet checks at least once a year, dental teeth, and gums yearly, shots in the spring, west Nile, rabies, and tetanus. Donkeys need tested hay 10% or lower ins sugar and protein with portion control. Salt with minerals, no alfalfa, no grains, oats, breads, cookies, vitamins or sweet feed. Do not let donkeys graze on rich grass or brush 24 x 7 as they will become obese and have life threatening side effects, hoof abscesses, fat on the neck, fat pockets, fat in the blood, laminitis, insulin resistance and white line disease of the hoof. Donkeys need shelter, clean water, warm in the winter and some donkeys need a blanket in the winter as they cannot handle the cold as good a horse. Donkeys need exercise, create a hot wire track if you do not live in the desert as the track will turn to dirt or have very little grass on it. https://blog.donkeywhisperer.com/what-a-donkey-needs/

Here is my free video Bringing Your Donkey Home How do I exercise my donkey?

If you need more information sign up under Donkey Trainer https://donkeywhisperer.com/product/donkey-trainer/ I am more than happy to help you set up your farm to bring home two donkeys.

Weight Limit To Ride A Donkey

June 12, 2023September 15, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

How much weight can a donkey carry?

Donkeys can safely carry 20% of their body weight including the saddle and rider. Please be sure your donkey is prepared to work, meaning be an adult and in condition to work. This means that a miniature donkey weighing 300 pounds can carry 60 pounds great for a small child. Donkeys should be full-grown before attempting to do any form of heavy work. Percentage calculator. Donkeys that are sick or geriatric cannot do heavy work without causing serious harm to the animal.

What age is my donkey full-grown?

Miniature donkey age three.

Standard/burro age four.

Mammoth donkey six or seven depending on the height of the donkey

Thank you for investing in your donkey,

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Order Here Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Order from OUR STORE we ship the same day your order is placed for in-stock colors and sizes.

The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® soft yacht rope halter/lead lines will never mold or frail. Dirty. Wash in a bucket of warm soapy water and let dry.

Miniature halters are adjustable from age 4 months to full-grown.

Standard/burro halters are adjustable from age 4 months to full-grown.

Build A Halter for any equine. We teach you how to measure the head and our team will hand build your donkey, mule or horses halter/lead line in 3 working days. We proudly ship worldwide.

Long lines on to 22 feet, short lines, medium lines.

Adjustable miniature donkey soft yacht rope halter with matching 6ft lead line, brass screw-on snap, black leather end.

Build a custom fit soft yacht rope halter with matching lead line. Easy to follow measurement template is in your e-mail with receipt of purchase our team will build your custom halter/lead line in five working days. Small 6ft lead line, medium 9ft, large 12ft or ask for any length to customize. Colors of soft yacht rope available black, forest green, coral pink, rainbow, neon orange, neon green, blue, deep blue, purple, red, turquoise, gray, and white.

Donkey Halter (soft yacht rope) made to fit the donkey’s head not the horse. We ship internationally. Looking for a quote to ship out of the U.S.A.? E-mail us at melody@donkeywhisperer.com we will get your order processed fast.

Made by hand in the U.S.A. Free Shipping In The USA For All Orders $150.00 Or More.

Standard/burro adjustable soft yacht rope halter with matching 9ft lead line, brass screw-on snap, black leather end.

Donkey Halter Made To Fit The Donkey Not The Horse

May 24, 2023June 6, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 1 Comment

Donkey Bald Patch

May 23, 2023June 16, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys’ fur and hooves do not like to stay wet.

Donkeys can get bald patches any time of the year. Donkeys love to grab (bite) the neck, hip and nip at the legs sometimes pulling large chunks of fur out. When you see this put a little neosporin on the skin. Then there is lice the most common in donkeys due to the birds pooping, immune system and the long fur coat on the donkey. Check for lice, ticks, and mites. ULTRA BOSS oil based work much better than powders due to the donkey’s thick and long fur coat. Pour down the top of the neck to the end of the tale, (do not get in the eyes) rub in deep with a brush to get past all the thick donkey fur. Repeat in seven days as this will kill the lice but not the lice eggs. The second dose kills the eggs. Please check your donkeys body every day.

Bald patches on donkeys normally develop in the spring, late winter and fall but can occur any time of the year. Donkeys have longer hair than a horse. Donkeys are more susceptible to rain rot than horses. Make sure your donkey has access to shelter as clumps of hair fall out and bald patches develop.

Fungus and rain rot can grow on donkeys, making flakey skin and clumps of hair coming out to raw skin. As soon as the weather is 70 degrees I give all our donkeys and horses a good bath with antiseptic fungus shampoo and cream rinse. Tie up the donkeys next to their donkey buddy. I never spray water in my donkeys or horses’ faces. I wash gently wash their face with a wash cloth. Get the donkeys body wet before adding the medicated shampoo. Select Virbac medicated shampoo leave on for fifteen minutes use conditioner. In severe cases use betadine as a shampoo do not dilute it, will not foam up on the skin, leave on for fifteen minutes before rinsing and add the conditioner.

If after doing all of the above your donkey has not healed and started growing their hair back please call your vet as your donkey may have allergies. Donkeys can have allergies in the spring and summer just like people needing Antihistamines and in some case the dog pill apoquel will work.

Help My Donkey Has A Bald Spot

May 22, 2023June 16, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 7 Comments

Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys’ fur and hooves do not like to stay wet.

Donkeys can get bald patches any time of the year. Donkeys love to grab (bite) the neck, hip and nip at the legs sometimes pulling large chunks of fur out. When you see this put a little neosporin on the skin. Then there is lice the most common in donkeys due to the birds pooping, immune system and the long fur coat on the donkey. Check for lice, ticks, and mites. ULTRA BOSS oil based work much better than powders due to the donkey’s thick and long fur coat. Pour down the top of the neck to the end of the tale, (do not get in the eyes) rub in deep with a brush to get past all the thick donkey fur. Repeat in seven days as this will kill the lice but not the lice eggs. The second dose kills the eggs. Please check your donkeys body every day.

As soon as the weather is 70 degrees give a good bath with antiseptic soap and cream rinse. I never spray water in my donkeys or horses’ faces. I wash gently wash their face with a wash cloth. Select Virbac Medicated Shampoo use conditioner.

If after doing all of the above your donkey has not healed and started growing their hair back please call your vet as your donkey may have allergies. Ask for a full physical and blood test for Cushing’s. Sadly, the immune system is attacked when a donkey, horse, or mules has Cushing’s.

Shop In OUR STORE

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Link Line, Walk Two Donkeys Using One Lead Line

May 21, 2023May 22, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 2 Comments

Donkeys love to go for walks together! Introducing Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Link Line, walk two donkeys using one lead line. Order in our store at Donkey Whisperer Farm ® LINK LINE

Order Miniature Donkey Soft Yacht Rope Halter With Matching 6ft Lead Line, Stainless Steel Twist Safety Snap, Black Leather End.

Order Standard or Burro Donkey Soft Yacht Rope Halter With Matching 9ft Lead Line, Stainless Steel Twist Safety Snap, Black Leather End.

Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Link line, made with premium soft yacht rope. Walk two donkeys close to the same height using one lead line attached to the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® soft yacht rope halter. The link line has two Stainless Steel (ss) scissor snaps spliced onto each end with a SS O ring spliced in the middle, the length is 24 inches. Size matters when using the link line, walk two miniature donkeys or two burro size donkeys of the same height. The link line will not work with a really short donkey and a tall donkey.

I highly recommend Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand to train your donkeys and our halter/lead lines are made to fit a donkey, not a horse. The stick and string are 3ft for miniature donkeys used in Donkey 102 as a training aide, extension of your arm never to hit the donkey to touch the donkey. The 4ft Stick and String for the burro/standard or Mammoth size donkey touch is never to hit used as an extension of your arm.

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Tied To A Cow

May 8, 2023May 22, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys have sadly been the beast of burden since the beginning of time. “Here is the sad truth, donkeys are usually cheap and easily replaceable. When the farmer is using the donkey as a beast of burden the job is clearly to benefit the farmer to make a profit.” When the donkey gets sick no veterinarian is called as this would cut into the profit, sadly the donkey dies a painful lonely death. Next, the human repeats the cycle of abuse, hurries, and purchases a replacement donkey to do the job of the beast of burden for $100.00 to $350.00. Yes, this is sadly the price people pay for the unwanted donkey that is forced to work and live a horrible life.

How do you think they are training these donkeys to walk a cow? Tying the cow up for a few hours to prepare for the donkey. Now attach a harness to the neck of the donkey attached to the cow and place them in a small space. What could possibly go wrong? If the donkey is an extrovert personality the donkey will panic, rear up, bite the cow in the eyes, nose, ears, and lips and kick at the cow trying to escape causing injuries to the donkey and the cow. If the donkey is an introverted personality the donkey will freeze, try to lay down, and will get drug by the cow as he/she freezes. Have you seen people dragging a donkey behind a car? It’s another form of abuse due to the ignorance of humans not understanding the donkey’s need for self-preservation. Now let’s think about what happens if the bull is angry, he is going to attack the donkey that is tethered and tied to the bull. By the time the humans get them untied serious injuries even life-threatening injuries to the donkey. Time to buy another cheap donkey and dispose of the donkey’s body.

Donkey Tethered To A Cow

Donkey Tied To A Bull

Have you ever heard the saying, no animal on the farm gets a free lunch? The donkeys are being used to teach a cow, steer, or bull how to lead on a halter as the human did not take the time to train the cow when the calf was young. Now the donkey is tethered to the cow at the neck of the donkey. The donkey wants to get away from the cow but cannot, as he is tethered creating torture to the cow and the donkey. The donkeys that survive will walk around in a daze trying to get away from the horrible constraints of being tied by the neck to the cow, which in many cases is double or triple the weight of the donkey. This donkey is now sold as a trained donkey to halter break a cow, steer, or bull.

Sadly, donkeys that have been abused by humans and treated unfairly will have a very difficult time trusting humans again. These donkeys will not want to get the halter on, will not want to have their hooves trimmed, and will dream of the day they get to die so the pain and suffering ends.

Donkeys are intelligent, they are as smart as dolphins and have a memory like an elephant. Everything humans due to the donkey is stored for life, everything. When a new human brings home a donkey who has survived physical and emotional trauma the donkey will be standoffish and will not want anything to do with humans. This is why I do what I do to teach the owner or caretaker how to tame and train donkeys. I teach via Donkey 101 & 102 video on demand with my E-book worldwide.

Read https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=2256

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Hay For Sale! Save money!

May 1, 2023September 13, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Pick up your hay off the field. RESERVE YOUR HAY NOW.

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

8115 Old Olympic Hwy, Sequim, WA

Beautiful Fertilized Blue Green Soft 100% Orchard Hay, $16.00 bale two strand, 60 plus pound bales. Weed free, stick free and mold free.

We do not deliver.

360 620-5868 or 360 620-2636

Melody Johnson or Scott Johnson

https://youtube.com/shorts/RghXLU3UwGs?feature=share

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

How Do I Give My Donkey Exercise

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys evolved from the desert making their metabolism different from the horse. Donkeys thrive on low sugar and protein forage. Donkeys living in the wild walk up to sixteen miles per day searching for food and water. Creating a Paddock Paradise track is a game changer for the health and life of donkeys, mules and horses living in domestication on green lush farm land.

What happens if my donkey becomes obese? Insulin resistance, laminitis, colic, fat in the blood, fat pockets on the body, the neck gets so fat the crest breaks over forever, hoof abscesses, white line disease meaning the hoof rots off. Sadly, the donkey dies a slow painful death due to not feeding the correct forage low sugar/protein and not giving portion control. Yes, donkeys need portion control.

The benefits to feeding a healthy balanced diet with exercise is healthy donkeys without the tears and stress of trying to find a veterinarian to save the donkeys life. Please learn how to care for your desert equine the most beautiful and humble of all the equine the donkey.

Looking for personal consulting sign up under Donkey Trainer.

We sell the best quality and fit adjustable miniature or standard/burro premium soft yacht rope halters with a matching lead line, solid stainless steel twist safety snap and a real black leather end. Order $150.00 or more of tack and receive free shipping in the U.S.A.

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Melody Johnson, trainer and owner.

Oscar’s Place Donation

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

We are excited to share our Instagram GIVEAWAY https://www.instagram.com/donkeywhispererfarm/ a donation of four adjustable premium donkey halters with matching lead lines to Oscar’s Place. Please take a look at Oscar’s Place to see all the great work they are doing to save the donkeys.

Prize:

Two Miniature donkey adjustable premium soft yacht rope halter with a matching six-foot lead line, solid brass or stainless steel twist safety snap, and a black leather end stamped Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. No metal, even to finish as the halter ends are melted. Built to last will hold its value longer than other halters and leads.

Two Adjustable Burro or Standard donkey halter made with premium soft yacht rope comes with a matching nine-foot lead line, stainless steel twist safety snap, black leather end stamped Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. No metal, even to finish as the halter ends are melted. Built to last will hold its value longer than other halters and leads.

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkeys Are High Risk For Equine Metabolic Syndrome

February 17, 2023September 15, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys evolved from the desert meaning one of their gifts is to survive and thrive on low sugar/protein forage. When donkeys are fed the wrong foods and given the ability to graze twenty-four seven on pasture and brush along with fruits, cereal treats, oats and even vitamins they can gain weight quickly and become obese.

What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) do horses get it?

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a disorder causing the blood insulin levels to become too high along with fat on the body and in the blood. Making it very difficult for equine (horses, donkeys, ponies) to lose weight. Donkeys with EMS produce higher than normal levels of insulin and are slow to return to a normal value.

Donkey side effects:

A fat donkey, cresty neck, fat pockets on the body, diarrhea, drinking more water, chronic hoof abscesses, laminitis, white line disease, cushing’s, laminitis.

How Can I Prevent EMS?

Watch the diet closely, work with your vet to do preventive care such a blood work and Thyro-L for a short amount of time along with diet and exercise.

What Can I Do To Help My Donkey or Horse that has EMS?

Do not starve your equine. Test your hay before you purchase it for the year. A great place to send off hay samples is Equine Analytical Lab. Use a slow feeder we use the Hay Pillow using 1 1/4 holes. Last but most importantly portion control you may need to weigh your hay. If you have a thin donkey needing to gain weight you may have to create another eating arrangement for the obese donkey. Do not let this equine graze on grass or brush ever as the sugar is too high.

Weigh your donkey regularly

Create a track for your equine to walk and run keep moving but not eat fresh grass. A great book is Paddock Paradise.

If you need help selecting a blanket I am here to help you. Order in our store at Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.

How Do I Measure My Donkey For A Blanket?

Thank you for investing in your donkeys,

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Measure A Donkey For A Blanket

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkeys evolved from the desert their thick fur makes it very difficult to stay wet and cold in freezing and below-freezing weather. Donkeys are prone to hypothermia much faster than a horse and can get frostbite, laminitis, and sadly death.

“A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready to go before the emergency hits. Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.”

How can I keep my donkey healthy during freezing weather?

Provide shelter with a door during high winds and freezing weather. Warm clean water, lose salt and a slow feeder with hay. A blanket that fits a donkey is vital as when a donkey is shaking, shivering and blowing diarrhea we need to get the blanket on quickly. This is not the time to measure for a blanket. The blanket should be measured and ordered way ahead of time.

The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington Protective Products we are excited to share that Kensington is now making custom donkey blankets made to fit a donkey. When you order from the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® store you will get custom donkey blankets, sold with a lifetime warranty.

Watch my Free YouTube Video Measure A Donkey For A Blanket.

Donkeys Are Prone To Hypothermia

January 15, 2023May 22, 2023 / Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Donkey Lovers, Please learn the facts not the myths about donkeys. Order Donkey Blankets, tack and E-training in our store at Donkeywhisperer.com

Did you know that Donkeys are more likely to be hypother-mic than horses? Sadly donkeys can move quickly into Hypothermia. Meaning their body temperature drops and can not go back to a normal temperature.

What happens if a donkey survives hypothermia? Laminitis, the hoof turning soft rotting off to the point the donkey needs prosthetic.

Thinking your fat donkey is safe? Metabolic health issues can cause the donkey to not be able to regulate the extreme cold. Please be prepared for severe cold and wind chills.

Signs a donkey needs a blanket;

Shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea.

Preventative care for the winter:

Shelter, slow feeder, warm clean water, salt and blankets (2).

Blanketing:

A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we are prepared before the trauma hits. Measuring for a blanket, selecting the correct weight of a blanket, finding a donkey blanket that fits, taming the donkey to wear a blanket and finally waiting for shipping.