Saying Goodbye To Rio

MAA Rio Grande was his registered Mammoth donkey name.

God has brought another donkey home to heaven. Rio was the ambassador for the Mammoth donkey as he was truly a gentle giant. Standing at 16’2 hands tall he was a magnificent donkey. Rio helped train the owner and caretakers of donkeys worldwide in our E-training videos and E-book.

  Rio was an introverted donkey personality, he never let out a complete bray ever.  Rio suffered from an immune disorder that helped to create a fungus deep inside his hooves. Sadly after two years of working with our veterinarian and farrier, we lost the battle to save his life. Rio came into our life as a baby mammoth donkey he was nine months old. We euthanized and buried Rio on a warm summer evening the summer of 2021 facing the Olympic mountains and our hayfield as this was truly one of his favorite places on our farm. 

When donkeys pass to heaven it’s important to remember a few things for the surviving donkey’s health and wellbeing.

  1. Make sure each donkey gets the opportunity to walk up to the the deceased donkey. Closure for donkeys is very important as donkeys can enter depression and anxiety wondering what happened to their buddy.
  2. Watch for depression, is your donkey eating, pooping and drinking? Sadly, donkeys can collic and die from a broken heart and the stress of the death of their buddy.
  3. Please get another donkey for your donkey if your donkey is now living alone. Donkeys are physically, mentally and emotionally healthier when getting to live with their own species.

Resources:

What your vet wants you to know about euthanizing your equine

We will miss Rio each and every day forever until we meet again in heaven sweet boy.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

American Mammoth Jack Opening The Barn Door

 

Donkeys Evolved From The Desert.

Thinking about bringing home a couple of donkeys?

Donkeys are smart not stubborn. Donkeys are visual learners meaning; Donkeys can watch you do something repetitively and repeat the process. Donkeys are wood eaters. Make sure you have excellent fences, gates and locks.

Donkeys love wood!

Please do not confuse eating wood as cribbing as its not. Donkeys evolved from the desert.

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm to learn more.

Miniature Donkey Rocket Man.

 

 

Hoof Abscess

Rio our Mammoth donkey started limping last Sunday. Donkeys are stoic, by the time they show us they are in pain it is serious. We took Rio into the barn and began our hoof abscess program Select Donkey Hoof Abscess Video On Demand to purchase. Everything I teach in the Abscess Video was taught to me from our veterinarians. The video teaches the owner or caretaker how to get the donkey out of pain quickly. Our PDF booklet can be printed out to take shopping and get all the supplies for your farm.

Please be prepared. Please never let a hoof abscess heal on its own, your donkey, mule or horse needs your support and fast. Sadly, abscesses can cause laminitis in the other hoof from the weight pushed on it. Sadly, donkeys can die from an abscesses that was not treated quickly and properly. Rio is healing and walking really good in his boot. Donkeys must keep moving not working hard, but movement is vital to healing.

If you have soaked and poulticed your equines hoof for three days and nothing comes out (black gunk) on the pad. You must call the Vet! 

If we catch a hoof abscess quickly in most cases we can heal the hoof without cutting a hole out. Cutting the hole out should be done by a skilled vet not a farrier or trimmer. Make sure to ask the vet to x-ray so no guessing is done on where to cut the hole out of the hoof. The hoof takes one year to grow out.