My husband, our six donkeys, two horses, three dogs and two feral indoor rescue cats moved to Sequim, WA in 2014. Since moving into our new farm I have received one to two people per week at my gate trying to give me horses, donkeys and mules who need homes. Even Christmas eve, really Christmas eve, tears for all the abused and neglected domesticated equine and people in our world. People just stop their cars at my gate and start  telling me the story next I hear how I have the space to take on more rescues. We already have three rescue equine. Eight is enough and with my physical disability this is all I can take care of and train both physically and financially. Never forget “The Free Equine Is NOT Free” sadly most people do not think about the ramifications of not being able to say NO.

Last year I started using Facebook in order to share free education to help the owners of donkeys, mules and horses along with advertising my new worldwide training business and my hand-made art work ON DONKEY TIME. Wow did this open my eyes to this very problem I am describing to you, so many people think it will be easy to care for equine. News flash farming is a twenty-four seven passionate job. I am dirty every day, vacations are very rare and getting away over night is almost impossible, getting out of the equine world is more difficult I tell people it’s emotionally as connected to me as getting a divorce. My equine are healers, each one is unique and requires an entirely different approach and energy level from me. Never think that each donkey, horse or mule you bring home will require the same training as this is not true. Most importantly you must change for your equine to change.

Maggot Therapy

Wondering what this is Select Maggot Therapy to read how to help restore the hoof. Next learn everything you can about how to provide the diet and environment with the best holistic care you can. Select Maggot Therapy wounds for donkeys, horses and mules.

Living Will For All Your Animals

After the semi truck accident left me with a disability for the rest of my life I quickly learned the importance of having a will. Life can change at any minute and if you do not plan ahead your animals fate will be grim. Most family members do not have family who want to take care of their animals. So do the right thing plan ahead for your beloved animals.

Colic

Every month I am hearing about another donkey, mule or horse dying from colic. Please do not just throw the hay over the fence and fill a bathtub with water. Weather changes from warm to extreme cold can trigger colic. Learn how to keep your domesticated equine in optimum health. God created all equine to walk fifteen to twenty-five miles a day, sadly most do not walk more than one hundred steps a day. The domesticated equine stands around in a stall, round pen or a very small pasture not getting any exercise, sadly seldom clean water. Most colic is preventable in domestication the key is taking the time to educate yourself on how to prevent colic.

Prevention is the best medicine for our beloved domesticated equine

1. Diet

2. Clean Water

3. Correct Vitamins

4. Exercise

5. Emotional rehabilitation for the equine has no date of time just like us humans after severe abuse and neglect

6. Shelter, blankets, medicine

7. Vet check for health, teeth, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, and I highly suggest picking up the poop, composting and doing fecal samples before worming

8. Hoof care every six weeks in the summer and seven in the winter as the growth of the hoof slows down in the cooler seasons

Is it possible to rescue and rehabilitate equine?

Yes, but please learn all the facts before attempting to rescue and rehabilitate any equine. So many people think they can rescue with just love and time. Not true, do your homework and understand this road will be a long process consuming money and emotional resources as veterinary care is very expensive. Just like us humans we have no idea how long it will take the equine to get rehabilitated and in some cases no matter what we do we can never get their minds, and bodies back 100%. Abuse of the diet and emotional care is the worst to restore as just like us humans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress so does the equine. Rehabilitation of the abused, neglected equine is no easy matter as the expense is high for the human financially, physically and emotionally. The good news if you will learn what is needed to keep your equine (donkey, horse or mule) healthy you can not only bring the domesticated equine into health again you can save a life.

I train the owner or caretaker ho to train and care for the donkey. 

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

Melody Johnson

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com