mule

Do Not Feed The Animals

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Passing by a farm is truly a treat for city folks, as it can bring back some really special memories. Please look and enjoy the equine or any farm animal but never feed the equine. As tempting as this may be for you please stop and think about the health of the equine (horse, donkey, mule, pony) as most domesticated equines are on serious diets. Before you throw the apples, pears, bread, grass clippings over the fence at the equine stop and think. Will my food make the animal sick or kill this animal? Most domesticated equines are on a strict diet to avoid colic, laminitis, insulin resistance, hoof abscesses, fat in the blood, high sugar, and well the list goes on. Just like humans have to watch what they eat so do the equine.

Some equine can choke on a whole apple fast, the acid in the apples makes the tummy sick and soon the equine has colic. Colic can be life-threatening to equines. The hooves start rotting off, white line separation seriously turning to mush as insulin overload from sugar makes it so painful to stand, the owners will be stuck trying to save this equine’s life.

Resources:

Foal dies due to people throwing food over the fence

Woman is heartbroken as her horse dies to people feeding over the fence

Pregnant horse and foal die due to people throwing food over the fence

Thank you for sharing and caring,

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner
Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Natural To Blanket Our Beloved Domesticated Horse, Donkey Or Mule?

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 1 Comment

A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we hope we do not need to use it. We have it ready and learn how to use it before the emergency hits. Please be prepared. Please train your donkey to accept the blanket before the emergency hits. I never blanket unless an emergency or the donkey is suffering cant move due to arthritis and age. As soon as the weather gets out of extreme cold the blanket is off. Or the vet says the stall rest is over etc., No blanket is water proof. We must use common sense. Warm water in the winter (clean) helps donkeys drink more and lose free salt.  

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Mules Helping Forest Fires

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 1 Comment

 

Select Mules Helping Forest Fires

 

 

Training A Donkey, Horse or Mule

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 13 Comments

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I have rehabilitated donkeys, horses, mules and dogs. I understand the animals and how pain is a horrific way to teach any animal or human. 

How do I do this?

First I must build a relationship with the animal, tame the animal. Prove I am a leader without abuse. I have techniques to stay safe. Abuse is never needed to train.

The brain cannot learn under stress. Please remember old school training uses pain. Pain will cause you more problems down the road with equine. Please do not use this old cowboy training. People and animals learn when they are safe and calm. Not when under fear and pain.

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Donkeys and some mules not all will never forget anything you teach them. A new person they will pretend to know nothing. Interesting.

Please learn how to train another way. I am excited to teach you natural training. Fair leadership, you will be the leader and you will be safe. Never train the day the trimmer comes preparation is done before the trimmer or vet comes.

If you want to learn how to train a horse, donkey or mule you must learn how to control your emotions. Match the energy of the equine, have empathy and learn how to be plugged in 100% to your equine when you are with them. Release energy and wait for the equine to learn.

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Signs of Relaxation

Lick lips, blow out, cock a foot. These are signs of relaxation. Always end your Short training session on a good note. Never drill a donkey, horse or mule.

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Signs of stress,
Diarrhea water blowing out not just poop. Head high, tale tucked, or high. Back sunk in. Equine (introvert will lay down or not move the feet, they will not hear you eyes are glassed over). Extroverts will do anything to get away from the stressful situation including run over you.

Learning starts the minute we release! Get your timing down and stay ON DONKEY TIME. Life is relaxed and we are never in a hurry.

Preparation is the key to success in anything we do. Never drill any equine (horse, donkey or mule). Short training sessions that are quality will work the best and wait another day. End all training sessions with something the equine knows how to do. 🙂

Have a great day and remember your donkey, horse or mule is not a vehicle. They have personalities, emotions, fears and a past in most cases.

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Select OUR STORE for training anywhere in the world I teach you from the comfort of your home. We sell hand-made donkey halters to fit your donkey, and a little handmade artwork ON DONKEY TIME.

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

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

Select  OUR STORE

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

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Mules Are No Longer The Beast Of Burden

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oboesears2014calanedar

Select Mules Article

What is a Mule?

Mom is a horse, dad is a donkey

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

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

Select  OUR STORE

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Mules Of War

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

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

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

Looking For A Trainer For Your Horse, Donkey or Mule?

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 3 Comments

I am a worldwide virtual coach for you the owner!  I look forward to meeting you and training you to train your equine from the comfort of your home. The best person to train is the owner who feeds, cares and spends time with their beloved equine. Please don’t send your equine off to a trainer as the equine learns best from the human they have a deep relationship with, if you send off to a trainer you still need to learn how to train and build a relationship. 

I  teach you from your computer to my computer anywhere in the world. Skype makes it possible for you the student to sit in the comfort of your home, take notes, and I give you detailed homework for you to train your equine. Get comfortable a nice cup of coffee, tea and prepare to learn you have hired me to coach you and teach you to train.  I am also a consultant to tell you whatever you need help in and around your farm; fencing, health, diet, and more.

Select Donkey Whisperer Training

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Do you find yourself wishing you could train your donkey, horse or mule to do the most basic of domesticated socialized things such as;

Come running to you when called

Stop when you tell them to, walk-on when you ask

Stand still for the trimmer or vet

Send into the stall and turn around and face you

Send into the horse trailer and back out calmly

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I offer one, five or ten lessons Select Our Store (KEYBANK virtual merchant) you can pay with any major credit card and not worry as I pay a fee to Kebank to keep this site secure. If you are still worried you can purchase a disposable credit card at Wallmart and use this for the class cost. I am working on creating 1 hour group classes via Skype for 2015. Stay tuned, cost will be $45.00, no  more than 10 students at time. Having one-on-one lessons is a much easier way to learn so I would encourage you to use this opportunity to make 2015 the year you become the Donkey Whisperer for your farm. I train you to train your donkey, horse or mule using resistance free methods no old cowboy abuse here ever. Safety is my number one concern for you and your equine.

 

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

Melody

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://donkeywhispererfarm.com/our-store/ 

http://www.youversion.com/mobile

Driving Down The Road With A Donkey, Horse Or Mule

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

horsetraileraccident

 

Not my accident…. Please drive careful when following a horse trailer or just driving.

This is not my photo of the trailer accident, I could have not written this any better.  Melody, Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

Dear Drivers,

My most valued possession is inside the trailer behind my vehicle. She stepped into that rolling steel box because I asked her to and she trusts me. She’s a living, breathing creature, and all 500kg of her are precariously balanced on four tiny hooves as my vehicle and trailer wind down the road.

My horse is not a boat or camp trailer, and I cannot stop quickly or turn sharply without risking her safety and even her life.

Know that I will do just about anything to avoid hitting the brakes with a horse in my trailer. However, if your Suburban is hidden in the blind spot behind my horse trailer and I do have to stop suddenly, you’re too close to stop without ending up in the trailer with my horse.

When I make those excruciatingly slow, wide turns, I need them to prevent my horse from potentially falling over and injuring herself. Please give me room and time to turn.

And that large distance between me and the car in front of me? It might look like enough room to fit three sedans bumper to bumper, but it’s actually the distance I need to stop softly and safely without my horse falling.

Those times when we’re headed up a hill, my speed is as fast as I can go. My foot has the accelerator pressed to the floor, and no matter how hard you try, your WRX can’t push us up this hill. I promise I’ll move to the left lane when it becomes available or pull over if I find a safe spot on the shoulder, but until then I ask for your patience and some space.

Lastly, my set up weighs 3 tons, and that much weight prevents me from swerving. When you pass me going 100kmph uphill on a blind corner, you don’t just put my horse at risk: Your driving threatens the lives of the oncoming driver, my passenger, me, you, and everyone in the cars behind us.

So next time you see a horse trailer, assume an animal’s in there. Please give the them some space and offer some patience. By driving safely, we’ll all get where we’re going.

These photos show you what happens when a horse trailer driver is forced to attempt to stop suddenly or swerve sharply and suddenly.

Thank you,
Horse, Donkey and Mule Owner

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

Melody

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://donkeywhispererfarm.com/our-store/

http://www.youversion.com/mobile

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Give Me Kisses

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 6 Comments

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

Donkeys, Horses And Mules

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 1 Comment

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

Mules Rule In Spatial Cognition Tests

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 3 Comments

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My friend Heather from Serenity’s Musings sent me this article Mules Rule you may find it very interesting and another reason to consider a Mule.  We must remember that some mules have more horse traits and some have more donkey traits.  Be sure to pick you mule carefully.  The Mules who have more donkey traits are used for rides in the Grand Canyon as they are into self-preservation, will  not spook and jump off the trail. 🙂

Need more info?

Select what is Spatial Cognition In Mules?

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

 

Dangerous Seasonal Fruit – Horses, Donkeys and Mules

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

lilylookinginwoodsbitttlesssogoodFriends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm,

I received this alert from my vet, I am passing it forward to help save the life of a horse, donkey or mule.

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Seasonal Fruit Fall

Autumn in Washington State means likely horse, donkeys and mules exposure to fruit fall. Too many apples/pears/berries/rosehips and exposure to nuts like black walnuts can not only cause gastrointestinal distress, but may also lead to more serious emergencies like esophageal obstruction and laminitis.

“It seems like every pasture has fruit trees that can be too much of a good thing.”

Please take some time to look around, cut back the blackberries that have encroached and knock down the apples & make some cider for yourself!

Monitor for loose manure and for any signs of colic such as pawing, excessive laying down, gassiness, reduced appetite, and looking at flanks.  These signs can also be due to sand accumulation in the gut which is also a seasonal risk in our area.

Please call your vet if your equine has any of the symptoms above.

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

I See Donkeys, Mules and Horses

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer

Plastic Slow Feeder, Diet, Test our Hay, Exercise To Help In The Prevention Of Colic and More

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Please read why I use a slow feeder on a dry paddock

Select Slow Feeder

Horses, Donkeys and Mules Are Helping People With Disabilities

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 2 Comments

Friends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm,

LILY2013AGE8

Did you know that people with disabilities are being helped each and every day by getting to spend time with an equine?

Yes, some can only help groom them, feed and pet them, talk about their problems while others can actually ride even when they can not walk due to being paralyzed.  Equine are healers, sent by Jesus Christ to help us humans navigate this thing called life.

Resources for Riding With A Disability:

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“My number one inspiration is Lauren Barwick Canadian Paralympian, 4 Star Parelli Professional”

Select Riding For Gold

Select Parelli offers 30 days free on-line training

People suffering from PTSD after serving in the war, sexual abuse, assault, and trauma

Select EAGALA  – Select What is equine assisted therapy?

Select Helping Troubled Teens

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

Melody

http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile

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Help My Donkey Has Not Pooped In Two Days

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 5 Comments

rio6jan2013

This is serious business NO POOP can mean colic and colic can mean death.  Call the vet immediately!!!

Donkeys should poop a bunch each and every day our three equine (one horse, one mammoth donkey and one mini donkey poop a full wheel barrow full of poop in 24 hours.

Diet for the Donkey Whisperer Farm Donkeys

Orchard 7% Low Sugar/Protiene Hay

Loose salt  

Exercise as much as possible

Fresh Water each day when dirty and at least every other day – Donkeys will not drink dirty water and can colic

RocketManage192013

You may also enjoy Thinking About Poop for more information on fecal samples and not over worming your horse, donkey or mule.  

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

Melody

 

http://www.donkeywhisperer.com

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Hard Working Mules Clearing The Trails Of The Olympic Mountains

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

Friends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm

Finally we received some really nice weather in the Pacific Northwest, Western Washington 70’s.  My husband took me for a drive last weekend to see the Olympic Mountains we saw a beautiful waterfall and Crescent Lake it was a wonderful day. “GOD gave me a big surprise as we drove around the bend I saw a horse corral and I thought I saw a horse pen for people who camp with their horses and trail ride, oh how I miss trail riding.”

As we drove up to take a look this is what I saw!

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Notice the two black Mammoth mules standing together in the background 🙂  GOD is amazing!!!!

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

Melody

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What’s The Difference Between Donkeys and Mules? – Slide Show Hoof Care

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / Leave a comment

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Select Natural Equine Hoof Care Slide Show – Enjoy!

Thinking About Poop

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 13 Comments

Thinking about poop when owning a horse, donkey or mule is a full-time job.  Is the poop firm enough, too firm, or not enough poop?  Poop in the equine world is a big deal 🙂  When I was down from the semi truck accident I was constantly asking my husband How Does The Poop Look?  My poor husband was like “It’s poop Melody, lot’s of poop!  Thank GOD he has learned the importance of learning what each of our equine’s poop should look like or not look like. 🙂  Donkeys are very efficient with their food so if you are new to Donkeys you may be surprised how hard the poop of a donkey is.  On the positive side not much smell from a donkeys poop compared to my horses poop.  Donkeys use every single calorie and save it for a rainy day.

Natural equine ownership is the safest way for us horse, donkey and mule owners to care for our domesticated equine.   Here on the Donkey Whisperer Farm our equine poop is picked up twice a day and added to the compost pile, water buckets are cleaned and fresh water is added every other day.   All of our equine are fed out of a plastic slow feeder to prevent colic. Select Plastic Slow Feeder with the hay pillow attached inside.  You can make your own out of wood but donkeys are wood eaters.

Fecal Sampling

I started fecal sampling a few years ago as Over Worming can make our equine worms resistant to wormers just like antibiotics for people.  In addition when we over worm our equine we are destroying the immune system of our beloved equine.  Each farm needs to have a plan to keep the equine as healthy as possible so read, read, read to stay updated on equine ownership. Select Fecal Testing Journal.

Collecting a poop sample is easy; get a plastic zip lock bag, write the name and date, go to the barn pick up two fresh poop balls and place them in the bag.   Make sure to get the fresh poop sample to your vet right away.   When my vet comes to the farm I have three little zip lock bags waiting for him, please remember to ask your vet about hot and cold weather considerations of fecal samples as I am not a vet only sharing what we do to keep our equine healthy.

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

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

What Age Is My Donkey, Horse or Mule Full Grown?

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 4 Comments

Please remember to wait for heavy work until the equine is full-grown. :}

Miniature Donkeys age three

Standard burro age four

Mammoth donkeys age six or seven. Rio our Mammoth donkey was seven years old as he stood 16’2 hand tall at the withers. 

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

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®