Friends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm,
The internet is such a wonderful tool, a way for us to learn and share information all over the world. I would like to introduce my new friend Allison Freyer she lives in California close to the Arizona border. Alison has several herds of wild standard size donkeys coming to greet her in her yard each and every night.
Please burn these photos into your memory as the hoof heel should be low and short toes to prevent seedy toe and white line a balanced hoof.
“Domesticated donkeys should not be standing up with high heels like they have high heels on. Yes the heel will be standing taller than a horse but take a look at the photos below and learn from the wild donkey hooves. The weight of the domesticated donkey is imperative to a healthy donkey, NO ribs showing and no fat on the neck.” Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm
The fat on the domesticated donkeys neck can sometimes never be removed but the diet and weight can be! We must do our best to never let our beloved domesticated donkeys become obese as obesity in our domesticated donkeys causes laminitis, founder, and hoof problems such as abscesses, white line, and more.
We must learn what the donkey hoof looks like in the wild and be sure our trimmer/farrier is doing the correct job.
Did you know most farrier schools do not teach how to trim a donkey and most trimmers refuse to work on a donkey? We the owners need to get educated to ensure our trimmer is doing the correct balanced trim, low heel and short toes. “We are paying them good money to care for our beloved equine it is time we make sure they are doing the job correctly.”
I am so grateful to Allison for sharing these photos as I know that these photos are going to help so many of us donkey owners be better at the diet and hooves being trimmed. Remember domesticated donkeys should have their hooves trimmed at least every seven weeks in most cases. Only other case would be if they are used on a regular basis as a pack animal moving their hooves over ten to fifteen miles a day.
Resources:
Safer Grass – Test your hay and ensure it is below 10% sugar, Never Feed ALFALFA hay to a donkey or easy keeper horse or mule
Pete Ramey Donkey DVD, diet, hoof care and more
Wild donkey photos courtesy of Allison Freyer
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile
I have seen some bad hooves in my time. When I was out in Iowa for a year studying equine science in Muscatine, I was just out driving and exploring the area and found a pasture with a horse and a very small pony. They looked ok from the road but even from the road, I saw the ponies hooves were so long and curved upwards in the elf shoe fashion. I felt very bad not only for the pony but the horse too. The pasture was eaten down and there wasn’t a barn, house, or a soul for miles around. I ended up calling the police and because I had no clue where they were at because I didn’t know much of the area except for around my college, I took them back out there and showed them. The horse and pony ended up being surrendered the next day.
When I was out there in Iowa for equine science class, one of the things we learned and was tested on was how to clip hooves. There was any donkeys or the like at the barn. I worked on a small pony and the horse that I rode. I would imagine there is a different way to trim donkey hooves. I did alright on the trimming but I wouldn’t trust myself to do it tonight except in a pinch. That was almost 8 years ago now. My uncle is a farrier here in NY. I will have to ask him next time I see him if he does donkey hooves. Or if he knows how 🙂
Nice post, Melanie. I didn’t know there was a different way to trim donkey hooves or that they are different from horse hooves. I don’t think I would have ever known if you didn’t write a post on it 🙂
I have learned so much from you about donkeys. I am glad I found your blog. You have put out some very insightful posts on our other dear equine friends. Thank you! 🙂
Donkeys hooves stand up taller than a horse but basically it is the same as a balanced and natural trim for the horse, heels low and toes pushed back. No flair. 🙂 I can’t do this with the rods in my pelvis but I am very educated to ensure each of my equine have a balanced hoof. I am blessed as I have an outstanding farrier/trimmer who never stops learning and trying to improve the health and quality of the equine he is working on. I truly thank GOD for this man!
Oh I’m so happy to see these pictures out on the internet to help owners of burros, horses, etc. learn about them. Serenity, above mentioned, commenting that she has learned so much from you Melody. I can’t wait until I’m settled to take more pictures so you can distribute them and share!! Thank you Melody 🙂
Hi Allison,
Your photos and video if you can get into youtube will make a huge difference in the life of our domesticated equine. Thank you!
Melody