Stand off with donkeys

Tiddlypom

Tiddlypom

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Went on a new dog walk route today. Met these three characters at about the half way point.



They came running down to the gate to investigate us. I did a double check of the route, yes, we were on a public footpath. I did the normal horsey type actions and vocal encouragement to persuade them to disperse but no, they stayed put. I really wasn't sure what to make of them.

Managed to bundle the dog, who is well used to horses and remained on the lead throughout, over the stile and past them without incident. He didn't get eaten or squashed, and we carried on with our walk.

I've always had a hankering for a donkey, and after meeting these today, I have to say that the hankering has grown stronger...
 
Lovely photo. I'm a recent convert to the virtues of donks and now have two of them at Cobbytype Towers. They're funny little things; quite different to horses in many ways. My two are a little nervous of dogs and I wouldn't trust them with pooches, but the 3 in your photo look friendly enough. Glad all went well when you ventured along their field.

Here's a gratuitous photo of Victor and Casper:

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Spot of gatecrashing (literally) when he didn't fancy staying where he was put - have a very artistic curved gate now - followed by towing OH face down through a bog (why OH didn't just let go I'll never know...), and tried to murder a vet who was hinting at vaccinations.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Love Victor and Casper!

I think that the donks I met must be well used to dogs, as the path through their field is part of a popular circular route.
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They are funny little things with quite a few quirks in their nature. The bigger one, Casper, has a hatred of wheelie bins and attacks them, butting them with his shoulder, then tries to floor them with a quick flick of his neck. Leading him to the paddock through the village on bin day is interesting!

Victor is fat but adorable and has a dirty old man grunt when his chest is rubbed. He is timid in nature and has a nervous twitch if someone cuddles him too tightly (resulting in loose teeth)... and is also prone to peeing off at rustling noises. All 10hh of him took off with my husband a few weeks back and towed him around the paddock. According to my husband the incident wasn't funny but highly dangerous... the farmer delivering straw and I didn't quite agree and couldn't stop laughing. Husband's street cred is down the pan.
 
We have a donkey and 2 mini shetties in a paddock on one of our hacking routes. My boy absolutely adores them and simply will not go past without stopping to chat :) The donkey is a little timid and will not come right up to the fence but the shetties touch noses and squeal at my hipo who just thinks they are all adorable. I can just feel him willing the donk to come closer for a sniff, he did bray at him once which I thought might make him change his opinion, but no, he just stood there transfixed :) Lovely photos both.
 
I love donkeys, lost mine 2 years ago after owning him for 28 years :(

Think those must have been well used to dogs, donkeys do have a reputation for chasing dogs, and can be quite nasty with them. Ours was okay with my dogs but could be naughty if a strange dog went in his field.
 
Thanks all, for sharing your donkey tales.

I shall add the info to my very limited existing knowledge of donkeys, which was that they are cute and stubborn, and their coats aren't waterproof.

I shall also re route my dog walks around fields of donks in the future, to be on the safe side. Still hanker after a couple, maybe the next time I foster I could enquire...
 
Cortez said:
Spot of gatecrashing (literally) when he didn't fancy staying where he was put - have a very artistic curved gate now - followed by towing OH face down through a bog (why OH didn't just let go I'll never know...), and tried to murder a vet who was hinting at vaccinations.
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Ah, vaccinations with a mule, exciting times. It took 3 IM injections to sedate our mule for wolf teeth removal.

Our new vet had a great method though. He hid outside the stable on one side, I led muley through the door, and as he walked past the vet jabbed him in the chest. Mr mule didn't even notice. Worth a try?

OP. No way our mule could be on a footpath, dogs would be flattened! I need a big stick to walk in our field with my dog, and if I let him go they have a merry game of chase, which they both seem to enjoy, but I'm not sure the mutt is aware of the risks!!
 
stencilface said:
Ah, vaccinations with a mule, exciting times. It took 3 IM injections to sedate our mule for wolf teeth removal.

Our new vet had a great method though. He hid outside the stable on one side, I led muley through the door, and as he walked past the vet jabbed him in the chest. Mr mule didn't even notice. Worth a try?

OP. No way our mule could be on a footpath, dogs would be flattened! I need a big stick to walk in our field with my dog, and if I let him go they have a merry game of chase, which they both seem to enjoy, but I'm not sure the mutt is aware of the risks!!
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Funnily enough Rufus is pretty good with our dogs, they like to stand and bark at him and he just ignores them. We did get him vaccinated in the end, but vet did mutter about sedating him next time..........Donkeys and mules are very educational - they most certainly are NOT like horses in so many ways, but Rufus has (eventually) done everything I've asked him to and I think rather enjoys having a job (pulling a cannon in his case).
 
Tiddlypom said:
Pic please, of Rufus pulling his cannon!
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yep, also wanting to see this.

I love donkeys, I used to look after some and they just seemed to have a lot more going on than the horses. Had a lot of laughs with them. One walked really slowly, the other was a tank. One day, in my wisdom, I tied the 2 together to save my arms.... needless to say I lost them both up the footpath as they belted off at speed, and it took a good while before I found them again :D :D

One day I will have a pair, it will have to be after Millie pops her clogs as she views them as sport :o Just love them to bits, funny little souls.
 
The vaccination trick worked so well, honestly I wound myself up for weeks about it. Practised pinching his neck a lot with treats, and clove oiled his neck on the day. All not needed. I'm hoping this Sumner I'll find him a job. Being pregnant at the moment I can't do much with him, bar bringing him in every often to do the basics, but only when someone else is there to follow with the lunge whip as he plants and refuses to go back in the field! He clearly likes attention, and would get more of it if he was less of a mule! I can't risk being pulled over or kicked at the moment. He's much better with not kicking, but not 100%, he's just lacks confidence I think.

I'm hoping to get some horse agility stuff and toys to play with, really want someone with mule experience to help, but they're thin on the ground!
 
I have found the best way to vaccinate mules it to travel them in the trailer to the vets and get them done while standing in the trailer. Works a treat even with the vet phobic one.
 
Hmm, yes mule not been on the lorry ever (picked him up in a 3.5t) and not travelled in over 2 years so a quick trip to the vets it wouldn't be! He'd also probably scale the walls or destroy something in there. It's a good job he's cute! He was a bogof with a pony from WHW. Now I know why :D

He's come a long way, but very much a case of slowly slowly catchee monkey...
 
Here is my new girl as I lost my old girl to colic

unusual as she has a brown nose and she acts like a pony and even jumps the slip rails to get out 2ft
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She's beautiful Tyssandi.

I've had to stop using shavings for bedding for my donks as they freak Victor out :-) He rolls in the shavings and then can't work out what all the bits are on him, so becomes hysterical.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Love these mules! But in an admiring from a safe distance sort of way, rather than 'I want one' way. They are clearly busting with intelligence and character, but they would not be suitable for the faint hearted, I feel..
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Certainly best to keep a safe distance. He kicked the WHW lady the last time she came. No reason, think he was miffed we stopped scratching his bottom, he can't bear not being the centre of attention.
 
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