For this reason, it’s essential to avoid feeding donkeys grain, to limit their access to lush grass and to feed them only high-fiber roughage, such as late-cut grass hay and edible straws, like barley or wheat. Access to grain or rich forage (high-energy grass or hay) leads to obesity and other metabolic problems, such as laminitis. As a result, their systems are designed to digest roughage more efficiently than horses’ systems. These animals evolved in arid climates with limited access to grass. One of the most challenging donkey management issues in this country is diet. If a donkey’s companion passes away, it can be traumatizing-to the point of making him physically ill. Like many horses, donkeys develop very strong attachments to their companions. If a donkey is showing obvious signs of discomfort, he’s very sick. In fact, if you wait to see the type of signs you’d expect a horse to exhibit, for example, in an animal suffering from colic-which donkeys can experience as well-it may be too late. You must be in tune to very subtle signs to catch serious health problems in time. They are very good at concealing fear, pain and other signs of illness. If you plan to adopt a wild burro or a rescued donkey with a troubled past, find a donkey expert to help you address any behavioral problems.Īnother often unappreciated characteristic of donkeys is their stoicism. The best way to train or retrain a donkey is with plenty of positive reinforcement. Their cautious and thoughtful approach to situations can sometimes be mistaken for stubbornness. They also remember things for much longer, so bad experiences can be hard to overcome. They require less repetition than horses to learn new lessons. Because they perceive dogs as predators, they chase them out of their pastures and try to stomp them with their front feet.ĭonkeys are very inquisitive animals who need time to think things over and examine new scenarios carefully. Although their behavior toward dogs may sometimes appear aggressive, it’s actually a form of self-defense. Instead of running away from predators, they instinctively tend to stand their ground and try to protect themselves by striking out with their front feet. For example, their fight-or-flight response differs from that of horses. Some aspects of their natural temperament, however, are frequently misunderstood. The more you understand about their specific health requirements and general nature, the better home you can provide for one if you decide this is an appropriate choice for your situation.ĭonkeys are characteristically very sweet and wise. But they’re very different from horses in many ways. Do you have any advice?ĮRIN GOODRICH, DVM: I’m a huge fan of donkeys! They make great companions for horses and are wonderful creatures for humans to spend time with. I’m thinking of adopting a donkey to keep my horse company, but I don’t know anything about donkeys. I have plenty of space and wonderful grass pastures, but my time and finances are limited-and I’m not comfortable handling high-energy horses. His long-term pasture buddy recently passed away of old age and I can’t find another easy-going, low-maintenance horse or pony to replace him. Q: I have a 16.2-hand, 12-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding who had to be retired early for soundness reasons. There are many factors to consider to determine if a donkey is an appropriate companion choice for your horse and situation. Donkeys can make great companions for horses, but they are different from horses in many ways, with specific health requirements and a distinctive nature.
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