WITH A FIRST name like Melody, it seems appropriate that Sequim’s self-proclaimed “Donkey whisperer” Melody Johnson has a mini-donkey who is a crooner.
It’s true, little Maximus is an extroverted donkey who brays out his own tunes using a series of donkey grunts, growls, woofs, snorts and hee-haws when braying out tunes to his own songs.
The bray, described as a loud, harsh cry in varying pitches, is used most often to communicate with herd members. Most donkeys bray when distress, and a few bray in response to hearing music, such as that played on a violin. A singing donkey is quite unusual, and is probably why Maximus, small mini with a giant attitude, thinks he’s the most special donkey on the farm.
What else can a donkey do? Donkeys can be trained to carry pack supplies or to be ridden (with a weight limit of 20 percent of the donkey’s weight, including tack). They can take walks and carry your lunch while hiking with you. Donkeys can also pull a cart, go through an agility course like a dog and carry your lunch on a hike. Colorado has a group that runs with donkeys. Donkeys have a fun and playful personality and can be wonderful, loyal family members once you’ve earn their trust and after training them basic commands, such as whoa and to walk calmly behind you on a lead line. To have a successful relationship, it’s vital the owner learns how to become a fair leader and stay on donkey time.
Johnson’s venture into the world of donkeys began 17 years ago, shortly after she brought home a 2-year-old quarter horse, Lilly. She had fond memories of owning a horse as a young child and after she retired early at age 47, decided it was time to bring a horse back into her life.
“Lilly seemed lonely, and I remembered they were herd animals,” she said.
Even though her husband Scott told her he “didn’t like horses” and “didn’t want any part of it,” he suggested she look for one at a local breeding farm. She called, learning they had stopped breeding horses and were now focused on the care of donkeys. She was told she could get a miniature donkey, which was lower maintenance than a horse, and it would be a good companion for her horse. (She later learned neither was true.)
She balked at the idea of getting a donkey, then later realized she loved all animals, including donkeys and mules, and so decided to drive over to the farm to check them out.
“When I drove in I saw a baby donkey playing a game of tug-of-war with a bull, and thought, ‘How fun. There’s a donkey playing and acting like a dog,’ ” she said.
The Donkey Whisperer Farm’s standard-sized donkey Oboe, front right, and mini’s Maximus the singing donkey, left, and Rory. Due to high sugar and protein in green grass, their time on the pasture is limited. Behind them is part of the track they use to walk, play and exercise during the day. (KAREN GRIFFITHS/FOR PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
She learned this playful donkey was a 9-month-old baby named Rio. He was a Mammoth Donkey, the largest and most uncommon breed of donkey bred in the U.S., and he was for sale.
Soon Rio was in the trailer on his way to her home. A Mammoth’s height is 48 inches and above. Some grow as tall as 17 hands. After he was full grown, Rio stood at 16.2 hands (a hand is equal to 4 inches).
Donkeys in the US are grouped by size and type — not breed.
Standard is the most common, with heights averaging 36- 48 inches. They are used as pack animals, trained to pull a cart and are riding mounts for those weighing 20 percent are less than the donkey’s height (usually 90 pounds or less). “Donkey” and “burro” refer to the same animal, however a donkey refers to the domesticated version, and burro refer to the wild donkeys.
Originally from Spain, the Wild Burro’s build is usually thinner and slightly smaller than the Standard donkey.
The majority of them live on BLM lands in the deserts of California, Arizona and Nevada. They are descendants of the pack animals used in the mines during the gold rush of the 1800s.
Mini donkeys are small and cute, and can be trained to pull a cart. They make good companion animals for humans — providing the human takes the time to know how to train them.
Maximum acceptable height on a mini is 36 inches.
Overfeeding is the biggest problem in both the mini-donkey and mini-horse, as obesity can to lead to dire health problems.
Learning curves
“When Rio arrived at my place I opened up the trailer door and was shocked to see a miniature donkey standing next to him,” said Johnson. “The guy delivering him told me they were a bonded pair, having bonded since the day Rio was weaned from his mom, that donkeys bonded for life, and so he came as a package deal with Rio. I was just floored.
“So that’s how I began my journey into donkey ownership, with a baby Mammoth and 13-year-old mini-donkey named Rocket Man.”
Luca, a standard donkey, provides a warm welcome to visitors and is the latest addition to the Donkey Whisperer Farm. (KAREN GRIFFITHS/FOR PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
The first lesson she learned was training a donkey was different than training a horse, mainly because if a donkey doesn’t understand what’s asked of him he’ll stand his ground and refuse to move. Also, because a donkey’s body language is different than horses their reluctance to move is often misinterpreted as stubbornness. A “stubborn” donkey is most likely avoiding a fear-inducing situation or is not motivated to do an activity.
A horse is a flight animal so if they don’t understand what’s being asked their first instinct is to try to get away.
Before training any animal the most import rule of training is to earn their trust.
“I’ve found it easier to train a wild donkey than a domesticated one because they usually don’t know what it’s like to be neglected or abused, and a donkey never forgets past experiences or interactions with people.” She’s also learned the meaning of training based on “donkey time,” because donkey’s think about everything first, before showing a willingness to do it.
“I liken donkeys to chess players, because they think about everything you’re asking them to do, first, before willing to do it.”
They are visual learners, so in order for them to grasp the concept you’re asking them to do they demand you break it down step-by-step. Donkeys never forget a person, when they’ve been treated well, or when they’ve been abused.
“They get bored easily, too,” she said. “That’s why it’s important keep sessions to 20 minutes or less.”
She said a donkey will then spend the rest of the day thinking about what you’ve asked him to do. So the next day, when starting the same lesson again you’ll know if he got it, or if you need to break it down into smaller steps, or perhaps find a different way to teach it.
“If he got it, then we move on to the next thing,” she said. Donkeys must also be motivated to want to do what you ask of them, before they do it. But the thing about donkeys is, even when well-trained, when a donkey meets a new human they’ll act as if they’ve never been trained and don’t know anything —even if they know how to do everything perfectly.
One of the biggest mistakes she sees when people bring a new donkey home is to immediately put them out in a big field. “Then, when they ask the donkey to come close, the donkey will say, ‘See ya! I have all the food and water I need and will do all he can to evade any attempts to catch him.”
Early on Johnson discovered Lilly had the personality of a dominant herd mare because she started harassing Rocket Man, making him run and pushing him around to the point he’d sometimes fall. It was obvious Lilly wasn’t bonding with the donkeys at all. Time to build a separate pasture for the donkeys. An important part of donkey play is for them to grab the neck of the other donkey, and shake it, and/or lift them up. It’s the same technique donkeys use in battle.
The neck grabbing playtime when was fine when Rio was a baby. All too soon he grew tall enough to easily grab Rocket Man’s neck and lift him three feet off the ground.
Concerned for his safety decided she needed to move Rocket Man in his own pasture. Not wanting she him sad and dejected by the move, Melody got mini-donkey Maximus, then 1 ½ to keep Rocket Man company. “At first, they were both a little sad, but since they could still see each other it worked out fine.”
Of course, Maximus arrived with another mini he’d already bonded with, Roy. Later, she adopted her two wild BLM burros, Oboe, now 20, and Tuba, from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, on organization that’s contracted to work with the BLM by removing and rehoming the burros. Sadly, Tuba passed away last year. Also calling the farm home are two standard donkeys: Mario, a very active, happy and spunky two-year-old and Luca her newest donkey, was once wild and is also an introvert who also never brays. And, at long last, Lilly got her companion horse, a rescue named Trophy, she was quick to bond with.
As for Rio, he turned out to be a wonderful riding partner for Melody. Regrettably, he passed away two years ago.
When she first started raining Rio and Rocket Man 17 years ago she quickly became frustrated over the lack of tack for donkeys (their heads and body are shaped differently than horses) as well as a void in training information available. So started her quest to amass as much information as she could, and then to share that information with other owners.
She started her business and Web site, Donkey Whisperer in 2013 by offering facts, insights, educational information and training videos about donkeys to other owners, as well as halters and tack made to fit the donkey.
She credits attending the Parelli Horsenality/Humanality Course in 2014 with broadening her training skills, giving her deeper insight of their individual personalities, along with a greater understanding of equine communication, training, behavior and healthcare.
Truly, Melody gave me so much insightful information that I’d like to share with you now, but space limitations prevent me. So, look for a part two Donkey Whisperer column to learn more about donkey ownership. In the meantime, you learn more about dos and don’ts of feeding a donkey by reading her blog at Donkey Whisperer Farm ® | Donkey Education.
The Donkey Farm is a private home and not open to the public. Melony is always happy to help folks learn more about donkeys online via her Web site www.donkeywhisperer.com or her two Facebook pages Donkey Whisperer Farm and On Donkey Time.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.
