Welcome to my blog - a diary about living with donkeys, notes about care, my training sessions and the absolute pleasure of donkey companionship.


Leave a comment! Just click on Comments at the bottom of each post and a box will appear. If you have a question, I always respond!


A bit about me

I continue to be amazed and enchanted by donkeys, since I got my first two in May, 2002. I'm not sure why! I mean, why not llamas or pot bellied pigs for instance? For awhile I thought maybe it was because of some connection to an ancient time, a past life, a wandering through desert lands ... maybe I knew a donkey way back, maybe the donkey and I shared some amazing experiences ...?

Well, I have given up on trying to unravel those fantasies and now am just happy to have fallen down this rabbit hole where my whole life has been redefined somehow by the presence of donkeys.

But, like any life-changing experience, it hasn't always been easy! I've been kicked, bitten, knocked over, jerked around, bullied and intimidated sometimes. Stepped on... did I mention "stepped on?" Other times I have been charmed and amused, delighted and totally absorbed, my heart almost breaking with love and compassion for these critters.

My mother used to ask, sweetly "why donkeys?" She was always amused (of course I never mentioned being kicked, bitten or stepped on!)

I won't tell you that donkeys are the perfect family pet, like so many web sites want you to think. They live a long time, they get sick, they have "issues" ... maybe, depending on whether or not they were raised lovingly, with respect and care, or abused, neglected and misunderstood as many donkeys are.
But, my oh my, donkeys are charming! Maybe it's the ears, I don't know. My donkeys and I have embarked on a lifelong friendship. This blog is a way for me to write about this journey.

I divide my time between my art studio, our organic garden, the hens, the donkeys and this wonderful community.    I'm pretty obsessed with clicker training and devote a lot of time studying theory and training.  

I am now a certified professional in Equine Facilitated Wellness, specializing in working with donkeys. Find out more here:  https://cynthiamindenartsandequine.ca


11 comments:

  1. Cynthia -
    Hope I am right. Are you the lady with the donkeys? If so would you be interested in allowing Boomer Jarett photograph me with them for a magazine article In Focus magazine is doing on me. I have been a long time horse lover but newly in love with mules. I met one on the Grand Canyon mule ride and have not been the same since. Bonnie Shields, the legendary mule artist has done a beautiful sketch of my Grand Canyon mule, Jezebel. Please let me know.
    Thanks,
    Martha Crawford Cantarini (Denman Island)

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  2. Hi we live in Spain and have just rescued two donkeys they were very thin and its a long job getting some weight on them. They are both eating drinking and investigating the five acres of land we have but the baby donkey (he's about 18 months old) sometimes when he lays down he can't always get up we have to help him. Could this because he had been starved.

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    1. I would have a vet look at him and do blood work - could be a selenium (important for muscle development) deficiency but I'm just guessing. That's not normal though - at 18 months he should be full of pep. The UK Donkey Sanctuary publishes the parameters for donkey hematology on their website (different than horses, so make sure your vet knows how to interpret the results.) Could be he needs some extra rations in the way of vitamins and minerals - please don't feed him grain though. I would feed low protein, low sugar hay and trickle feed - offering smalls amounts often. Weight gain should be done slowly but steadily. Keep me posted!

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    2. Hi just to give you a quick update Graham our baby donkey is doing fine gave him some new food and now his eyes are brighter and he has a skip in his step. We haven't had to help him up for nearly two weeks now so fingers crossed.

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  3. Hello Cynthia,
    I am a member for an association (http://assoprommata.org/) promoting modern draft animal powered agriculture in France but especially in poorer African countries. We are absolutely distraught at the huge massacre of donkeys for trade to China going on at the moment and have put a petition online to try and raise awareness : https://www.change.org/p/the-burkinabe-gouvernment-stop-the-massive-killing-of-donkeys-in-burkina-faso
    I am sorry to use your blog to that effect but I would be so grateful for your support for our cause by way of signature and sharing to your contact. Happy to answer any questions you may have. Nadine

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  4. Hi Cynthia,
    I am so happy to have found your page! I have been working with and caring for animals for years, mostly exotics in sanctuary settings. When I moved away from Los Angeles 3 yrs ago, I found myself in state where there had been a moratorium on issuing exotic animal permits for several years and sanctuaries for exotics are few and far between. So, I decided to try horses and found that I love to be around them. I had ALWAYS been a fan of donkeys and mules, but never had the opportunity to be around any. I am now working at a local horse rescue and a couple of months ago, we got the cutest mule you could imagine. He is a shetland/donkey cross and only 6 yrs old. That I can discern, he has not been trained ever, and I have no idea whether or not he has ever been around other donkeys or horses. He has been kept in a stall now for 2 months because he cannot be lead and has bolted on the great escape both times the attempt was made to take him to a pasture on the property. I have formed a bond with the little guy and have been consistently allowed to hang out in his stall with him and even have gotten him used to grooming and being brushed. Now I have been charged with teaching him to lead and I am so lost! I love the tone of your approach and take on things. Thank you!

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  5. Hi, we lost our 34 year old Jenny a week ago and that left her 26 year old son on his own...im looking to find him a companion, iv come across a 15year old Jenny that has lived with other donkeys...do you think this is a good match age wise? .Thankyou Elaine

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    1. Hi Elaine, well age-wise probably okay but is the jenny leaving a herd or another donkey that she is bonded to? If so, that will be hard for her.Also since your gelding is 11 years older, she will also find herself alone at some point. Would it be possible to take the jenny with another donkey who is perhaps 20 yrs old - just a thought ...

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  6. Hi Cynthia,
    We live in Florida and have a 9 year old gelded mini donkey "Yak" that we were given about 4 years ago. We knew nothing about donkeys or equine for that matter, but put him in our 3 1/2 acre pasture with our 3 cows. He adapted well and has been a happy little guy. We recently sold the 3 large cattle and brought in 3 smaller breed cattle (who happen to all be female and pregnant). Our little donkey Yak is being somewhat aggressive with these cows that are about his size. He keeps them from the feed and water, and will run them around and get on the smaller one and bite her ear. We have put little Yak, in the smaller pasture by himself so we can separate him from the cows. I have been spending everyday with him, trying to be social and give him treats (crimped oats). I bring him out each day on a lead and let him nibble, but I think he misses his big cow buddies. We are scared to put him back with the new cows since they are newly pregnant and don't want to stress them out. We are considering getting another mini donkey for him to have a companion. From what I am now learning we should look for one about his same age, but should it be a male or female? I don't think he will be happy alone, but I am worried about introducing him to another animal and going through this again. It's been a stressful couple of weeks while trying to figure it all out. Any help you can advise would be so much appreciated.

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    1. Hi, thanks for getting in touch. Yes, absolutely get a donkey companion for Yak - they really do best with their own kind and you can't (shouldn't) keep him alone. He would be a threat to the new calves too so just as well for him to be separated from the pregnant Moms.

      I have found that an older, experienced donkey is a good fit for younger or single animals. And in Yak's case he may need to be socialized by an experienced donkey since he has been on his own. The older ones tend to be very supportive and grounding, (but of course that depends on the individual.) If you can offer a home to a 12+ year old, that could be a good fit. Yak might be aggressive to a youngster if he hasn't had donkey company.

      He will be missing his large cattle buddies and donkeys get very depressed on their own so if you can find a donkey buddy soon that would be lovely! Also, please don't feed grain- I know that people do feed grain but actually all cereal grain is too rich for donkeys.

      IF you go the the UK Donkey Sanctuary web site, you can download their Donkey Care Handbook for free (or a small donation) It is a wonderful resource and has a wealth of information!

      Please let me know what you decide and all the best to you and Yak!

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