A Donkey Diary: Video taping your work

Friday, December 25, 2015

Video taping your work

It's a quiet Christmas morning ... crisp and chilly outside and the ground has hardened somewhat underfoot - good news from the spongy, soft footing that the many days of rain created. The day promises to be sunny!

Two days ago, another sunny day, I got out my video camera with plans to make a little movie about walking out from the property with a donkey. In everything the donkeys and I do, I try to set the environment for success. That means that I gather what I need and plan things to minimize stress and confusion. Going in and out of a gate where there are other loose animals is just one of those situations that can create jostling and where I might be tempted to hurry the donkey along and push the others back, either physically or verbally. I try to avoid all that!

So I bring my donkey into a small separate paddock where the others can't try to follow and then lead her down a narrow walkway/ corridor and off we go. But I have to go back and close the gate to the corridor,
which means teaching the donkey to stand and wait for me in an environment where she is free to head off into the big world on her own!

Many small steps involved, built on Alexandra Kurland's foundation lessons and I set up my video camera to capture this with Rose. But I'm not going to post the video yet because I learned SO much from watching the short clip, that I want to redo it!

Mostly I observed my own body language - we give off numerous cues to our animals all the time, and they should be intentional! I saw where my food delivery (reinforcement) was not as precise as it should be - Rose's head was turned or she was stretching her neck, putting her off balance. Sounds like no big deal perhaps, but my goal is for clean, clear communication and a beautiful balanced partnership with my donkeys!

Video-taping yourself at work with your animal is SO incredibly valuable (I should do it more often)

And I will ... watch for it soon!

In the meantime, happy holidays, peace and happiness to you and all your animals!

2 comments:

The Dancing DonkeyDecember 26, 2015 at 2:27 PM
I look forward to videos. I hope you had a good holiday, Merry Christmas.
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A Few Great recipes: salves & soaks for hooves and sores, etc.

Homemade Bug Spray:
In a large bowl, mix 1 Cup water, 1 Cup white or apple cider vinegar, 1 Cup Avon Skin So Soft. Add a few drops each Citronella Oil and Eucaplyptus Oil. Mix and pour into a spray bottle. Spray your donkey's coat making sure NOT to get it near their eyes and avoid putting it on any sores as the vinegar makes it sting a bit. This can also be put on a cloth and wiped over the donkey if she hates the spray bottle but I have found that clicker training works well to encourage them to stand still!

Healing Salve:
Steep 1/4 tsp. of golden seal powder + 1 tsp. of calendula (any part) in 1 cup of hot water for 1 hour. Strain and mix the "tea" with 1/8 Cup of aloe vera. Use as a healing salve on scrapes or sores.

Healing Wash:
Steep 1 tsp. calendula (any part) + 1/4 tsp. golden seal + 1 tsp comfrey (any part) in 1 cup of very hot water. Strain "tea" and cool. Pour into glass container and keep in the fridge. Use on a compress or soak for any type of sore or abscess or flush gums with the cooled tea in a syringe. I warm the liquid before using.

Hoof Disinfectant:
Mix together in a large bottle: 1 litre Listerine Mouth Wash (the "original" one) + 10 ml Betadine (tamed iodine)+ 1 Tbs. golden seal powder + 1 Tbs. Gentain powder or root. Fill a squeeze bottle with some and apply to hooves after cleaning them first - white line area and frogs. You can use a toothbrush to work it in. Will cleanse, disinfect and encourage new tissue growth.

Rose

I fell in love with Rose in 2011 when I saw her photo on Asspen Grove Miniature Donkeys' web site. Some times it's just that simple ... smitten and who knows why? Rose's full name is White Star Red Roses.
She is a "big" mini, standing just under the regulation size at 35.25 inches at the withers. Her build is stocky and she has a lovely white blaze on her face! Sadly her tail was bitten during a fight with a horse when she was much younger and never grew back - I may have to get her a tail extension!

Rose was born in Alberta in 1997 and has been trained in halter class and driving. This donkey is without a doubt the kindest animal I have ever met ... not a pushy bone in her, just sweetness.
I feel very lucky to have her join our family!

Heather

Heather is a character! At nine years old, she has had two foals and is a sturdy donkey full of pep. She and Rose have known each other for eight years and traveled here together. They are good buddies. Heather is very sweet but can hold her own too, she is strong and has lovely conformation. She has a lovely broad head, like a sheep!

She is really fun to be with, keen and smart. She loves clicker training and always asks for more. At clinics she is everyone's favourite donkey. Heather and Siog have become buddies as they are just a year apart in age.

Siog

Siog arrived on Friday, November 5, 2010. Her Gaelic name means "young Fairy" and is pronounced "She-OH-g." She came from Pender Island and has the same father as Dorica. Ebony is just as his name suggests, jet black and Siog takes after him. Mom, Sidhe, is a sturdy pure white donkey and Siog's only genetic inheritance from her mom is a splash of white hair, like the milky way, on her forehead.

Siog has been here for two years now and a genuine character! She is very clicker savvy and VERY smart! She can be a bit of a prima dona, thinking the world turns just for her but with clicker training, I can usually change her mood. She LOVES clicker training!

Dorrie

Inis Eile Dorcha (we call her Dorica) was born on Pender Island on the summer solstice,1998. Her Gaelic name means "dark one." She's a Mediterranean miniature donkey, sometimes referred to as a "Sicilian" donkey. We bought her when she was 6 years old and so she has been here the longest and has known Annie, Ringo and Deenah ... a lot of comings and goings!

This little donkey has the sweetest disposition imaginable! She is curious and so willing. She is the donkey of my heart, although I adore all of the others, there's something magical about Dorrie!

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Friday, December 25, 2015

Video taping your work

In the meantime, happy holidays, peace and happiness to you and all your animals!

2 comments: