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Feeding Miniature Donkeys: To feed or not to feed? Published in Asset Magazine Joyce BergHansen, WolfHeart Ranch Miniature Donkeys to feed or not to feed? This should not be a question, however, it is asked frequently by donkey owners at many experience levels. A certain hysteria has been created to prevent obese Miniature Donkeys. In the process the opposite outcome has developed, Miniature Donkey owners often believe feeding their Miniature Donkey processed feed or grain is taboo. Miniature Donkeys may not need to eat large quantities of grain or processed feeds but they still require balanced nutrition. Too many new Miniature Donkey owners are being told their donkey does not need anything more to eat than pasture or hay. They are told grain or processed feed should be fed only as a treat. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, pasture nutrient levels can vary greatly from week to week. Rain, drought, freezing temperatures, extreme heat, fertilizer, and soil quality all contribute to the nutrient levels found in a pasture. So how do you regulate the donkey’s diet when you do not know the percentage of any given nutrient that is present in the pasture from week to week? A high quality processed feed is guaranteed to meet the nutrient levels listed in the feed analysis provided with each bag of feed. Miniature Donkeys need nutrition just like any other animal. There are many times in a donkey’s life when proper nutrition is critical. In the first two years of your donkey’s life, they grow the most rapidly. Nutrition is required for developing bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs, teeth, hooves, hair, and skin. Without the required protein, vitamins and minerals you may be compromising your donkey’s structural development. Have you ever seen a picture of a young child that has not received adequate nutrition? Many times, they have limb deformities or undeveloped muscles. Children have higher nutritional requirements than adults do because they are using those extra nutrients to grow. Weanling Miniature Donkeys have increased nutritional requirements as well. A bred jennet has a different set of nutritional requirements necessary to provide proper fetal development. It is more challenging to feed the bred jennet because while she has some additional nutritional requirements it is critical not to overfeed her. This is when feeding is part science, part art. The bred jennet should be closely monitored to determine she is not adding fat to her expanding body. It is an art to visually evaluate your donkey’s body condition. In addition to a visual evaluation, run your hands over the areas Miniature Donkeys tend to carry excess weight if you feel fat developing along the loin, over the croup or in the neck decrease the amount of feed available to the jennet but do not discontinue supplementing her nutrition. There are feeds available that provide vitamins and minerals without adding additional calories. Once a jennet has delivered her foal, she has another set of nutritional needs. Not only must she maintain her own body condition, she is now the main source of nutrition for her foal. If her milk is lacking in quality her foal’s development is compromised. She is eating for two. It should not be inconceivable to heartily increase the quantity of processed feed or grain and hay being fed to the lactating jennet. The foal will not be able to absorb enough nutrients from processed feed or grain and hay until they are a few months old. There are supplements available for the orphaned foal but those should only be fed if the foal is indeed orphaned. The next important point is protein percentages in feed. If the new donkey owner is told to feed their donkey concentrated feed they are told to only feed a feed with a low percentage of protein. Growing donkeys, pregnant donkeys, nursing donkeys all need a feed that provides at least 12% protein. A concentrated feed with 12% protein is very versatile; you can vary the amount fed to meet the various nutritional needs of just about any donkey. A good rule to follow is: Do not feed less protein, feed less feed. (One side note: senior donkeys have lower protein requirements that are not being addressed in this article.) Another issue is feed quality, a cheaper feed is not cheap because the manufacturer is benevolent, and it is cheap because it generally contains ingredients that are lower in quality. Feed manufacturers use a variety of products called fillers to increase volume. Would you knowingly feed rice hulls for nutrition? Rice hulls are a good example of filler. Always buy the best quality feed you can afford. You will find quality feed nutritionally balanced and much more consistent in texture. The old adage, “you get what you pay for” rings loud and clear in processed feel brands. Sometimes the more expensive feed is cheaper in the long run because you feed less quantity given the superior quality. Call the feed manufacturer and talk to them about how their feed should be fed to your donkey. Most reputable feed manufacturers have a nutritionist that you can talk to about your animal’s nutritional requirements. Depending on the size of your herd several feed companies have field representatives that will visit your farm and analyze you pasture or hay and make feed recommendations. Finally, remember the weather affects the nutritional needs of the Miniature Donkey. While Miniature Donkeys can brave cold winter weather they do need additional fuel to keep them warm. An old wives tale suggests corn will create heat to keep your animal warm on a cold winter night. Corn is not the answer. The donkey needs hay for warmth. When hay is digested it generates the heat needed to keep your Miniature Donkey warm on a cold winter night. So remember, the colder the weather the more fuel will be needed. When the weather is harsh and cold increase the amount of hay you make available to your donkey. As a society we are continuously bombarded with news that we overfeed our house pets, husbands, and children. Feeding Miniature Donkeys takes a certain skill in determining the perfect balance between too little and too much feed. Keep in mind; underfeeding is just as unhealthy as overfeeding. If you are not sure what the proper body condition is for a Miniature Donkey call your local extension office and ask the equine extension specialist to visit your farm to help you evaluate your Miniature Donkey’s body condition and your feeding program. There are many knowledgeable breeders throughout the country that are happy to share their feeding programs with novice donkey owners too.
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Why Show a Miniature Donkey? Published in Asset Magazine By Joyce BergHansen, WolfHeart Ranch
The true
adventure in competition Have you ever wondered why people show miniature donkeys? My non-donkey acquaintances think I’m a little crazy when I talk about the hours of preparation spent clipping, washing and working my donkeys. They do not understand why I choose to spend money on show halters, grooming supplies and stall fees. Then they wonder about the self induced anxiety associated with hauling my donkeys to a show when I never feel adequately prepared. They might understand my behavior if showing Miniature Donkeys came with fame, glamour, or money but just to show for the sheer fun is not a concept a non-donkey person can conceptualize. So why do people show miniature donkeys? There are a number of positive reasons people show their donkeys. Camaraderie with others that share your Miniature Donkey passion is a common purpose of attending a Miniature Donkey Show. Sharing time with other donkey folk is fun. The subculture of any hobby, business, or sport almost always has the “Camaraderie Factor” as a driving force that brings participants to a common location to share their passion. How many of your non-donkey acquaintances appreciate the efforts you put into making sure your show donkey is groomed to perfection? Traveling around the country is an exciting bonus when showing Miniature Donkeys. Some people would not leave home to sightsee but they are happy to hop in their truck and drive twenty hours to show their Miniature Donkey. Many show folk combine a vacation with the show. It is a great way to see and experience the country. We love showing in Virginia because the trip has such spectacular scenery. Spending quality time and sharing a common activity with your family is a great reason to show Miniature Donkeys. Showing with the family is a wholesome, educational, bonding experience. Teaching your children the rules of sportsmanship, teaching them to be responsible caretakers and spending quality time together is a natural by-product of showing Miniature Donkeys. Showing can build self-confidence and self-esteem in every member of the family. Earlier this year we attended Cheers for Ears. There was a particularly outstanding father that hauled several kids to the show so they could compete in the Costume Class. It was hard to say who was more excited about the event, the kids, or the father. The kids dressed in Civil War costumes. The boys were Confederate Soldiers and the girls were Southern Ladies tending to their soldiers. The entourage included two donkeys, one donkey pulled a wagon with a cannon, the other donkey pulled a travois with one of the boys portraying a wounded soldier. Can you imagine the effort it took to put the kids, donkeys, costumes and equipment together? They will look back on their youth and always remember the special lengths their dad went to in order for them to have a really fun experience. Incidentally, they won the Blue Ribbon. Showing Miniature Donkeys should motivate breeders to continue to improve the breed. Even though show results can vary dramatically from show to show, showing still remains a great way to compare your donkeys to what other breeders are accomplishing with their breeding program. Someone once said “You are only as good as your competition” and that holds true for Miniature Donkeys. Finally, showing is great for Miniature Donkey public relations. It is amazing to see spectators at a State Fair Donkey Show express their surprise at how beautiful the donkeys look as they are led into the show ring. When the performance classes are taking place, you can see the amazement of the crowd as the Miniature Donkeys compete in Driving, Snigging, Trail, and Coon Jumping. Most spectators are astonished at the versatility of the Miniature Donkey. So next time you are getting ready to show your Miniature Donkey and you are dog tired from all the preparation it takes to show, remember that you are contributing to a greater cause. You are making friends, seeing the country, spending time with your two and four-legged family while helping to improve the breed. Most importantly, you are promoting one of the most under appreciated, misunderstood, incredibly wonderful animals in our world, the Miniature Donkey. Some important do’s and don’ts learned while showing miniature donkeys:
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Showing Miniature Donkeys on Both Sides of the Pond Joyce BergHansen WolfHeart Ranch Miniature Donkeys
I was very flattered when The Donkey Breed Society of the UK asked to publish this article in their magazine in 2008.
The past couple of years have presented a couple of interesting journeys for Ann French of Arranbrook Miniature Donkeys in Ripon, England and me Joyce BergHansen of WolfHeart Ranch in Seneca, South Carolina. We have shown donkeys for each other in our respective countries. I may be wrong but I believe Ann is the first person from the UK to show Miniature Donkeys in the United States and I believe I am the first American to show Miniature Donkeys in the UK. This was not planned, it just happened. It all began in 2004, Ann emailed me her congratulations after I had won two NMDA National Championships with my Country Music jennets Wynonna Judd and Loretta Lynn. She had just purchased two Country Music donkeys and was waiting for them to be exported from Texas to England. Having bought a jack and a jennet sight unseen, my success with Country Music donkeys had given her confidence that she had made a good decision to start importing with two Country Music foals, Johnny Paycheck as a potential herd sire and Dixie Nolan as a future brood jennet. Ann now has a large herd consisting of mainly American imports. Over the next several months Ann and I corresponded regularly, she was always curious about the US breeders and their stock. It is hard to just see pictures of donkeys on the internet. She wanted someone to use as a reference and I was her logical choice. One day I suggested she come to the US and attend The Great Mule and Donkey Celebration in Shelbyville, TN. She would be able to see the best of the best stock, a variety of breeders, and all while developing her eye for quality stock. We both agreed that seeing quantities of donkeys is the best way to develop an eye for conformation. In addition to seeing donkeys and breeders I suggested that she show a couple of my donkeys to get some ring experience. It took some convincing but I prevailed and she agreed to show several of my donkeys in halter. Ann arrived several days before we had to leave for Shelbyville, so I put her to work, she helped me feed, bathe, clip and shine the donkeys we planned on showing. I felt bad I did not take her sightseeing but she told me all along she was interested in spending her time doing donkey stuff not tourist stuff. We arrived at Shelbyville the Wednesday before the show. Ann was amazed at the quantity and quality of the Miniature Donkeys at the show. It did not take her long to see the type of donkey she liked the best. She took advantage of her time at the show by talking to every breeder she could about their donkeys, bloodlines, breeding philosophy and just about anything else related to Miniature Donkeys. I was impressed with her appetite for knowledge. She was on a mission to learn all she could while she had the opportunity. Let me back up, we had a couple of obstacles in preparation for the show. In England their dress attire is completely different from our dress attire. They don’t wear cowboy hats, cowboy boots, or jeans. Luckily, Ann was close to my size so we were able to get her decked out to look like a regular American. Then we had the language barrier, my donkeys did not speak the Queen’s English, they spoke Southern. It took us a while to figure out why they would not walk or trot with her but then we finally figured it out. No kidding they did not understand her accent. So she had to lose her accent when asking them to walk or trot. It was pretty funny hearing her rendition of “trot” with a southern drawl. I know Ann appreciated the opportunity to participate because she came back in 2006 to do it all again. In 2006, The Celebration Mule and Donkey Show was the NMDA National Show. Our show string of ten donkeys did very well in halter with a NMDA National Champion Jennet award and a NMDA Reserve National Champion Gelding award. Nonetheless, Ann threatened to never return if I decided to bring ten animals again. Ann had been to the US twice to show so we decided I needed to give the show ring in the UK a whirl. In 2006, I exported my NMDA Champion Jennet, WolfHeart’s CD Chica San Badger to Ann. Chica was the logical choice for me to show in 2007, at The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was up for the challenge. In 2006, Ann had won the highest award of the show, beating out both Standard and Miniature Donkeys. It was a very prestigious win for Ann and Johnny Paycheck. I arrived at Ann’s a couple of days before the show. It was a nerve racking trip after my flight was cancelled and I had to fly out the following day, not a good way to start out a transatlantic trip. When I arrived it was raining and cold. Chica does not like rain or cold, so I had my work cut out for me to get her shown. Then we had to arrange my attire no cowboy hats or cowboy boots allowed and jeans are banned! So I sported a tweed jacket, dress slacks and English riding boots. Hats are not required but considering it was raining like the devil when we showed I donned a stockman’s hat. I could have passed for a Brit, that was until I opened my mouth or tried to understand the scotch brogue. The Queen’s English was hard enough but the Scottish accent was really tough. Good thing I had Ann there to translate. The differences in showing on both sides of the pond are interesting. First, Shelbyville, Tennessee in July is the hottest, most humid place on the planet, sweating is not optional, it is miserably hot. The Uk, can be wet and cold or hot and sticky, it rained from the moment I arrived and then it rained some more and then it rained again. I was afraid my feet were growing webs. For the end of June, by my standards it was quite cool, I was glad I packed winter clothes, and two rain coats. I was told the weather was not normally as wet and cold for the time of the year. Most of the US shows are in covered arenas or coliseums; in the UK they show in grass rings with no cover. It makes sense to me now why they do not body clip the show donkeys in the UK, the weather is far too unpredictable and the chance of cold rain is imminent. Chica had been trimmed several weeks before our show at The Royal Highland and yet she was still cold in the ring. In the US, we almost never enter the ring without a fresh body clip. I will admit to bias on the side of body clipping I think it makes judging the animal easier, but having seen the unclipped donkeys being shown in the UK it was not as difficult seeing the conformation as I thought it might be. The good donkeys rose to the top regardless of shaggy hair. It is hard to hide quality. Showing outside, rain or shine is not too conducive to all donkeys. My donkey was not accustomed to strutting her stuff in the rain so her cooperation level was not her typical “look at me”; it was more “I’m too wet and cold to trot”. Not that I blame her, she was miserable and she wanted everyone to know she was not having fun. The donkeys native to the UK were equally as unhappy with the cool damp conditions. Another notable difference is show halters. In the US, a western style halter either leather or biothane decorated with sterling silver buckles and trim is the standard. In the UK, plain leather head collars with no ornamental hardware is standard. In the US, jacks must be shown with a chain under their chin. In the UK, jacks must be shown with a bit in their mouth attached to reins; the head collars also include a caveson and brow band. Jennets in the UK are supposed to have plain head collars with no trim. Jacks in the UK can have a little subtle trim but jennets should have no extra trim on their head collars. When I showed Chica in Scotland I used a biothane halter with silver buckles, silver cheeks bars and a plain noseband. I don’t think she was penalized for the silver trim and I hope we started a trend toward jennets wearing fancier halters in the UK. The dress code serves the same purpose in both the US and the UK. Exhibitors are encouraged to dress in a manner that presents a professional image. Again, my bias is toward the US Western style; however, the UK English style was quite comfortable and warm. In the UK at this time there are not enough Miniature Donkeys being shown to warrant their own classes at all the shows so at The Royal Highland we showed with the Standard Donkeys. With the rapidly growing number of Miniature Donkeys in the UK the shows are seeing greater numbers of Miniature Donkeys in attendance. Hopefully it will not be long before the Miniature Donkeys can warrant their own classes. It is a challenge to compete with the Standards because they have always dominated the show ring in the UK. In the US, we are very fortunate to have our own Miniature Donkey classes. It seems the US shows include more halter and performance classes. The quality of the Standard Donkeys in the UK was impressive. They were considerably better than most I have seen shown in the US. I attribute that to the fact the UK has more Standard Donkeys in the show ring than the US. They had fantastic overall conformation, including straight legs, nice round rumps and pretty heads. It was great to see such nice Standards. The Miniatures seem to be much less uniform in size and type. My theory is the Miniature Donkeys have not had enough time to develop their type in the UK. Most breeders in the US that show would agree that the quality of animals in the US show ring gets better every year. That is the result of many years of careful breeding. The UK lags behind due to the limited number of animals available for breeding. The last notable difference is the method in which the donkeys are evaluated by the judge, In the Uk, the judge requests you walk your animal toward them and then trot away. In addition, exhibitors circle the pen on the rail individually and as a group. The judge then examines each animal standing in line. The feet are picked up, teeth are checked and the judge may run their hands over the neck, loin and hip. The judge will ask you the age as well. In the US, we walk to the judge and trot away into a head to tail column, once all donkeys have entered the ring the judge then evaluates each animal while standing. The teeth are checked but feet are not examined. The US has many age distinctions in our classes so the judge does not need to ask the age of the animal. At The Royal Highland Show, Ann won her class with Johnny Paycheck and stood Reserve Champion Male, Chica and I were third in the same class Ann won and we stood Reserve Champion Female, I know it does not make sense to my fellow US show folk but it is possible to win a Reserve Championship in the UK while standing third. In the US, the only animals eligible for a Grand or Reserve Championship must have won first or second in their class. In conclusion, despite heat, humidity, rain or cold showing donkeys is fun no matter what the conditions. Most importantly, outstanding donkeys, standard or miniature rise to the top no matter which side of the pond you are showing on.
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WolfHeart’s Doc O’ Leo aka “Leftie”
Published in the Asset Magazine
By Joyce BergHansen, WolfHeart Ranch
Our Miniature Donkey gelding Leftie has always taken his Ambassador of the Breed duties very seriously. We like to think of him as a modern day working donkey with several very important jobs. His current resume includes 4-H Instructor, Community Fundraiser, State Fair Publicity Agent, Trick Donkey, Herd Protector, Halter Donkey, and Internet Personality. No opportunity to represent the Miniature Donkey is too big or too small to enlist the services of Leftie.
Clemson University hosts three hundred 4-H members at their annual 4-H Horse Camp. The extension agent from our area called me in the spring and asked if I would bring some donkeys to the camp and give a lecture pertaining to the donkey. Leftie was the perfect donkey to assist in my presentation. He has a presence that draws in children of all ages. Most of the “horse kids” had never been close to a Miniature Donkey. Of course they all wanted to take Leftie home.
Lila Doyle Nursing Home is an animal friendly place. The administration strongly advocates animal therapy for their patients. The staff of the nursing home sponsored a fund raiser fair that included a petting zoo. Proceeds were earmarked to support the animals that reside at the facility. Leftie was the perfect donkey to work the petting zoo portion of the fair. He seems to understand the curiosity of young children as they cautiously put out a hand to get their first touch. Leftie accommodates all the children from the timid to the bold.
Leftie loves a good State Fair. We have attended Miniature Donkey shows at the Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina State Fairs in the past three years. Whenever we are not showing we try to find someway in which Leftie can mingle with the crowd. In 2004, while attending the Dixie Classic Fair in North Carolina we got permission to walk Leftie outside of the livestock area and into the general fairgrounds. Leftie was a hit. He tried to order a funnel cake, get his weight guessed and ride on the carousel. His poised and relaxed manner in a crowd always amazes the fairgoers.
When we have visitors to our ranch Leftie is always center stage. They always think Leftie is cute while he fetching his ball or his favorite hoola hoop. He gets to have fun but his purpose is an important one on and off our ranch. While at home he serves as a herd protector for our weanling Miniature Donkey foals. At the shows he helps promote our ranch’s breeding program. Leftie has always placed in Miniature Donkey Halter classes when he was a jack and now as a gelding. In 2004, he stood NMDA Reserve Champion Gelding at Cheers for Ears and The Great Mule and Donkey Celebration.
Finally, Leftie has his own webpage titled “Adventures of Leftie”. He gets emails asking what new adventures he is planning. His fan base extends around the world. We have heard from his fans in New Zealand, England, Ireland, Turkey, and Canada. Recently an email was from a little girl with the same nickname as “Leftie”, she explained that following his adventures has become a monthly routine for her family. One recent adventure took Leftie to Petsmart to see Santa Clause. The next day someone called the local radio station to tell the tale of the Miniature Donkey they saw standing in line at Petsmart to meet Santa. We then were contacted by the radio station asking us to explain the Legend of the Cross. No telling how many people learned a little something about Miniature Donkeys from Leftie’s visit to Petsmart. Leftie’s adventures can be seen at www.wolfheartranch.com/adventuresleftie.htm
Leftie has just started his journey as an Ambassador of The Breed. We are dedicated to his continued success and celebrity.
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