AboutSue King Expertise I've owned saddle mules for over 25 years. After running a 30 stall boarding barn for horses, I established my farm, Brayer Hill Farm, producing National and World Champion saddle mules and standing two jacks to the public. I have also written and published articles concerning mules and maintain The Saddle Mule News online and serve as the Executive Secretary for The North Anerican Saddle Mule Association.
Experience I have 25 Years experience in owning, breeding for, raising, and showing quality Saddle Mules and own Brayer Hill Farm. In addition, I am a Charter Member of two National Mule Associations. I also publish The Saddle Mule News available online. www.saddlemulenews.com
Organizations
North American Saddle Mule Association (Executive Secretary),
American Gaited Mule Association,
American Donkey and Mule Socitey
Publications
The Brayer,
Mules and More, and
Owner/Publisher of The Saddle Mule News
Education/Credentials Under and Post Graduate work in Education.
Awards and Honors ADMS Farm Versatility, Hall of Fame
ADMS, Versatility Hall of Fame Winners,
ADMS Breeding Versatility Hall of Fame,
NASMA Registers of Merit , National and World Champion title winners.
Expert: Sue King Date: 8/13/2007 Subject: How much running is too much for donkey foal?
Question My donkeys and horses enjoy playing together, but I'm afraid our new donkey filly may be running with the horses too much for her own good. Today she is just two weeks old. She's out of mammoth stock. Her dam, sire and yearling half-sister by the same sire (she's also her cousin) all are exceptionally spirited. Her sire works gathering feral cattle on Federal lands too dangerous for horses to work. My concern is that around sunrise and sunset our young horses love to race, and they have made the new filly their dear buddy. Our young horse enjoy making several circuits around their pasture, seven acres of rolling hills, forest and meadow. When the donkey baby was eleven days old she joined in the racing and managed to go as fast as the others. I intervened to stop her after just one circuit of the pasture. But then after I let her rejoin her dam she took off again for another circuit race. I got her to stop again (she's remarkably sensitive to my body language and hollering "quit!!!" perhaps because I imprinted her a birth). That second time I made her stand while the horse hooligans ran a few more circuits of the pasture and finally quit after getting drenched with sweat.
Since then (three days) I've only allowed her in with the horses during the heat of the day when they mostly just graze and loaf. Am I being over protective? Is it OK for her to race like a maniac with the horses? Her big sister also loves to gallop but she never makes more than one circuit of the pasture. So I suspect the baby is yielding to peer pressure too do things that aren't good for her.
What do you make of this?
Answer I think you a great Mom! Everything you are doing is exactly what I would do. Two weeks is REALLY young. Maybe when she's a little older you will feel more comfortable with her play.
Keep up the good work! Your instincts are great. I know you'll be able to tell when she's up for more.
