Group Cooperation

When working with "herd bound" animals, you are also working with their social structure. To simply walk in and work with an individual animal while all the others are around is absolutely impossible. Unless, of course, the animal you are working with is the dominant individual of the group. The one in charge, like Spartacus.

In the past, if I walked into the pasture with carrots and tried to feed all the animals, bossy Spartacus would walk on up and push everyone away. Nobody would get to be able to have carrots from my hand nor would they get any personal attention from me.

One of the most rewarding things I have the privilege of experiencing here at Windy Hill Ranch, is having an understanding of how these social structures work and creating a relationship within them. Now, when I walk into the pasture with my carrots, everyone has learned that I am the dominant one. If any of them don't "play nice", then I walk away and no one gets carrots.

It really is amazing to feed a group of donkeys and have Spartacus walk up nicely and wait for me to open up the group and allow him in. It's rewarding to no longer have him come charging in with bucking legs and ears pinned down.

Enjoy the following pictures of me feeding carrots out, one by one in a group.

Pictured below from front to back: Spartacus, Baby Buckley, Lady Buckley and Lovable.

Same group but now Pippi is joining us.

Giving Spartacus some extra, well deserved attention for being so well behaved.

Here's my view. Aren't they so cute looking up at me, waiting for that delicious carrot?
From left to right:
Baby Buckley, Pippi, Lovable

Lady Buckley has joined the group on the far left.

I try to leave, but they want more!

Such good little donkey girls! (even though Pippi is trying to sneak into my carrot bag!)