2/15/2019
Susan Parks
Mineral Wells, Texas
Love it!
Thank you so much for the amazingly fast delivery on the halter! And it’s perfect! The quality is outstanding…I will definitely be ordering more for my other equines! And I’m learning so much from your videos!
2/11/2019
Norway
So happy with your tack ❤️ hannah is so happy she is the first and only rider off thekla because thekla is to young for a grown person ❤️
10/11/2018
Marie Nevada
It was so nice talking to Melody Johnson the Donkey Whisperer. She understands the difficulty we have finding good quality tack. I wanted to get a halter with 4 knots over the nose. She said no problem and gave me the information she needs me to fill out for correct sizing. I filled it out and emailed it back to her. The next day the halter was in the mail and two days later the mail lady delivers it. Mind you they had to make the halter from scratch using my measurements. What a pleasant process and when I saw the halter my jaw dropped. It’s beautiful with quality brass closures, strong & beautiful yacht line and leather whip on the end of the lead line. I went to try the halter on my Sally and it fit perfectly. I am including a picture of Sally with her new Burgundy halter. She loves her new halter and so does our instructor.
Tabea, MN 4/22/2018
I wanted to thank you so very much for the ropehalter and leadrope. It fits PERFECT and I am so happy to start working Alora in it.
A horse rope halter just doesn’t fit right for a Mammoth donkey. It is nice to get to measure the head and get a perfect fit. I especially like the long tie so I can make the halter last longer as my donkey is young. The colors look amazing on her and I love the long leadline, with the snap. The material is nice and soft, which I really like. I had ropehalters before that became stiff when they got wet and the soft material will prevent that.
I am super happy and am so thankful for it. Ears UP !
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue of Washington State
Paulette Quiroga-Jacklin, Omak, Washington 4/17/2018
Our donkeys are modeling off their eye catching bright neon pink and orange rope halters with matching lead lines. The colors contrast beautifully against their coats. The ropes are a lot softer on their face than the standard rope halters and my husband especially likes how much thinner the ropes are. My granddaughter’s had no problem putting on the halters. And, as you can see, we have a standard sized donkey and two very small miniature donkeys and these rope halters fit them all perfectly. The knots placed in just the right spots on their faces. We are very satisfied with these halters and highly recommend them.
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Kathleen Preece, Bemidji, Minnesota 1/4/2018
Melody, I wanted to thank you for your supportive note and offer of assistance. I WILL be calling upon you; it is wonderful to know you have some lessons available and some guidance. Ponies are familiar; donkeys are a new thing and I am realizing, much different than the ponies.
Noah is lovely; learns so quickly! We have had terribly cold weather (minus 29) so I put on a blanket for a short walk the other day. Thought the photo would make you smile.
Again, my sincerest ‘thank you.’ His halter fits beautifully. I will never leave halters on when the fellows are out to pasture. I, too, have heard the horror stories.
My best,
Kathleen
Susan Samiee, Colorado 4/26/2017
This is a life saver. A list I can print out and take to the farm store to purchase all the items necessary to treat the abscess. And a video showing me how to make a donkey boot and how to make my own home-made poultice.
Thank you for making this teaching video.
Aaron McGuire, Roswell, New Mexico 4/10/2017
I started by rescuing a five year old “jack.” I had no experience with donkeys or any clue on how to train him. He had little to no training, was pushy and would only let me pet his head. I thought I could work with him and eventually train him. Little did I know, donkeys are trained differently than horses and I was getting nowhere.
I found Melody while looking for training videos on the Internet and decided to call. I realized immediately that I needed someone with her experience to be successful with Po (my newly castrated donkey). I was amazed how my problems with Po had simple solutions that I hadn’t thought of. Melody made it easy to ask any question whether it was very easy or very hard. Now I have two donkeys and am training them both to pack.
I have been able to apply the skills Melody taught me to training my second donkey. She did not teach me the steps of how to train my donkey, she taught me how to understand donkeys. With this understanding, I feel confident I can continue to train my donkeys. Melody gave me the skills to effectively communicate with my donkey and ultimately achieve my goal of packing with an amazing animal.
I highly recommend Melody; she is professional, easy to communicate with, puts what is best for the donkey above all else, and really knows what she is talking about.
Lena Marie Echelle, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina 2/12/2017
I really enjoyed your videos and PDF and will certainly keep reading and watching the information. I appreciate the effort you have put into
describing with words how you train donkeys. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and ask when donkey training 102 will be released!
I haven’t yet started training my young mule too much as he is a pretty feisty two year old still, but I know that he will respond well to these
techniques. The idea to touch them on the turning side is genius in its transfer to riding. My young donkeys have been responding well to your techniques and I am looking forward to trying them on my older donkey because I think she must be an introvert! Anyway, thanks again.
We live in Argentina with three donkeys, two mules, and a horse. My daughters and I have enjoyed looking through your website.
Thank you!
Tabea Brock, Netherlands 12/16/2016
Melody and all your lovely long-ears that made your Training Videos possible. I wanted to thank you for not forgetting us “knowledge hungry”
donkey lovers. I come from the horse world and it is so much easier to find good information. I am a brand new donkey owner and really want to do everything right. I knew as a child that when I grew up, I have to have one. And I couldn’t be more happy , that I stuck to the dream and
fulfilled it with a lovely baby mammoth donkey girl named Alora.
I love that you teach them gentle and in a way they can understand. I really like that you “stress” being on donkey time. I found out very quick that this is the secret to the heart of a donkey. Taking time, not being in a rush or getting frustrated. Just go with the flow. The last 2 months changed myself so much and I love all the little steps we take day by day.
You are part of my journey and I can’t wait until the next course comes out.
Chantal Fidanza, NM 11/28/2016 (Update)
Donkey training with Melody has been the highlight of my year! Melody is an amazing teacher, so encouraging and dials you right in. I was so lucky to find her, and she was so brave to take me on as a student. My goal when I contacted her was to be able to ride my large standard donkey, Moby. When I bought him two years ago when he was 3, I knew he had had a fair amount of basic training as well as a little bit of saddle work, but I needed to get up to speed to be able to partner with him so we could be a riding team. The fact that he is such a spirited soul and has a wonderful, extroverted personality (Mr. Ed with long ears!) has given me the challenge, as an equine newbie, to step into the leadership role with my donkey, instead of letting him call the shots (cute as he is!) Melody has helped me make that shift and I can’t tell you how empowering that is! My relationship with Moby deepens and becomes larger every day because of it. The Donkey Whisperer halter and lead rope, in conjunction with Melody’s direction in properly using it, has been a powerful tool in our lessons. I’m so pleased with our progress, from picking up feet with ease, ground tying, leading, and now to riding (we are walking, trotting, cantering and whoaing all in the DW halter, NO BIT, and I am no expert rider by a long shot!) Melody’s donkey lessons are life-changing ~ not just for my relationship with my donkey friend ~ but with all of my relationships, including the one with myself. So glad I gave this gift to myself, and grateful that Melody took us on. If I can do it, anyone who loves their donkey can.
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Regan Thomason, Battle Ground, WA. 10/27/2016
Anyone who owns a donkey or works with donkeys should know that donkeys are very different than horses. Even though the trainer that I worked with near my home said he knew donkeys, he really didn’t. One hour with him was a huge mistake. He tried to cram as much as he could into the lesson focusing on the donkeys, and ignoring me. Luckily my boys forgave me and luckily, I found Melody and the Donkey Whisperer Farm. Melody focuses on training the owner.
Melody taught me how to read their body language and how to be their fair leader. Most importantly though, she taught me how to work on “Donkey Time” Because of her training, my boys have good manners and social skills. They behave for the vet and farrier and they are a joy to be around. I now feel confident around them and I feel that I have the knowledge and tools to continue their training. I am also so appreciative of the “in case of emergency” advice that she relayed. She covered husbandry that I never even thought about. Taking her course was the best thing that I could have done for them. I am truly grateful.
Chantal Fidanza, NM 4/15/2016
I just have to tell you this training with you is one of the most empowering things I have ever done! You are the best teacher. I just got in from a 15 minute lesson with Moby and we’ll do another one later. I made the adjustment to only walk beside him on the walk on (not backward). Omg this whole thing working with him / how I approach him / being the leader is such a powerful shift. I feel I am really starting to soak up the mind frame / energy / attitude you are teaching me with each lesson and it’s deepening my relationship with both of my donkeys. Moby can’t get enough, and Abby is interested and yep, you’re right, she’s learned by watching him. I just did a little lesson with her and I’m amazed.
The hardest thing for Moby right now is the Whoa and extending that time. He wants interaction!!! Ha ha. So the rope all over is easier. But he is getting better and is so willing. I did try a Backup! As he was in my face and he’s got it. My adjustment there is to stay where I am (not move toward him while he moves back, I’m the leader, he does what I ask, I’m getting it!)
Thank you again so much, you really are such a gifted teacher! And so encouraging. That’s what I needed. I wasn’t sure if I had what it took. This is so empowering.
Emily Reid and her donkey Sugar 1/18/2016
I hope you are having a great start of your year! I just wanted to send you a quick update on Sugar and I – it has been just short of a year since we worked with you.
Like you had said, things got better and then a little worse before they got better again. I started taking Sugar on walks in our neighborhood- short at first, then longer and longer until we would go 3 to 4 miles. Once in a while I could get her to run, but not ever for very long and not ever very easily.
One day I got a bit frustrated and dropped her lead and ran on my own. Well Sugar decided to run after me. I got a bit nervous she would trip on her lead, so I took it off. She kept up with me. The next day I tried taking her out again and then again took the lead off and started running. She seemed to really enjoy it.
Now we run 4 or more days a week together I can take the dogs now too because she has warmed up to them. The neighbors all know Sugar and often cars will stop and take photos of her and I on our runs. I had no idea I’d be getting a running buddy when I got a donkey!
We go on trail runs too and the wild mustangs look like they have just seen a tiger or something when they see Sugar-they take off running. and Sugar loves to visit neighboring horses in their fields. She has a lot of friends. She will let some of then give her bites all over her back from over the fence and she has one that she kicks at every time- she is a character to say the least.
Picking up her hooves is easy now and she loves scratches everywhere. We love her so much and she finally loves us so much! We are finally ready to get her a buddy. We will be on the lookout for another donkey (or horse as she seems particularly fond of Arabians) who is in need of a home.
I am thankful that I was able to work with you when she first came to us- as I was afraid of her for the most part. You do a great job helping humans and donkeys alike and there is a happy donkey in Reno Nevada with a loving family because of you!
Shirley Gathercole 6/10/2015
I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate your help with Stanley, my standard gelding donkey. He will be 2 years old in July and I am thrilled with the way he is developing. Since you began mentoring me in March 2015, he has become more and more of a pleasure to be with. He is calmer and much less moody. There were days in the past when I didn’t really know if I was going to be able to keep him because he was so unpredictable and wasn’t consistently responding to my efforts to train him. I had tried clicker training for a while and that was very helpful getting him to the point where I could get his halter on and lead him out to his pasture, and sometimes I could pick up his feet. Then we had this brutal winter this past year and he was unable to go out at all for days and days. He was too penned up and wild acting for me and it scared me. Also, my time in the barn was severely limited due to the temperatures. I really slacked off on picking up his feet. After 2 months he would not allow me to touch him almost anywhere and certainly not his feet. The farrier wouldn’t even try it. I was desperate for help and nobody around here had any training experience with donkeys. I did a google search and found you! I am in the western NY area and you are in Washington state. How cool is that? I learned how to Skype!
All I can say is from the first day I began to feel hope that things would turn around and they did very quickly. Stanley has responded very positively to me because your mentoring has increased my confidence! When I’m scared and lack direction he senses it immediately. When he reacts to me by pulling away or being rebellious I know that it’s my fault because I failed to meet the need or I lacked the confidence or discipline to follow through.
The biggest shift that has taken place in our relationship is that I have shown Stanley that I am the boss. There was some confusion about that before. In your lessons with me it became clear to both of us that this was an area that needed work and you gave me some very specific guidance which was absolutely invaluable to me. Others had told me it was important but nobody ever SHOWED me how to take control. WOW! This was huge for me!
Also your teachings and insight around introverts vs extroverts has been helpful. Now I’m able to recognize the difference and see how that affects the relationship and training process. This understanding also carries over into human relationships and being more aware and honoring of myself and less critical when I try to compare myself with others.
At this time, Stanley has become a cuddly donkey! He is acting like a puppy; he follows me around and stares at me and even has nuzzled up to me! He is so patient with me and so gentle. I am so much in love with my wonderful Stanley! Thank you SO much and may God bless you in a mighty way for all that you do.
Julie Wallace, WI 8/27/2014
My three donkeys arrived two years ago. They were friendly but not trained. Since I had no experience with equine and no one I knew with donkeys who were trained I read everything I could find. Clicker training seemed to be the answer, with its focus on positive reinforcement. It was a breath of fresh air after discovering all of the ways humans abuse equines during training. I bought my clickers and went to work. My donkeys quickly learned to respond to click and treat. We walked forward and back. They agreed to put their heads down and (sometimes) pick their feet up. But then I got stuck. On walks one donk regularly maneuvered me into the ditch. The grass there was oh so much tastier than the clicker treat. While in the paddock the herd would fall all over themselves (and me) to be the first in line to train. I felt unsafe and unsure how to proceed.
Online I discovered the Donkey Whisperer Farm and enjoyed reading Melody’s blog. When she announced she was offering online virtual coaching I leapt at the opportunity. And it was amazing from the start. I learned so much in our very first conversation. I was impressed by Melody’s unique knowledge about donkeys. I was also inspired by her personal story and her commitment to make the world a better place, one donkey trainer at a time!
Melody taught me the importance of being “on donkey time.” I needed to relax and love on the donkeys before diving into an agenda. When beginning a potentially stressful component of training (for example, the “friendly game”) I was to take a deep breath and blow out before beginning. It sounds so insignificant, but it proved to be invaluable in helping me and my donkeys get in the right frame of mind to learn. Melody taught me about different personalities in the donkey world and how to be effective with each one. I am better now also at listening to what my donkeys are telling me. This keeps us both safer and able to figure out the next best move.
Julie WallaceEach week we get together and review and make a plan. Melody gives me homework. She reviews videos of me working with my donkeys. This makes the whole process more personal and customized to the needs of me and my animals.
Another wonderful aspect of Melody’s training is the focus on resistance-free methods. After others told me to do painful things to my donks to “control” them (for example, twisting their ears) it was thrilling to learn from Melody the way to become your donkeys’ trusted leader. Melody taught me to use tools and techniques that are respectful yet effective.
After a farrier visit this winter one donkey developed a painful hoof abscess. Melody walked me through all phases of treatment including how to make a boot from materials I could easily obtain. She not only saved me a huge vet bill she gave me tremendous confidence in knowing I could now handle this common but debilitating ailment.
Working with Melody is fun. She has so many stories and examples to demonstrate how to work with your particular situation. Her love of equines and her sense of gratitude and commitment are inspiring. I feel fortunate to be counted among her students. I know that the lessons I’ve learned will serve me and my donkeys well.
Cindy Testerman, OK 7/24/2014
I have two standard large donkeys, Billy a gelding and a jenny named Mandy. My husband bought them for me in March of 2013. Let me tell you these donkeys were scarred and wild. Not having a clue with what to do with them other than type of shelter they needed and what to feed them.
For a month ever day I would walk out into our pasture, locate them, follow them, sit down as close as they would let me. They would look at me and walk away. Finally we decided that they needed to be in a smaller area. We were able to coax them into a small paddock with hay and carrots of course and close the gate. After a couple of days I was able to pet and brush them. That was all I could do with them for quite some time.
First farrier visit was stressful and horrible as my donkeys were scarred.
I’m most certain that they had never had their hooves trimmed prior to that. They did get better with the farrier with time but not how I wanted them to be better as I had to tie them. When I asked for their hooves it was certainly not like today it happened but it was stressful. I had fallen in love with my donkeys and loved spending time with them, brushing them and hugging them but I knew that I wanted more out of our relationship and knew I needed a professional trainer. Not a lot of donkey trainers here in Oklahoma. None to my knowledge anyways but I belonged to a group called “On Donkey Time” on face book and thought I would try Melody Johnson’s virtual training.
I started working with Melody on April 9th, 2014 and I can now trailer load my donkeys and take them for walks. Next summer I will be coming to Melody’s farm for a cart pulling class with National teacher Nate Bowers, Parelli. All of the foundation has been laid so I am now ready to teach my donkeys to pull a cart after I learn. Melody has explained to me that having a foundation for cart pulling is key to the success and for the safety of me and my donkeys.
Now I know it seems strange to have a trainer that lives over 1000 miles away but with today’s technology, you don’t even have to leave your home.
Once a week, unless something in life gets in the way and prevents it, Melody and I meet, we see one another via skype and it’s a personal trainer face to face, much cheaper than hiring a local trainer if you have that option. I make video of myself working with my donkeys (homework assigned by Melody) and then send it to her email with my IPhone. Sounds simple enough right?
The First Time I Met Melody
She wanted to know what I could do with my donkeys without getting hurt and specifically what my goals and dreams were. At that time I was able to pick up their feet and clean their hooves while they were tied up to a tree and I could halter them and that was it. I told her that my goal was cart pulling and taking them for walks.
Currently I am more than half way done with a 10 lesson personalized training program and after seven lessons I am able to clean their hooves ground tied, meaning they are not tied up to a tree anymore. When the farrier comes they are not tied up. They are haltered and have a lead rope on and I hold them and bury their head into my chest. Oh it’s so less stressful and what a bond I now have with them as I am the leader they come to me for safety.
After working with Melody my donkeys understand what whoa, walk on, back up, foot and over means. Gee and haw (right and left) is coming along. I am able to send them into their stall and they turn around and lower their head for me to take their halter off. Currently we are working on trailer loading and before I met with Melody this last session my husband drove the truck and trailer into the pasture so that the donkeys could look at it, smell it, check it out. I used what Melody had taught me so far and we slowly walked out to the trailer, carrots in hand and I said to Billy, walk on and before I knew it he had all four feet on the trailer and not even scarred. I gave him a carrot and told him good job and then said back up. He did it!! I was shocked! Wow! Mandy will soon follow. She has gotten 3 feet on and she too can back up like a pro!!!
I am so amazed how far we have come in just seven sessions.
My once wild donkeys are becoming partners with me staying in the leadership position without abuse. Using my body language, voice, and words they are well trained donkeys, TRAINED BY ME. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences ever. I think it’s so rewarding because donkeys, horses or mules will give back to you if you love them, respect them and train them the way they should be trained. I will always be grateful for what Melody has taught me. Melody loves her donkeys and horses. She also enjoys teaching. If she feels like you’re not learning or not understanding what she’s teaching you, she really takes it to heart. She wants me and her other students to be successful.
So for anyone who is reading my review, I highly recommend Melody Johnson’s virtual training program.
Martine Lyon, France
I live in France with my husband Geoff , our 3 goats ( Dini, Dora and Deeva) and our 2 donkeys, Bijou ( 27months old) and Bichette( 19 months old).
We have some woods just down the lane from us and in walking with friends and our donkeys 2 weeks ago, I decided to let them go once in the woods. The moment they felt free from the lead was a moment of great excitement. They shot out of sight, head up high, kicking their back legs, and farting in the same time. It was pure joy for them and an expectant moment for us as we didn’t know when we were going to see them again. All were anxious but me. I trusted my donkeys to be waiting for us and they were after one or two minutes when they came back. We then walked for 2 hours in the forest and Bijou and Bichette were walking together with us like friends. By the time we reached the road again we put the lead back on them and went home. I would have never been able to do that with them had I not met Melody.
The way we worked with Melody was using skype and youtube. Geoff took some video clips of me and Galopin ( our first little donkey who died during his castration operation) with his ordinary camera, downloaded them on youtube for Melody to see, and from watching them, Melody was able to coach me on skype. It didn’t take me very long to get all that I needed from her, and we have donkeys that are just adorable now. One of the most important piece of coaching from Melody was that when something doesn’t go right with the donkeys, it’s never the donkeys. From that I am now able to look at myself and re-adjust my behavior or position such that I get the result that I want from the donkeys…it works!
Galopin and BijouA few weeks ago we had some friends and young people visiting and all wanted to take the donkeys for a walk. So we went off for a walk again and the donkeys were wonderful with all my guests. I had been coaching them on 3 important points when walking with my donkeys and on taking the coaching they all had so much satisfaction with Bijou and Bichette. Isn’t that great? Little Bichette used to kick when on a walk and she has not done that for a long while. I could go on forever but I won’t. I wish anyone with new donkeys as much fun with their training from Melody as I’ve had myself with her.
Alf and Snorre in Norway
l can still remember the day l felt It, l was laying in my bed looking at a little picture that my grandmother gave me for Christmas. A picture of a horse with a soft muzzle and big black eyes. l was six years old, and from that day forward l knew in my heart that a horse was my dream.
Did l get a horse? No. l got something better, I got donkeys!
My black beauty Alf is my dream come true. I was looking on the internet after horses, and suddenly he was there. A black baby donkey, I fell in love and two months after he was arriving in my home.
My first experience with Alf was wonderful as I could do anything with him for two days. Next time he got a little bit spooked about haltering, but we worked thru that, some carrots and my boy was learning fast. We were walking every day, and l was so happy. After two months my donkey was happy and playful. Maybe a bit too playful, he was kicking and jumping and dragging me around, and down hills this was a really hard time for me as I did not know what to do, I was a bit scared. He would run, and l was pulling back, I did not really know what to do about it. l was trying a lot of things, but my donkey Alf was still dragging me around. The local people told me to take a big stick to him and I did not want to do this. l have worked with animals my entire life, so l was thinking that l needed some help as I know animals learn fast, and bad habits can be hard to break when doing it too long. I had read on Melody’s Website before, so l was taking a new look at it, and l decided to send her a Facebook e-mail. Melody answered me right away.
Meeting Melody was amazing, we skyped together on a regular basis as she proceeded to teach me about donkeys and myself. She clearly explained to me anything I wanted to know about donkeys, specifically how young donkeys are like children, how they need to play to be happy as they are smart and have lot’s energy. Melody was giving me the control back, she taught me how to be a great leader a donkey whisperer for my donkey. How to handle Alf when he was running and kicking without abuse, what tools to use. When l feel safe it’s not a big deal to let my donkey play. She was telling me things to do and I would go do them and we would talk about what was working and where I was a bit stuck and then one day I no longer needed anymore coaching from Melody as now I am the donkey whisperer on my farm. J
The most important thing I can say about Melody teaching me is she explains things so I can quickly understand the donkeys perspective and apply the training needed to be the best leader and how to understand my energy and timing to be a great leader. I quickly learned that l can ask Melody about everything, diet, feet, and she will find me the resource I need.
First Melody taught me about taming my donkey, give my donkey a chance to learn totrust me as a human leader. She explained how my donkey must trust me before he could learn from me this is step one. She was telling me how to calm myself down and not go to the barn in a hurry thus I can calm them down. She taught me about short training sessions and to be consistent each and every time and the three second rule for correction again timing is important to train and correct a naughty behavior. Melody taught me how the donkey is a deep thinker and needs time to process everything.Melody is a natural trainer and does not advocate abuse of any kind she taught me how to stay safe without abuse.
How are we doing now?
The most important thing l have learned from Melody is that a donkey needs a donkey friend, they really do. Alf was lonely, playing to rough with our llama, and very playful around me. So Snorre came in to my life in February 2013, and l was thrilled to not have just one donkey but two donkeys. Soon my donkey Alf was a new donkey, so happy, calm and lovey to be around as he was playing with Snorre his half-brother all the time. Now I can walk them, take them for hikes carrying a pack, no kicking and running, dragging me around. Now my little boy can walk the donkeys! It’s a wonderful thing to have donkeys!!! I highly recommend Melody to help you learn how to train your donkey along with understanding the unique diet and health of a donkey as donkeys are not horses with long ears, donkeys are donkeys. Please rememberdonkeys need at least one donkey to be most happy a lonely donkey is a sad donkey.
Julie, France
I first contacted Melody having researched the internet for someone, anyone, who could give me advice on donkey care.
I have been around horses since childhood on and off but never donkeys and when I took my horse he came with two field companions: Itchy and Scratchy; my Mediterranean standard donkeys.
They weren’t trained at all when I took them but over time, we had gone along quite nicely until they suddenly decided that they were not going to walk on their lead ropes any more. I had no idea what to do and no amount of friendly persuasion or my usual bag of tricks would work. I was stuck.
When I first spoke to Melody I was uncertain how or if she could help me but I was really grateful she was prepared to try.
From the first moment I spoke to her she put me at ease, she was friendly, positive and assured me this would be a quick fix. I was delighted. She was right. We resolved all my issues in six sessions. I took her advice, which was clear and precise, and my donkeys began to walk on their lead ropes again! Not only that, they were keener, more present with me and interested to see what we would do next. As I continued to work with Melody different issues came along from stinky feet to gate crowding. Each week when I spoke to her and relayed the current issue she had a solution always and they worked. My boys feet are fabulous now and their gate manners impeccable.
Melody does have a sixth sense. The moment she spoke to me she could see what I needed to learn about myself to help me become a better donkey owner and this was backed up with both practical and positive solutions. There was a lot of love and not much leadership in my field but now the boys have a leader. Consequently they are a lot happier and eager to know what the plans for the day are – they come to see me when I arrive now.
For me it was really helpful to have a visual reference with Melody and Skype allowed this. Even the time difference didn’t affect our ability to connect. It also allowed Melody to demonstrate some things which is so useful and much more practical than a book. Given the cost of most internet advice for equines (usually prohibitive) her fees are excellent value. “I heartedly recommend Melody to anyone who is looking to improve their relationship with themselves and their equine.”
April Finkbeiner, Columbiaville, MI
Here’s a testimonial about Melody and her training…I purchased my 3 mini donkeys about 4 years ago, knowing nothing about them. I had good intentions on training them. But then I realized I didn’t know what I was doing. I had some horse friends show me a couple of things, but I still wasn’t getting the response I wanted. Then I started searching for a “donkey trainer”. I looked everywhere, but the only donkey/mule seminars were out of state, and too expensive for me to attend. Then about a month ago, I found Rio Johnson on Facebook. Her donkey Rio is the most beautiful mammoth donkey ever! I started asking her questions, and she mentioned that she did virtual training.
I was a little skeptical at first…I was thinking, how can you do training when you’re not here? LOL I was wrong…we have been communicating thru Skype and you tube. I send her videos, and she sends me feedback. Then, we set aside time to Skype. It’s so nice to be able to do this from home with my busy schedule. I don’t have time to travel out of state, or the money to pay someone to come to me. We’ve been training for about a month now, and a lot has happened! I have NEVER been able to pick up my donkeys feet.
During our first week of consultation, my favorite donk, Bonita, foundered, and has white line disease. The vet and the farrier told me I would have to clean her hooves every night to get rid of this. I thought, yeah right. Well, Melody came to my rescue. She told me exactly what to do, and sent me videos of her doing it. Then I sent her videos of what I was doing for her to look over. I’ve learned so much already! And now I can pick up all of their feet and pick them out while they eat at night! This is quite an accomplishment, because I haven’t’ been able to do that the whole time I’ve owned them. It’s always been a HUGE ordeal when the farrier had to come. In the past few months, I’ve had to have them sedated, and that’s expensive. I highly recommend Melody Johnson and her Donkey Whisperer Farm. This is a great solution to get help with your donkeys. And I love that she can work with anyone, anywhere! This has given me new hope and a new start with my beloved donkeys.
