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  Discussion on Donkey and horse play fighting - too rough??
Author Message
Member:
dsmith6

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 - 1:53 pm:

Hi,
I have noticed at night that my new donkey and horse are play fighting. I know its play fighting because they will do it for awhile then stop and eat hay together. During the day they are best buds. However, my donkey seems to be a little rough on my horse. The donkey is 7yo and my horse is 20yo with arthiritis. I've noticed more scraps and bite marks on my horse and none on the donkey. The playing I've witnessed is my horse grabbing the donkey's neck with his teeth, but the donkey just stands there with his ears up and eventually they stop and run together or do something else. I've also witnessed the donkey nip at my horses legs, nipping at each other but no contact, then the just run around together and then eventually quit. Last night around 3am, I was woken up by the playing as my horse will squeal sometimes (even though he's a gelding) I went out and he had a big welt on his neck with bite marks. So I seperated the two of them. It was pretty swollen this morning. When they play fight they look like they have fun most of the time, because their ears are up and keep going back for more. There is never hoof contact, usually just nipping and running. The donkey will even go and get his ball and bring it over to my horse. Should I seperate them or just keep a close eye on them? I don't want my horse to get hurt- since it seems like he is getting most of the abuse.
Member:
erika

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 11:04 am:

Hi Danielle, even though they are playing I agree with your concern for your older horse. I think you're doing the right thing by separating them at night when you can't keep an eye on things.

Is the horse still rideable? Will the donkey pony along with him? If so, I would get them a little exercise together. I think horses, like dogs, "pack up" better when they move as a team. Even the act of keeping the donkey slightly behind the horse while ponying might help with his dominance issues.

If you can't pony them together, you can lunge them or work them in a round pen either together or separately.
The idea is to get their "yaya's" out in a more constructive way until they settle down a bit.

There may be a little bit of a dominance issue here, too, and getting out the excess energy might help to turn the biting and chasing into just a few "dirty looks".
Time will probably help, hopefully before someone gets badly hurt, but working new/old residents has helped at my farm.

Hope this helps. Best of luck. I know you could use a break after your recent heartache!
Erika
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 2:47 pm:

It is probably a good thing that your horse gets more exercise on account of the donkey.

Sometimes it does take them a while to sort things out.

Some times of the year (such as when the weather is cooler and they feel friskier), there will be more marks on my boys but there is not normally anything really serious -- more unsightly than of real consequence.

Good luck with this.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 11, 2009 - 7:35 am:

I agree with the above summaries that horses will be horses. While no one can predict the future this does not seem out of the realm of what most accept as normal behavior and it just is a fact that sometimes someone has to get hurt so they know how far they can go with their play.

Though you say there is never any hoof contact.....I was just checking in to be sure everyone is barefoot as even a playful blow with a shod hoof to the lower legs can sometimes have devastating results.
DrO
Member:
dsmith6

Posted on Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 - 8:28 am:

Hi,
I seperated the donkey 2 nights in a row. Last night they were together and they seemed to be much better. They def did not like to be seperated- the horse stood at the fence next to the donkey each night. I also worked the donkey a little bit after work last night- and will try to do that. Maybe having another "outlet" for this energy will be good for him. The vet also agreed that they will work things out. Thank you everyone!
Member:
dsmith6

Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2009 - 1:45 pm:

OK- so we had a relapse. They were doing great- but yesterday morning my horse had a large bite on his throat from the night before! Very swollen and teeth marks. So I seperated them again last night. Why the throat? Do you think it just happened to be where he grabbed him when playing or did the donkey really go for my horses' throat!? What should I do- seperate or still think they will work things out??? very concerned.... thanks.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 - 7:38 am:

Hello Danielle,
There is nothing in your post that changes the recommendations given above except one thing: your increasing concern about this. If this is going to keep you up at night or if you cannot accept that someone may get seriously injured while playing, you should keep them separated.
DrO
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