Utopia is a 6yo BLM Jenny available for adoption. She is a beautiful grulla / dun color. She will lead, load, and pick up all four feet before she goes home. Burros make great hiking companions, trail animals and livestock guardians. You can even ride them! Remember that burros have a longer lifespan than horses and typically live beyond 30.
Learn about the gather here! http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_programs/wild_horse_and_burro/Hickison_Burro_Gather.html
November 24, 2014
Here is Utopia in her new 50 x 50 pen practicing being caught. She’s been doing well in this pen and we will be practicing her in the 50×100. She is doing great and is almost ready to go home!!
November 22, 2014
Here is Utopia and Joe practicing picking up feet in her pen. We’re also working with her to make sure she is comfortable with her feet being handled outside her stall during her walks around the ranch.
November 18, 2014
Took some video of our morning routine. When everybody is hungry they are pretty happy to see you and its a great time for handling / socialization. Quinella and Utopia are going to a pasture situation so we have been practicing getting them used to being caught in groups as well as alone. By themselves in a 12×24 they are easy but with others in a 24×48 they are still deciding if they want to be caught! In the evening we practiced leading and picking up their four feet.
November 14-17, 2014
We’ve been practicing with Utopia and Quinella getting them used to some of the things they’ll experience in their new home like being caught in a large pasture rather than a smaller stall. We’ve been working on catching them when they are together and separated. We’ve also been practicing both Joe and I picking out their feet so they get used to being handled by different people. I took some video this morning which I’ll upload this evening (left the camera at home). Mornings are carrot / socialization time and the girls are doing great about approaching us instead of us having to go get them.
November 6, 2014
Utopia is making great progress being approached and simulating haltering. She’s also doing great with picking up her front feet!
October 20, 2014
Today we worked with Utopia on tying and picking up her front feet. We are also practicing approach and retreat. She is starting to learn how to pick up her back feet as well.
October 19, 2014 – OFF
October 18, 2014
Worked with Utopia today on picking up her front feet. For all the burros we use a methodical process. We ask them to accept their legs being touched first, then accustom them to picking up their feet with a rope and finally when we ask with our hand. She was great! She’ll need reinforcement but she is off to a good start.
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- Introducing the hand.
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- Picking up with the rope.
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- Touching with the rope.
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- Touching with the stick.
October 16, 2014
Worked on approach and retreat with Utopia. She is still refusing carrots so we’re leaving her with them on her hay during her evening feeding.
Arrival – October 15, 2014
New load of burros came in today. We worked with Utopia on haltering and lots of approach and retreat. She’s a little scared and standoffish but we are sure our stock of carrots will bring her around!
