Triple B Barnyard

04/07/2024

Frito went to join Fiona, Franny, and Frida today

30/06/2024

One Jenny and two Johns went home today. They are going to be trained to pull a wagon!

28/06/2024

Franny and Frida made it to their forever home today. They are joining Fiona, who recently lost her long time companion to old age 😔. Welcome to the rest of your lives girls ❤️

23/06/2024

The girls made it to their new amazing home in Oregon! What lucky donkeys ❤️

22/06/2024

Little Dewey is living the good life at his new forever home!

21/06/2024

Chatta and Hoochie made it to their forever home today! This one hurt, but I know they are in good hands and will be loved 🥰

21/06/2024

Pedicure day for Sadie and Hoochie. Thank you Teague Farrier Service!

21/06/2024

Charlie Brown went home yesterday with Phibo, who was here getting a refresher!

19/06/2024

Some of the most handsome boys in town!

19/06/2024

Those ears!!!! 🤎

15/06/2024

This sweet Jenny made it to her forever home today. Her and Steven (grey) are sure to be besties in no time!

20/05/2024

12 year old mini mare

Lead line or independent rideable

32 inches tall

Located in queen creek

19/05/2024

Heading to Pendleton, OR next month with 2 donkeys. Have room for more if anybody needs anything hauled along the route.

19/05/2024

Edna and Doris went home tonight… gonna miss these cute little ones roaming the backyard ❤️

17/05/2024

My favorite Jenny on the farm left today for her forever home. I look forward to following her on her journey ❤️. Make me proud #02

17/05/2024

The following is an open letter to the American Association of Equine practitioners. If you would like to “sign” the letter in agreement, please feel free to comment “signed,” tag your favorite vet clinics, rescues, clubs, etc, like, or share this post.

Open Letter to the American Association of Equine Practitioners Regarding the Inclusion of Donkeys In Educational Materials

May 7, 2024

Dear American Association of Equine Practitioners,

For nearly 7,000 years, two millennia before horses, the humble donkey has been serving humans. They began their service to humans packing water, food, and supplies through northern Africa, into Eurasia, and eventually spreading around the world. In America, our cultural history is closely tied to donkeys. George Washington, ever the forward thinker, and understanding the value of a great mule with regards to agricultural work, acquired donkeys from the King of Spain in order to develop the breed we know today as American Mammoth Jackstock. The American west was crisscrossed for hundreds of years by explorers and prospectors holding a lead rope tied to their trusty, steadfast, and thrifty b***o companions. You’ll scarcely find a better partner in the unforgiving desert. As it has been throughout history, people today find immense joy in the companionship of a donkey. Whether you participate in driving, trail riding, liberty, or even trail runs, there are events for donkey lovers proliferating across the country.

However, even with all the love we as donkey caretakers feel for our animals, they are still often left out. Despite their myriad of incredible attributes, they struggle to shake the perception of being stubborn, stupid, low-value, unworthy, and “less-than”. “What do you even do with a donkey?” is a common refrain heard by donkey owners. Seeking out information about their care typically ends with few legitimate studies, outdated, debunked ideas, and often simply false statements from places that should know better, such as large rescues and land grant universities.

There is hope for donkeys; unridden equids are growing in popularity, and with that, of course, we have an increasing number of donkeys as pets. As a result, new studies are being done to quantify in exactly what ways donkeys are different from horses, and how they are the same. Around the world clubs, groups, and nonprofits are popping up, dedicated to donkey education and welfare.

However, those groups are often fighting an uphill battle against misinformation or no information. An all-too-common excuse for poor ownership and care? “It’s just a donkey; you don’t need to.”

You don’t need to? Don’t need to…what?

You don’t need to vaccinate them? You don’t need to trim their hooves every six to eight weeks? You don’t need to feed them clean, good quality, species-appropriate grass hay and straw, free of mold, weeds, and debris? You don’t need to call the vet when they are ill? You don’t need to offer them companionship and training? You don’t need to use tack that fits their body shape and doesn’t cause pain? You don’t need to be aware of weight limitations as riders? You don’t need to protect their feet on long pack trips? You don’t need to listen when they tell you they do not want to? You don’t need to listen when they tell you they’re sick, or injured? You don’t need to…?

Why do people think you don’t need to? Because “it’s just a donkey. They’re different from a horse…”

After all, in 2024, of the nearly 40 public Facebook posts the American Association of Equine Practitioners has posted so far having to do with equine health, care and keeping, one, only one, has used inclusive language that could even possibly relate to donkeys. Only one has mentioned exclusively equids rather than specifically horses. None have explicitly mentioned donkeys or mules.

“If spring vaccines were needed for donkeys, wouldn’t the AAEP have mentioned it?” “If donkeys need dental care, why didn’t the AAEP say that when posting about dental health month?”

May 8th is World Donkey Day. In preparation for this day, we, as caretakers of our beloved donkeys, ask you to make one simple change to improve the lives and visibility of donkeys, to elevate them culturally, to a place of dignity: we ask that going forward, in times when it is relevant and especially on public-facing forums such as social media, the AAEP includes language and space for donkeys. We believe this simple change can help drive people’s perception of these incredible animals, and lead to a marked improvement in the lives of domestic donkeys in America. All it takes is adding “and donkeys.”

“Schedule your yearly dental exams for your horses and donkeys.”

“Here are ways to prevent colic in your horses and donkeys.”

“Ensure you have a qualified farrier for your horses and donkeys.”

On World Donkey Day the AAEP has an opportunity to be a cultural leader, not just in the United States, but throughout the world, by pledging to use donkey-inclusive language in relevant articles and social media. The AAEP has an immense platform, made of uniquely qualified professionals, from which to educate the public, donkey owners, prospective owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and veterinary staff. Help those of us who love donkeys to loudly, and publicly say they’re not just donkeys, and donkeys deserve better.

We ask this with respect and appreciation for all the AAEP, equine veterinarians, and support staff do to keep all our equine companions healthy, happy, and comfortable. It is our most earnest hope that this small change will have a cultural effect which will help all of us long ear guardians be educated and empowered to offer the best possible care to our beloved donkeys.

Sincerest thanks,

Burros Rock Arizona & Yonder (BRAY)

16/05/2024

Phibo is here for a bit to learn how to be a good citizen. He is a super sweet donkey and I look forward to teaching him. ❤️

11/05/2024

Monica and Rachel left for their new home in Wyoming this morning ❤️

09/05/2024

For the Unridden Equid

“What do you do with your donkeys; you can’t ride them, right?”

Almost anyone who owns donkeys has had this question come up in conversation. Unfortunately, for donkeys, as well as horses and ponies, there is a prevailing perception that they exist to serve humans. While most people will agree to driving as an “acceptable” job for an equid, the general idea seems to be they should be ridden, have plans to be ridden as soon as they are old enough (often still too young, but they need to be ridden!), or be retired from riding if they have put in an acceptable amount of hours under saddle and are now too elderly or unsound to continue.

Because of this, people struggle with the idea that one might keep a donkey. After all, the vast majority of them are too small to be ridden by anyone larger than 60-70 pounds, and they’re often not sporty enough or driven enough for most arena activities.

“What do you do with your donkeys; you can’t ride them, right?”

When you step back and consider this question, it can really be somewhat perplexing. After all, what do most people do with their dogs? Their cats? Their fish, hamsters, bearded dragons, parakeets, goats, or tortoises? Generally we, as a society, don't expect those animals to have “jobs.” Enrichment, activities, and physical and mental outlets, sure, but those are mostly just hobbies. Everyone accepts you can love your pets, enjoy your pets, without asking them to perform a specific task for you. No one asks what you “do” with a pug.

“What do you do with your donkeys; you can’t ride them, right?”

We mostly can’t ride them, no. But that doesn’t affect all the things we can do with them. We CAN:
- Walk with them
- Hike with them
- Pack with them
- Learn tricks with them
- Drive with them
- Learn agility and obstacles with them
- Speak with them
- Sit with them
- Sing with them
- Play with them
- Bake treats for them
- Make tack for them
- Brush them
- Pet them
- Design enrichment for them
- Find peace in cleaning a pen
- Feel the satisfaction of filling a hay bag or freshly scrubbed water bucket
- Feel the pride that comes with a new emotional connection or newly earned trust
- Experience the joy that comes when the neglected rescue finally shows peace and comfort in their eyes
- Smile each time you hear them bray a greeting to you

The list is as long as a donkey’s ears, but mostly we can enjoy them; we can show others that they may be unridden, but they are not unloved.

If you'd like to show your love for your unridden donkey, you can find a link to our Redbubble store in the comments. Proceeds from sales go to further BRAY's mission of providing free welfare-based education to donkey owners and prospective owners, as well as group enrichment activities for long ears and their people in Arizona.

08/05/2024

Been up since 3am delivering Rose to her new home. What a beautiful home it is too ❤️

02/05/2024

02/05/2024

26/04/2024

14/04/2024

12/04/2024

Did I mention the 12 new donkeys we got in?! There is also a pinto and grey I don’t have pictured here. All Jennys and available “as is” or gentled.

12/04/2024

🌟🌟pending🌟🌟

11/07/2023

Just wanted to send out a little reminder. Mabel has been a bit pulled down from Matilda’s nursing so I have been giving her pelleted beet pulp to up her calories. Last night I was running late to pick up my son so I didn’t soak them. I had to leave before she was done eating so I also opened up the gate out to the pasture. I got back home about 9pm to Matilda and #42 choking 😳. They went into the pen after I opened the gate and ate the remaining beet pulp. I spent 2 hours outside in the dark watching my babies struggle, cough, drool & strain as they tried to work the beet pulp down their esophagus. I KNOW BETTER! I am so disappointed in myself that I cut corners to save time and in return I put two donkeys at risk 😡. Both have recovered but now I will be watching like a hawk to make sure they don’t get pneumonia 😩. I wanted to post this because I truly believe that we all get in a hurry sometimes and make mistakes, but our animals depend on us to be better. Please learn from my mistake, soak your beet pulp or skip it. Don’t cut corners when it comes to the welfare of your animals.

10/07/2023

23/06/2023

This beautiful BLM Jenny is still looking for her home. She is gentle and sweet natured. TIP trained so she will lead, load, stand to be groomed, & pick up all four feet The adoption process is easy. Message me if interested. Located in Queen Creek at Triple B Barnyard. 💰1️⃣2️⃣5️⃣