Question: I know this might not have everything to do with mules and donkeys, but I could think of no one else to ask. My friend told me about a woman at her barn that gives her horse fruit and vegetable salad. I'd like to start doing this occasionally as a little treat for my horse.

I just need it plain and simple, what fruit/veggies can it feed and what can't or shouldn't I? Thank you so much!

Answer: Treats such as you describe can actually cause problems. The treats of crimped oats that we use to reward animals for positive behaviors are what the animal should be eating in their diet anyway and serves as a supplement for extra work. The treats are only dispersed for positive behaviors and the rest of the time, the animal is expected to behave.

When treats are not done in direct response to a positive behavior, the animal can become aggressive and disrespectful in search of the treats and can become dangerous.

An herbivore’s diet is supposed to be grasses and plants such as this. They are not prone to go after fruits and vegetables unless there is nothing else present. Fruits and vegetables are simply not as healthy for them as grass and oats.

Question: Would one pound a day still be the same for a mule in extreme cold weather? I am weaning my mule over to crimped oats from 12% sweet feed. He looks great and not hyper with the sweet feed but I found out from you and other mule people sweet feed is not the best.

Answer: The ration of 1½-2 cups of oats that I describe is for an average size mule. Miniature should receive half as much and draft mules twice as much, but they should never need more of the oats mix, just more grass hay or pasture. More grain will make them grow too fast and break down earlier in life than they would otherwise.

We get cold here in Colorado as well, but as long as they have free choice grass hay and the prescribed grain mixture, they will do well. If you feed beyond what I have suggested, you could put your animal at risk for colic and founder as well. As far as extra vitamins and selenium are concerned, you would need to establish the fact that the animal actually has a deficiency before giving it to them. Otherwise, you could cause problems of toxicity.

Question: Just came back from the states; am always happy when I catch your show on RFD TV. In the program you mentioned that mules don't do well on sweet feed. In what regard do they not "do well"? I feed a mix cut with crimped oats, living in a hot climate I don't feel too much sweet feed is good for the mares or the mules.

Answer: Sweet feeds and other high protein products can cause hypertension in mules and donkeys that will result in short attention spans and stress to organs. They can cause severe colic and founder that could ultimately result in death.
Some of the more mild problems can be accelerated growth that results in weakness in the bones, muscles and tendons which will later manifest itself as splints, ringbone and other such maladies.

Question: Do you have some good advice, maybe an article about feeding donkeys? It is always a talking point, when donkey-people meet.

Answer: You are so right! Many people are overfeeding donkeys...and mules, too. These animals only need the bare minimum of essential vitamins and minerals. Just for the record, straw has no nutritional value at all, so it isn’t good for much except bedding.

I have not done scientific studies in a laboratory, but my advice comes from the practical experience of feeding over 30 mules and donkeys for nearly 40 years. Through trial and error, we have discovered the best feeding program for our equine athletes (horses included) and they are all doing well.

We do have a section on feeds and nutrition in DVD #8 (available in PAL) of our resistance free training series, Equine Management & Donkey Training and in Equus Revisited that are translated into French, German and Spanish. We recommend 1 lb. (2 cups) crimped oats mixed with 1 ounce of a vitamin supplement such as Clovite or Sho-Glo, and 1 ounce of Mazola corn oil (for a shiny coat and digestive tract regularity). This is for an average size animal.

For the smaller mules and donkeys, we only give a handful of oats (roughly half of what we give the average sized animals, just enough to mix with the oil and supplement.

Average animals get two flakes grass hay morning and evening. Smaller mules get one flake or less morning and evening. When we increase the work, they are rewarded while working with addition oats, so the oats are not increased at feeding time. We will increase hay at feeding time relative to the work they are doing. Monitoring their weight is done visually on a day to day basis. You learn to watch the crest of the neck and over the croup for fat development and feed accordingly to keep those fat deposits from forming .A certain amount of exercise is critical, but it doesn't have to be a lot.

We believe that the first order of training is to consider all aspects of the animal's well being, emotionally, physically and mentally. These things need to be in balance for the best results.

Question: We have purchased two of your books and they are very helpful; however two things are still unclear to us. Our donkey is now 7 months old, and we are not sure how much grain he should receive a day.

Answer: If you have purchased the book, Donkey Training, it has most of what you will need to know, however the DVD’s that go with the book are a lot clearer since you can see everything that is happening. You should feed your 7-month-old donkey no more than 2 cups of crimped oats mixed with an ounce of Mazola corn oil and about an ounce of a low protein vitamin supplement such as Sho Glo or Clovite once a day. Feed and monitor weight gain with grass hay and pasture time. These things are covered in DVD #8 of our video series.

The lead rope should be attached under the chin. When you begin showmanship training, you will attach your lead shank differently than you would a lead rope. This is covered in DVD #1, #8 and #9. Actually, our DVD series is the detailed version of the books. The first 7 DVD’s are designed for both mules and donkeys´ basic training. They are to be taken in sequence beginning with DVD #1 whether your mule is a foal or older animal that needs better training. DVD #8 is on management, fitting, grooming and advanced showmanship. DVD’s #9 and #10 deal specifically with the differences in training donkeys.

Question: I just bought (saved) a 20 yr old john mule. He stole my heart; I saw him working every time I went to the saddle shop. He is very boney and looks like the old mule in the Disney comics. The Amish have been using him to haul logs out of the woods.

Answer: Fifteen pounds of grain is too much and may even hinder weight gain. He can eat free choice hay as long as it is grass hay, but no alfalfa, or broad leaf hays. They can cause colic or founder. We feed a grain mix to our average sized mules of 1-2 cups of crimped oats, 1oz. of a vitamin concentrate such as Sho Glo or Clovite and 1 oz. Mazola corn oil (for hooves, coat & digestive tract regularity) fed once a day in the evenings and grass hay twice a day. We monitor weight with the hay intake and pasture time. Miniatures should get 1/2 as much of the grain mix and grass hay and drafts twice as much..

When we train, we use the same crimped oats as a reward since it gives them the extra energy they will need during training. Crimped oats are also a treat that they will never tire of and will continue to work for. Carrots and other treats will not work the same way and will not yield the same results. Crimped oats may have more fat, but I have not had any serious medical problems since I began using this program over 15 years ago and my equines have remained in remarkably good shape. We have had the broodmares on the same program and colic has ceased to be a problem.

We feed the same amount to foals that are growing as we do the animals that are older and have average use. Mules are generally easy keepers and the 2 cups of oats is primarily for animals who live in a colder and harsher climate and who tend to lose weight in the winter. Those who live in more moderate climates will do fine on a 1-1½ cup mixture of oats, vitamin concentrate and Mazola corn oil throughout the winter months.

Some mules that are just easier keepers and maintain their weight just fine on the 1-1½ cup mixture. Generally, we try to monitor weight gain or loss with the grass hay consumption before increasing, or decreasing the mixture of oats.

As they get over twenty years of age, some mules can develop problems with their teeth. Chewing and digesting the hay and oats mixture can become a problem and they may need to have their oats, vitamins and corn oil mixed in a blender with grass hay cubes each feeding. If they are anemic, you might need to add Red Cell. This is very rarely a problem with younger animals.

Exercise plays an important role in the weight gain of an animal even at twenty. Muscles need to be maintained in good condition for an animal to carry his true weight properly. As the muscles are toned, he will pick up more weight simply through this conditioning process and his body will take on a more proper shape.

Question: I have a john mule approximately 25 years old. We have noticed that he does not eat much hay. Lighting does not have the teeth he needs to chew hay. He just seems to gum it. I know he needs hay in he's diet. But if he can't chew the hay, should we add a supplement to maintain he's weight and health.

Answer: I agree your mule needs to be able to consume enough of the right kinds of things for him to continue to stay healthy. As they get over twenty years of age, some mules can develop problems with their teeth. Chewing and digesting the hay and oats mixture can become a problem and they may need to have their oats, vitamins and corn oil mixed in a blender with grass hay cubes each feeding. If they are anemic, you might need to add Red Cell. He should also have free choice grass hay, or timothy just to have something to keep him busy even if he spits it out.

It is also important to have your vet check what teeth he does have left and make sure they are floated to avoid sharp edges which may compromise eating.

Question: In a recent newsletter you mentioned a feeding maintenance for mules. I am unable to find crimped oats in my area - would steamed crimped oats be the same????

Answer: The "steamed" oats are basically the same as crimped oats, as are any oats that have been broken open. Whole oats cannot be fully digested by equines and therefore, have no nutritional value. When the oats are steamed, crimped, cracked or rolled, they are broken open and the equine can then get the full nutritional value of the oats.