Miniature Donkeys for sale at Straight Arrows Ranch of Texas
herdsires Mini donkey females for show or pet Geldings to drive, a gentle family pet, a friend for your stallion, or a new show prospect
Socializing the baby youngsters  Our donks are registered, have impressive pedigrees and receive the very best in nutrition and medical care
Using Mini Donks to school our children in the character qualities they will need to become straight arrows There's ALWAYS some exciting news at Straight Arrows Ranch!
Mini donkey jennets, geldings, herdsires and youngsters for sale
Miniature Donkey HOME page of top quality miniature donkey sires, jennets, geldings, jacks, jennys and foals
Mini donkeys for show or pet
What sets us apart from other miniature donkey breeders? How a Texas Hill Country family falls in love with mini donkeys
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Socializing the baby youngsters

This is the most delightful part of raising miniature donkeys! Imprinting at birth and during the first weeks of life is critical to the foal's ability to bond to humans, so we make lots of excuses for "baby breaks" during the day. We don't get many chores done, but, oh, what fun watching these little ones scamper around the pasture, kick up their heels, play hide 'n seek or snuggle in our arms for a quick snooze.

How rewarding to see them so glad to greet us with ears erect, eyes bright, tails flicking, and soft little heads nudging us for attention.

After the first week, we:

Youngsters

Take them on regular walks with Mom off-halter to build their confidence.Take them on regular walks with Mom off-halter to get them used to exploring and to build their confidence.

Introduce them to the halter and begin teaching verbal cuesWhen they are ready to take the next training step, we gently introduce them to the halter and begin teaching verbal cues.

Encourage them to investigate the obstacle courseNext, we encourage them to investigate the obstacle course.

We take them on excursions around the farm to build trust in their handlersWe take them on excursions around the farm to build trust in their handlers.

We consistently familiarize them with the routines of clipping, trimming hooves, trailering, bathing, etc.From an early age, we consistently familiarize them with the routines of clipping, trimming hooves, trailering, bathing, etc. so that these experiences will be just a natural part of their lives-always praising and encouraging each accomplishment.

We gently introduce them to the halter and begin teaching verbal cuesWhen they are ready to take the next training step, we gently introduce them to the halter and begin teaching verbal cues.

Many training problems, we believe, are often just bad habits cultivated in the foal's first monthsMany training problems, we believe, are often just bad habits cultivated in the developmental stages of a foal's first months.

We avoid these difficulties by socializing the youngsterIt is our goal to avoid these difficulties by socializing the youngster to all kinds of common experiences so that bad manners and fearful responses can be minimized.

We intentionally limit the number of annual breedings so that we can maintain this kind of individual attention to every foalWe intentionally limit the number of annual breedings so that we can maintain this kind of individual attention to every foal whether sold or retained as part of our ranch.

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ABOUT THIS WEBSITE: Straight Arrows Ranch breeds sweet, affectionate miniature donkeys for sale in the Hill Country area of Texas. Our top quality, pedigree studs are bred by matt carlson and sherri carlson. We specialize in award winning, show quality sicilian donkeys, mediterranean donkeys, jacks, jack, jennets, jennet, jennies, jenny, jennys, geldings, gelding. From the time our mini donkeys are foals, yearlings, weanlings, we train them to make the perfect pet for any family. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS FOR THIS PAGE ARE: socializing, foals, baby, birth announcements, imprinting, gelding, mini donkey, donkey, donky, miniature donkey for sale, miniature donkey texas, donkies, breeder, breeders, breeding, texas, tx, straight arrows ranch, straight arrow ranch, stud, stud service, farm, farms, austin, dripping springs, hill country, burro, burros, , straightarrows ranch, straightarrow ranch, straight arrows, burro breeding, herd sires, herdires, jacks, jack, jennets, jennet, jennies, jenny, jennys, geldings, gelding, pedigree, awards, hill country texas, hill country tx, sardinian, christ, small, little, ranch, ranches, premiere edition, itsy bitsy burro, foal, yearling, weanling, sire, dam, brood, foals, babies, weanlings, yearlings, for sale, registered, champion, conformation, socialized, trained, reserve, model, black, spot, spotted, spots, sorrel, darks, pets, pet donkey, equine, animals, mule, mules,and long ears.