In Sept 2012, Funny Farm Mustangs was asked by the BLM to assist in the gathering of several wild burros, deemed “nuisance burros” that have been living in and around the small town of Blue Diamond, NV. These “nuisance burros” are the direct result of “nuisance people” that continually think it is all right to feed them. It is not, nor should anyone ever feed the wild horses. All throughout the state along the sides of roads and highways are signs specifically stating NOT to feed the wild horses and burros but ignorant people always do. In this case, the burros would come into the town looking for handouts from people, not nature, and when no one was around to feed them, they started going into resident’s yards, chewing up their gardens, grass, hay, etc. When the jacks or male burros, are alerted to Jennys, or female burros, in heat, they get to fighting each other causing damage as well. Therefore the gathering was set.
We actually located and herded Madame into the corral trap set up on the baseball field in the town of Blue Diamond, and as such, were given the “right of first refusal” since all of the burros gathered during the two week event, were going up for adoption. We adopted Madame once the gathering was over and absolutely love having her. We have learned many things from her, especially how loyal and intelligent the wild burros really are. It only took us about a week or so to gentle Madame to the point of cleaning her hooves, brushing her down, teaching her to lead on a halter, etc. Now Madame is considered an “ambassador” for wild burros and their incredible loving nature, and occasionally we take Madame to local elementary schools with the BLM, to teach the younger generations about the wild burros. Madame is 4 years old.
They make magnificent pets or work animals and awesome “Watch Dogs!!” Their sense of self preservation, much like their cousin the mule, is so great that once they become accustomed to their surrounding home area, anything they deem out of the ordinary, such as someone looking over the fence, or someone walking by on horseback, she starts to bray…and loudly! As a matter of fact, throughout time, many large cattle and sheep herding outfits often kept a small herd of burros with them and would move their cows and sheep with the burros trailing the herds because burros are always watching out for any predators, perceived or not, and if they think something is wrong or dangerous, they begin to bray…loudly! To this day, ranchers out West still continue this integration of burros with their herds. Of course, it isn’t always danger that makes them bray…One can’t help but smile when you hear her bray in the morning when she sees us gathering hay for her feeding!