JACKS - A SPECIAL KIND OF DONKEY
below is an assortment
of stories we have heard about jacks - regarding their
at times completely
unexpected transfomation from wonderful, docile pet to
a vicious, biting,
killing attack monster.
all the stories
are true. these things did happen.
they happened
to people who least expected them - people who loved their donkey.
From Oris Reed,
NM, 2001:
Another entry from Mom's journals. I remember well when this happened. September 11, 1944: Sad day in the community. Earl Hickson was killed by his gentle mammoth jack. This is second death by a jack in 5 years. Asa and Dick Taylor stopped at Hickson's place this afternoon to leave log chain Dick had borrowed. Found Earl's body in the jack's corral. The jack had trampled him. Left shoulder mangled. Jack's teeth marks on side of Earl's neck, Left side of head torn clear off. Chest burst open. Earl always said jack gentle as kitten. Asa is very careful around our jacks, says they are the most dangerous animal on a farm. Never know what will touch them off. Earl leaves wife and three little boys. (..........) Ranch life is a hard life. It is especially hard on women. The little boys are with Helen's brother tonight he came from town to be with her. I will keep them here for as long as need be. I don't feel like sleep. That poor woman and her little kids. ********************************** Subj:
Real Jack Attacks
(......)
I would also like to add a story I got from a woman just a while back who
is very lucky to be alive.
********************************* Linda Johnson, Carousel Farms; Enumclaw, Wa I believe there
is always the potential for serious injury from a jack, no matter how docile
and sweet they may be 99 percent of the time. I have two jacks, an
11 year old mini, Z-Zoom, I have had since he was a yearling. He
is a perfect gentleman...99 percent of the time. My mammoth, Chuck,
is also very sweet and well-mannered....99 percent of the time.
As much as I feel my jacks are wonderful animals and know they do not want to hurt me, there is always the possibility that a hormonal glitch could occur, altering their behavior temporarily. I talked to a
woman the other night whose friend lost her arm to the jaws of a jack.
The jack had always been very gentle and well behaved....but, that day
he was apparently overcome with hormonal frustration, or whatever and he
attacked her with a fury. From the sounds of what she went through,
she's lucky to be alive. The jack was euthanized later that day.
I believe the risk of attack is increased greatly by spoiling a jack and engaging in playful activities with them, not properly training a jack and failing to provide them with activities other than breeding. Some people contend that keeping a jack alone compels them to exhibit aggressive behavior. I do not believe this to be true since many attacks by jacks occur with jacks kept in a herd situation also. (.......) Most people I have talked to that have owned jacks for many, many years tell me that most become more aggressive with age so I would have to believe as time passes, the risk of an attack increases. ************************** Greg Sefton, Bray Haven Farm, Winter Haven, FL (.........)
I watched a jack in Oregon at the '95 ADMS, show go after a mule that walked
by and both handlers were dragged along helplessly. One had a chain
over and one under the nose. Had they not been dragged close to a
tree that one could take a few dallies around, there would have been a
bad and potentially dangerous situation. This jack won the halter
class (Dry Gulch Cody) at that show.
*********************************** Sue King, Brayer Hill Farm Anyone who has experience with jacks and stallions realizes that each has a different personality - some laid back, some more on the active side. However, they all have testosterone in common. That hormone has a purpose and sometimes will override even the best training and good temper. Always be aware
that something may trigger urges that your jack might succumb to despite
his and your desire for him not to.
Our cardinal rules
in handling even the most docile jacks are:
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