Mojo and Tilly's Road to Vegas- 2021 TIP Challenge

09/09/2021

We have some bittersweet news!

Mojo and Tilly will not be available in Vegas as I have decided to withdraw from the competition. It’s unfortunately cost prohibitive at the moment and with no auction to pre-approved homes, there is really no reason to pay for 3-4 nights in Vegas plus fuel plus props for freestyle, etc.

The point of the competition is to find these burros good homes! And Mojo and Tilly will be going to an awesome home in Klamath Falls, OR together! I am so very thrilled for them and for Deven and Shelley!

These two burros hit the burro jackpot. They will be loved and cared for and have tons of space and friends.

❤️

As soon as they are home, I will also have space for 2 more TIP animals. If you are interested in a burro or horse from the corrals, please let me know!

07/30/2021

More Tilly! She is doing awesome and is very gentle. I can see her being great around kiddos and less experienced owners.

07/30/2021

Catching up on Tilly. We’ve been working a lot at night due to the heat so not a lot of pics and videos.

A little update on Tilly.

07/05/2021

Days 6-9:

We spent a lot of time getting some good draw from the burros and introducing them to people they don’t know. They are beginning to follow me around on their own and allowing fly spray (at liberty).

07/05/2021

Happy 4th of July from Miss Tilly Tumbleweed. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday! ❤️🤍💙

06/29/2021

Day 4: Target and Stick and String

I use both of these tools to build trust and confidence in the burros. Get their feet moving toward the objects and getting them curious enough to engage and ultimately touch without feeling threatened. I don’t use these tools to push them yet since we are working on draw still, not drive. I will only begin to drive them once we have established a mutually trusting relationship otherwise I believe that it can cause confusion and unease.

I want to be a source of all good things at this point. Neither of them have showed a tendency to bite or get defensive and I try to keep them under threshold so they never feel the need to defend themselves with me. If they feel the need to do that, then I have failed to communicate my intentions to them.

Mojo is going a little slower than Tilly as he is a bit more sensitive/reserved. But he is not difficult at all and wants to engage and interact. He just wants to be 100% sure it’s safe first.

Overall, I am super please with where we are on only Day 4. My goal with these burros is to establish relationship first and then move to training. In the past I have haltered pretty quickly but this is a new path for me using affirmative training techniques (this is not just positive reinforcement but rather trying only to ask “yes” questions so the equine can build confidence in the communication process). It is a process of being very in tune to subtle body language, both theirs and mine. And it’s pretty amazing so far. I feel very positive about where we will end up in October. ❤️

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdaAyS7D/

06/29/2021

Just a fun little video of Tilly.

Tilly is pretty happily hanging out and taking treats from a stranger. Mojo hung near us on his own too. ❤️

06/26/2021

Day 2: Mojo and Tilly

Today we just worked on approach and retreat. Just a short session. We will do another tonight once it cools down.

Tilly, the little jenny, let me scratch all over her face and neck and reach around her. I decided since she was not bothered much to take off her tag. I didn’t have scissors because I wasn’t expecting to do it so quickly so I actually had to untie it and she was awesome!

Mojo, the gelding, is already wanting to connect as well. He will come up to touch me and follows me around in his pen. He is just a wee bit more shy than Tilly, but definitely smart and level headed. I have been working on matching steps and engaging his nose/curiosity without sending him over threshold.

I am letting them hang out together in the small turnout that is attached to their pens when I am not working with them. It is easier on their mental health to have a same species buddy that they can be near and touch. It reduces their stress and helps them transition into this new place better.

Day 2 of the with Mojo and Tilly

06/26/2021

Day 1: Pick Up Day

All I did today was pick up and unload Mojo and Tilly. I like to give them a bit of time to relax and decompress and just get used to my routine.

However, Tilly, the little jenny, already let me pet her all over her neck and back. And Mojo came up for touches already. These two are super sweet and are going to make two awesome burro buddies!

Both of them are adoptable by approved adopters at the challenge auction in Vegas!

06/26/2021

Tilly’s album