Megan Hensley
The Gold in the Hooves: How Donkeys Taught Megan Hensley About Trust
A farrier who proved donkeys are emotionally intelligent beings worthy of trust, not force.
Hear this story
Kintsugi Studio
Megan Hensley
A farrier who proved donkeys are emotionally intelligent beings worthy of trust, not force.
Hear this story
Megan Hensley grew up in Sacramento surrounded by animals, finding in them the companionship and understanding she didn't find with people. Rejected at school, she turned to horses at 15, then the military, then the California Conservation Corps. A backcountry trail crew job in the Sierra Nevada sparked a love of pack animals and led her to farrier training in 2006. She apprenticed under a compassionate mentor who loved donkeys, and on her first day at Saddlepaw Miniatures, she met over 20 miniature donkeys. Nearly 20 years later, she still trims some of those same animals.
Over nearly two decades as a farrier, Megan watched donkeys being systematically misunderstood and mistreated across her industry. She became known as the person who could trim the donkeys nobody else wanted to touch, working without halters or restraints. She learned that donkeys are emotionally intelligent, intuitive, and discerning, not stubborn as the industry insisted. A traumatized mule named Romulus taught her patience: over six months of patient presence, she rebuilt his trust enough to trim all four hooves at liberty, no restraints at all.
When COVID stopped her circuit work in 2020, Megan shifted to teaching. Now her online Donkey Hooves and Health Academy reaches over 1,000 students worldwide. She works semi-retired at Oscar's Place, a donkey rescue, where she mentors three female apprentice farriers. Donkeys have taught her that safety and trust are built on authenticity, not force or trickery. Understanding them as desert animals first, and meeting them where they are emotionally, changes everything.
“I just thought, these are not just animals. I knew for sure that these animals were somebody and that they were just as important as people.”
“Everything about it was too much for my heart. Very sensitive person and also a rebel. I don't know what I was doing joining the military so everybody could just tell me what to do.”
“Donkeys are underserved, misunderstood, and in the worst cases, they are abused by professionals who call themselves professional farriers.”
The hero, today
When Megan was rejected at school, animals became her friends and she learned early that they were as worthy of care and respect as people, a belief that guides everything she does now. After nearly 20 years as a farrier, Megan realized donkeys were being systematically misunderstood and mistreated in her industry, and she decided she could not stand by without being a voice for them. Megan shows traumatized animals that she can be trusted by showing up authentically and lovingly, never trying to trick or sneak past them, and by meeting them where they are emotionally. When an owner understands that donkeys are desert animals and provides species-appropriate care, diet, movement, and space, the donkey thrives and avoids the behavioral and health problems people often blame on the animal. Megan started her online academy during COVID out of necessity, and now teaches over 1,000 students worldwide how to trim their own donkey hooves with the same stress-free, liberty-based approach she uses in her own practice.
Yes. Megan Hensley is a real person who shared their own story in their own words. Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit that shares first-person stories of overcoming adversity, told with the person's consent.
Kintsugi Heroes, a registered Australian not-for-profit. Every story is shared with the hero's own consent and reviewed under Kintsugi Heroes' trauma-informed content standard before it goes public.
When Megan was rejected at school, animals became her friends and she learned early that they were as worthy of care and respect as people, a belief that guides everything she does now.
After nearly 20 years as a farrier, Megan realized donkeys were being systematically misunderstood and mistreated in her industry, and she decided she could not stand by without being a voice for them.
Megan shows traumatized animals that she can be trusted by showing up authentically and lovingly, never trying to trick or sneak past them, and by meeting them where they are emotionally.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 00:01
Welcome to another episode of Animals and Us, where we explore and honor the awesomeness of animals and our relationships with them. Our guest today is Megan Hensley, a donkey farrier and founder of the Donkey Hooves and Health Academy, an online school dedicated to donkey care. In this conversation, we'll find out how donkeys became a central part of Meagan's life and what donkeys have taught her about stress, safety, and trust. Hello, Meagan, and welcome to Animals and Us.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 00:49
Hi, thank you, Natalie, and thank you for having me. I'm excited.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 00:53
Well, I'm so grateful that you contacted Kintsugi Heroes after seeing the interview with the Donkey King, Ron King. Yes.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 01:02
Yeah, I love that interview.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 01:04
Megan, let's start from the beginning with your childhood. Can you paint a picture of your childhood, where you grew up and what childhood was like for you?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 01:12
I grew up outside of Sacramento, California. And picture me tiny on a couch with a bunch of animals all over the place. A couple of dogs, a couple of cats. I mean, We had a few chickens and birds and— but mostly cats and dogs when I was growing up. And I absolutely loved them. And I feel really lucky that I got to grow up in a house full of animals. I was raised by a single mom and she was an animal lover. And then my grandmother was as well. My grandma was really into helping the feral cats and we'd always have like cats coming through that were going to the vet or were getting rehabbed or, you know, we're finding homes for. I think we probably kept a lot of them and it was, it was, it was really neat. But I also learned a lot about the animals from a young age, kind of like the life cycle too of the ones that didn't make it through the rehabs, which I was very blessed, I think, with that experience as well. To be with animals through all these different stages with them.
More stories
This site is part of Kintsugi Heroes. Visit the main site for the full podcast. If any of these stories hit close to home, support is out there, you don't have to sit with it alone.
Read how we handle these stories ↗
Kintsugi Heroes · Registered Australian not-for-profit · kintsugiheroes.com.au ↗
When an owner understands that donkeys are desert animals and provides species-appropriate care, diet, movement, and space, the donkey thrives and avoids the behavioral and health problems people often blame on the animal.
This conversation includes growing up in a house full of animals, the odd kid out, dropping out and finding horses, three years in the army, the backcountry trail crew and landing with the right mentor.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 02:24
So was there a moment that you realized that you would spend the rest of your life working closely with animals?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 02:31
Yeah, I think maybe I didn't really know it, I guess, because as a kid, I guess I couldn't quite envision being an adult yet, but animals were my friends. When I was little. I was a bit of a reject in school for like a lot— most of the time, and people thought I was weird. I was either too loud or too rebellious or, um, yeah, I don't know. I didn't have a lot of friends when I was little, but I had, I had all of my animals and I talked to them and I I loved them deeply, and I think there was a time where I realized— I grew up in a church setting for a little bit, and there was one time where I realized where I don't think that other people valued the animals as much as I did, didn't think that they were as worthy. Just that, you know, "Oh, you don't have to care about animals so much. They're just animals." they're just animals. And to me, I thought, these are not just animals. Like, I didn't know what the word sentient meant back then. I didn't know any fancy terms, but I knew for sure that these animals were somebody and that they were just as important as people. And, you know, like when an animal would die or something and I would tell somebody I was sad, they'd be like, oh, well, it was just an animal. Not in my own family, but kind of outside of there, I would experience things like that. And I just I just thought that was just bonkers. I was like, what do you mean? Yeah. These are my friends. And I felt very much that I could understand them and even almost talk to them, even though they can't talk. I think other people can relate to that too. Yes.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 04:31
Yes. So you grew older. Can you tell us about your life before donkeys entered it?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 04:38
I continued on to be an absolute rebel. I dropped out of high school when I was 15, got the equivalent to a high school diploma so that I could get released early, and I ran up to live on a little mountain nearby and worked with horses. I had been working with horses since I was 12. When I was still in junior high and early high school, I became a polo groom and was helping a lady take care of her horses, and that's how I learned to ride. But again, I really struggled in school, just didn't like it. I didn't have friends. I didn't like being told what to do. And so as soon as I could get out of there, I got out of there. And that's how I ended up working on this Quarter Horse ranch where they were delivering, breeding horses. In fact, I have a horse who's 27 years old this year. That I got when he was a baby, 6 months from that place. So I was like 17, I think. He's still with me today, which is really wild to me. So I did that for a little while and had a blast. And then I joined the military and I was in— yeah, I was in the Army. Uh, I used to be afraid to tell this part of my story because I was embarrassed for people to know that I didn't like it. I did not like the military, and it really hurt me in a lot of ways. Everything about it was too much for my heart. Very sensitive person and also a rebel. I don't know what I was doing joining the military so everybody could just tell me what to do. Why did you? I wanted out of the town I was in. I felt trapped, and it's very classic for recruiters to get a hold of people that are like that. And maybe, maybe it was the way out. Maybe I would have been trapped and I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't done that. I guess I believe every part of our story is important. I just, as it was happening, I felt a lot of regret and thought, why did I do this? But that finally came to an end and I kind of hightailed it out of there.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 07:03
How long did you stay in the military service before you hightailed out of it?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 07:07
I was only in 3 years, so a little bit shorter than some folks. I got out a little bit early. When you started asking me about my story, I'm like, boy, how long do we have? When I got out a little bit early on a hardship because my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she was all alone. And she also had some mental health issues. And so I applied. I said, you guys need to let me out. First of all, I don't like it, and my mom's sick, and I want to go home and help take care of her. And I was able to get that, which is pretty wild as well. So I went home and took care of my mom for over a year, and we got through that. And then I joined the California Conservation Corps. Have you ever heard of that?
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 07:53
No. No.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 07:54
In fact, I came over to Australia in 2005 on an exchange trip with the CVA, your Conservation Volunteers of Australia. They traded, and so I went over to Perth and Adelaide in 2005 and then out into the back, outback. We were traveling around the back of utes and jumping out and looking in little traps and counting animals. You know, there's a little hopping popping mouse-like thing that I think is, uh, was endangered. It's so many years ago, it's like over 20 years ago, but it was actually right before I became a farrier. And that was a blast. So I did the California Conservation Corps, um, I did a stint out in the back country for 6 months where I lived on a trail crew. Yeah, so I've been— I've done a lot of different things.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 08:47
Good. And what led you to farrier work, hoof trimming?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 08:53
Well, the backcountry. When I was in the backcountry for 6 months living in the middle of the wilderness—
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 08:59
is this in Australia or—
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 09:01
no, this was in California. Um, it's called the Backcountry Trails, uh, program. It is part of the CCC, and so was that exchange trip. But, um, this was 2004. We lived miles back in the wilderness of the Sierra Nevadas. And so how do you get your food? How do you get your mail? It's all brought in on a pack string. So someone's riding a horse and then a big old pack of mules come down carrying all your gear. And I fell in love with the backcountry and I thought, well, I'm gonna, I'm gonna be a packer. This would be actually a great job. I love the wilderness. I love equines. I'm, I'm a shoo-in for it. And so when I got out, I actually did apply to the Forest Service to, to get a job, and they were like, boy, you're perfect. They're like, we just need you to know how to shoe horses, so if you could go spend a little bit of time and just go get an intro to that, then come back and reapply, we'll take you. And I was like, okay, cool. Went, got an apprenticeship in 2006 as a farrier. As a farrier, yeah, with a, with a local guy here in Humboldt. And I started going to work with him every day, and that was the start of my farrier career. So it was actually January of 2006, and we're recording this here in December of 2025. So in January, in just a month, it's going to be 20 years that I've been a farrier. Yes, it's wild to me. January 2006. And he took— he— I was so fortunate because the farrier industry is a little bit rough and tough, um, and I landed an apprenticeship with a man that was so compassionate and gentle and kind to the animals, and he loved donkeys.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 10:58
Wow.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 10:59
So that was definitely in the stars for that to happen, for me to get an apprenticeship with him, because there were other folks around that were absolutely nothing like him and people that I wouldn't want to work with or learn from, you know.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 11:15
So it was through this farrier that you began working with donkeys. Tell us about the first experience, the first donkey you worked with? Was it love at first sight?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 11:27
Yeah, well, before I became a farrier, there was this donkey down the road from where I stayed that I would stop by and visit. He was on the side of the road and I'd pull my car over and visit him. And that was before I became a farrier, but while I was still in the California Conservation Corps. That was Wilbur, and I would stop and visit him all the time, and I'd take people to visit him. I say, hey, we got to stop by and see this donkey on the side of the road. 'Cause he was so cute and he was so friendly. So that was before the apprenticeship. And then when I started apprenticing, Will Scott, that was the guy who was my mentor, he took me up to this place called Saddlepaw Miniatures. And this is up here in Garberville near me. And we rolled up and there was over 20 miniature donkeys at this little— at Saddle Paw Miniatures.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 12:26
Oh, how gorgeous they must have been.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 12:29
Yeah, so, and there was baby donkeys there, and donkeys are incredible. Yeah, donkeys are incredible, but then there's baby donkeys, and, and also these are miniatures, so this, so this is it. This is a donkey shrunk down even cuter than you can imagine, and then it's their little tiny baby that you can pick up and hold in your Wow. So I was instantly head over heels, and I still work at Saddlepaw Miniatures today. So 20 years later, I'm still trimming— she has 4 donkeys left. It's my dear friend Kella, and I still trim 4 of those original donkeys from, from that first day that I, I met them almost 20 years ago. Isn't that wild?
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 13:18
Megan, those little miniature donkeys, were they bred to be pets?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 13:24
Yeah, she bred them. They were like little show donkeys, um, little fancy, little fancy pet/show donkeys. So they were very particular about their bloodlines and then also very particular about their homes and things like that. So, and then over the years she just cut back. On that.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 13:46
You were doing farrier work with donkeys and other equines, horses. What was special for you about donkeys?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 13:57
That is, I wouldn't— this question, I don't know. I just— they just touch me.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 14:04
Something heartfelt.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 14:06
Yes. Okay, so they're the sweetest, most like emotionally intelligent. They're so intuitive. They're very brave, and they also don't want anybody telling them what to do. And I was like, hey, sounds familiar. And in this barrier world, we have got a big issue It's getting better, but not fast enough. Donkeys are underserved, misunderstood, and in the worst cases, they are abused by professionals who call themselves professional farriers who, who are mistreating donkeys. And for years, I have had people ridicule me and give me a hard time for wanting to trim donkeys. I've been told they're gonna kill me, that they're not worth anything, that, oh, they're always just misbehaving. Like, donkeys have got a really bad rap, and it's pure misinformation and lack of understanding about who they are. So I think that was another thing. I am not into people treating others' animals less than, you know. So when I realized, like, oh, this is a problem, like Well, I'm gonna show people what should be happening. And I just started— I was known around where I live as the person that could trim the donkeys that nobody else wanted to trim. And I'm talking, I trim them without halters, I don't tie them up, I do all of this stuff that the industry said wasn't safe and, and shouldn't be done. So I think I enjoy championing like an underdog. I was an underdog for so long, so I'm like, it happens to horses horses too. So like, I can do the same thing that I do with donkeys, I can do that with horses. Um, it was just really apparent that donkeys were so severely underserved in the farrier industry that I just couldn't— I just couldn't stand by. Yeah. Um, I was like, this isn't right.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 16:24
Yeah, saw a problem and then stepped up to, to alleviate the problem. Yeah, wonderful.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 16:30
Yeah.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 16:30
For those people who don't understand the difference between shoeing horses or shoeing equines and trimming equines, there is a difference. Could you briefly touch on that?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 16:42
Well, so every equine that's wearing a steel shoe will have had a trim before the shoe's put on, right? The thing— the difference between the two is when we're trimming, we're just not attaching that metal shoe to the bottom of the hoof. The trim is the most important part of, of shoeing. So we're trimming the hoof to make sure that it's balanced, that it's in the right parameters so that it can function as it's designed, and to keep them from becoming imbalanced and painful overgrowth that impedes their ability to move their feet as they're designed. Or also overgrowth can cause bad infections and things that really like deteriorate and compromise the hoof.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 17:31
Yeah. And why does it need to be done? Because I imagine that donkeys in the wild wouldn't need hoof trimming. Why does it need to be done with donkeys that are fenced or contained?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 17:44
Yeah, so in the wild they're free, they're free to move, and they are in their native environment, which is desert-y type footing. So one of my students today, he was like, we live on the side of like this mountain in the desert. He's like, it's just a giant piece of sandpaper that they're running up and down. And that's really what their native environment is. And so the hoof is they're moving to go get food, to go get water, to go chase this girl or round up the baby or whatever. They're just moving, moving. And they're walking on the desert floor, and that movement is just constantly shaping, not only shaping their hoof and keeping it from overgrowth, but it's strengthening it. Every time they step down, the foot's expanding, structures are dropping down, and blood is being pumped into the hoof. And so it's, it's also what keeps them so vibrant and healthy as well.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 18:44
And then what happens to the hooves when, when the donkeys or other equines are confined?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 18:50
They overgrow. They'll atrophy, they'll develop issues with the hoof that you wouldn't really see in the wild. So when we do keep them out of the wild, it's, it's our responsibility to make sure that we're providing them with as much species-appropriate care that we can. I like to think of like a habitat, so You can't take a horse or a donkey and put them in a stall, a 12 by 12 stall, or a box, or a tiny paddock, and think that they are going to thrive because they are designed to move. Not only is it bad for their hooves, it's detrimental to their overall health, it's detrimental to their hearts and their souls, and then their mental health.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 19:40
Yes.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 19:40
To be locked up. The other thing that they need is companions of their own kind. Horses and donkeys can get along, but donkeys really need other donkeys, and horses really need other horses.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 19:53
So important. Frequently when I'm driving along— I live in the country and I drive along country roads and I see horses in paddocks, or a) without shade and trees, which is also very sad, but also alone, alone in paddocks. And they're social animals like humans, and it is so cruel and not enough people understand that they need that social connection.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 20:15
Yeah, it's not okay to keep them like that. The equine industry is growing, it is evolving. You know, I've got this herd, I've got my herd, my mixed herd of my horses and my donkeys and my little minis and stuff, and they're out, you know, on a track system or out in the field. People will say, what do you do with them? And I'll say, well, why, they're, they're my pets. Oh, but do you ride them? What do they do for you? And I was like, well, nobody's really done anything except spend all my money and, and love me. Like, I absolutely love taking care of them. But that's not all. It's becoming more common to have them just as pets, but usually it's like, well, if you're not riding them, or if you're not competing on them, or then what do you have them for? Which I never— I could never really vibe with that. Like, my horse is 27 years old and I will keep him till the day he dies, you know? And I haven't ridden him in over a decade. I could if I wanted to, but I haven't. And, and he's just as worthy of love and care and safety and you know, this, this beautiful herd environment that I have for him, you know, because I am his keeper, I am his caretaker, you know, and I make a commitment to do my best to— I mean, also we got to think people are going to be in different places in their lives. I haven't always had this big of a place, I haven't always had every single thing, but I've always tried very hard to meet his needs, and I've been able to evolve that over time.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 22:02
Yeah, Megan, you've already touched on the welfare problems facing donkeys regarding their hooves. What other welfare problems do you— for donkeys, do you encounter in your local area? I know the question's too big to go worldwide, but in your part of the world, what are the main welfare problems facing donkeys?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 22:26
Obesity is, I think, a lot of people often we think of neglect or welfare issues around, oh, they don't have any food or they're being neglected. Obesity is a big problem for donkeys because they're desert animals. And this also comes back to that species appropriate care when they become— so these are desert animals. And I don't know, last time you went to the desert, If you look around, how much is there to eat? There's not a ton to eat. Yeah, there's not. There's shrubs, there's little grasses that are like just barely making it, you know. And this is what donkeys were designed to thrive and live on. And so then they come to our house and we're like, oh, my sweet little babies, Mama's got the best food for you, we got this field. And they're like, yeah, this is tastes great, and then they get really fat really fast, and they can become, the obesity actually can trigger something very similar to like diabetes in humans, which then can make them sick throughout their whole body and in their hooves, and it's life-threatening, you know. So species-appropriate care, which is something that I teach my students and owners who I trim for, We really try to make sure that we're providing donkeys with the right food that we can. And if we've got big fields of pasture, we need to regulate that and, and get creative on ways to move them more, you know, okay, if you're going to eat that, you better get scooting around, around. That's a major one. Another one here in the States is people use them as guardians. You'll hear that donkeys are guard animals, and they'll take a lone donkey and put it out with a field of cattle or sheep or chickens or goats, and they use them to guard them from predators. And this is a problem for several reasons. Donkeys shouldn't be alone without companions of their own kind. They can't be out on big pastures where they get obese. They can't be out where they're not handled so that they can't get the hoof care that they need. Um, and then donkeys are not guardian and are, are, they're prey animals. The reason they, they got this rap that they could be used as guardians, because in the wild, unlike, unlike horses, when there's a threat, they will stand their ground, right? They will camouflage. Before running, and in some cases, they will actually fight to hold their space. And this has to do— this comes from their species because also the desert, we mentioned there's not a lot to eat, there's not a lot of water. If you've— they dig holes for water, right? And so if you've already dug your waterhole, you've got your girlfriend, your, you know, your little baby, and you've got your little resources locked down, you don't want to spend a bunch of energy just running from threats.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 25:42
Yes.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 25:43
And so that's where they will turn and, and try to fight. They're territorial. That's the word I'm looking for. They're territorial. And then, uh, and so in the States, people are like, oh well, they'll stomp on a dog, they'll stomp on a cat. And this is true. But it's not because they're looking to guard your animals or protect any of your animals. And donkeys are taken out by predators all the time. A mountain lion, a bear, coyotes, even just domesticated dogs can and do take out donkeys. So that is— that's a big one that we're dealing with over here, I think. Um, interesting. And then they end up at auctions a lot. Because they're not, um, people misunderstand them and don't know how to handle them because they're not like horses. So then they kind of end up being like, oh, this donkey's a bad donkey, and then it gets passed along and it ends up in the— sorry, the auction chain, and then ends up at a rescue or something like that.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 26:47
So yeah, or slaughterhouses.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 26:49
Yeah, yeah. So when they end up in the auction pipeline they can— they do end up— we don't slaughter in the United States, so they go either up to the borders of Canada or to the borders of Mexico, and then they'll get shipped from there. And then there's a whole nother thing— they get shipped to the slaughter because China thinks donkey skin's magic, like they do the rhino horns and a few other things. And so then they're taking the donkey skins, and I'm not super familiar with all of, all of the layers of that, but Ijao, and then is the name of it. And then that is very hard for me. I sometimes have to kind of disconnect from it in a way.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 27:45
A lot of people who work with animals closely like you to deal with burnout or compassion fatigue. Do you experience that? And if so, how do you manage that?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 27:57
As a farrier, especially when I spent more time working one-on-one with clients, when I had obese donkeys or donkeys out in fields, people who wouldn't keep them on a short enough schedule to keep their hooves trimmed, and any of my colleagues that are listening to this, this is probably the biggest deal in the farrier industry for us, for those of us who are really providing care services. We need your animals on a short schedule so that we can properly maintain their hooves. We really need you to be feeding your animal appropriately. And I've had to— in the past when I was younger, I just really keep toiling away and I'd be like, I can't, I have to keep just trying to help this animal, even though the owner's not doing what needs to be done. And then Finally, I was like, no, you can't do this, it's too hard on you. So then I would let people go, which sounds terrible because then you let the animals go. But if we— if you can connect with other farriers in the area, you can say, listen, I let so-and-so go because of these things. So if they call you— and so sometimes we can refer. Yeah. And then we get the person, the client, to step up because we don't tolerate certain behaviors. But that, that was hard. I finally had to just start letting them go because you would just worry about these animals all the time. And then the farrier industry in general with the, with their treatment, their historical treatment of donkeys broke my heart all the time. So then I just, the way I think I've battled the compassion fatigue with that is that I have just become a voice. And I'm relentless. I won't stop. They tell me— I've had people tell me, you need to shut up, Megan. And I'm like, I'm not going to be quiet when this is happening. And that makes it easier too. And then more people are, you know, wising up and wanting to do better. But compassion fatigue is a real thing. Prioritizing sleep, loving on the animals that you have, and giving them the best care you can, setting a good example.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 30:13
Meagan, when you meet a donkey who's had past abuse and a fear of humans, where do you start? Where do you start to try to help them rebuild trust?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 30:27
Yeah, so for me personally, what I like to do is if I'm like, say I'm taking on a donkey on my own, I like to bring them into my herd. My herd loves me. Everybody loves me in the herd. So I mean, they come to me, I whistle, whatever. So if I take an afraid animal, drop them in my herd, they have to watch. They're like, y'all are crazy, what are you talking to that lady for? You know, and they actually watch and learn from me. I know not everybody has that like luxury or that opportunity to bring an afraid animal, especially with donkeys. They're so smart. That all they got to do is watch someone else for a little while. I have a donkey that I brought in just, just a few months ago. She was kicking. She was hard to get a hold of. And it only took her a few months of just hanging out in my herd. Now I trim her at liberty. I put the halter and I'd never trained her. I didn't do anything. I just let her.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 31:25
I don't know.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 31:26
I just, I just let her see. Yeah, who I am, who my herd is, and then I let her make her choice.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 31:34
The other donkeys were teaching her that, that you're, you're safe.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 31:38
Oh yeah, it's really fun to watch them learn like that. Now for donkeys that I come to see like at rescues and things like that, then things are different. We will move them into smaller pens, uh, if we need immediate hoof care. So if somebody comes in and it's like they're like, nobody's touching me, I'm terrified, but they've got long overgrown hooves or they're in a state, I call it like triage. We're going to take a look. We're going to like, oh, your hooves are bad, but they're not that bad. You get, you get some more time to settle in. Then we're going to utilize a chute very safely where we move them into a chute. And then most likely medical restraint, but there's going to, there may be people who say, well, yeah, I use a chute. Well, how did you run him into the chute? Did you say, get in that chute, you dang donkey! Why aren't—
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 32:31
I'm gonna—
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 32:31
yeah, yeah, am I— I'm gonna get you in there so that I can do these things that need to be done. Or did you say, all right, darling, I know this is scary, we need you in this chute. Where's my heart at? Where's my intention at with every single thing that I'm doing? Because this is scary for them, uh, and that is what makes the biggest difference. Because sometimes we do need to provide immediate care for them and they're terrified and they're not ready. So it's all about our intention. So we might move them in the chute, the vet's gonna come in, they're gonna very gently give them some medicine to, to sedate them. We're gonna pull them out. The whole time, even as they're sedated, we're working with loving intention. We're working as fast as we can. And then when I get in there, I say, All right, what are the things that I can do the hooves the fastest to make the biggest difference, to make the most comfort? And then we get them out on their way and back out to, to the herd. And they're so smart that even though that is a bit traumatic, it's unsettling, they're not harmed, and we were in a loving space while we provided that care for them. Um, that's one of the first steps. And then after that, we're just Offering snacks, going out there with them, maybe not touching them, but in the smaller space, I think, is where I work with them a lot. And then I just build a relationship with them over time. And then I don't know how weird you'll think this is, but I talk to them just like— Ah, yeah, yeah. I send them pictures and then I do the Care Bear stare. Remember the Care Bears? They were just this cartoon and it was all these little bears and they had— one had a rainbow, one had a heart, one had a star on their bellies. And then they would, when someone wasn't feeling good or something, they'd come over and they'd shine a light out of their belly and it was called the Care Bear Stare. And when every— when all the Care Bears got together and gave the Care Bear Stare, it would like heal people. And I always, I tell my students and my clients, I say, all right. And really all it is is you're just taking the energy in your heart and you're just projecting and covering them with it and then telling them how much you love them. And that, and I'm always telling them, I'm here to help you. I'm here to help you.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 35:03
And it's actually not as woo-woo as it sounds. Did you know there is science that actually does support what you were just describing?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 35:11
Yeah, I think it's called heart math.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 35:13
Heart math. Yeah, heart math. Heart math, which is actually from California, isn't it?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 35:18
I believe it is. Yes.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 35:19
They have decades of science to actually show that we actually can transfer our energy from our heart outward to others.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 35:28
Yeah. Isn't that wild? That's so cool. Yeah, so that's what I do. That's N.P.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 35:34
Good. Great.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 35:35
Years ago, people, I think, thought it was more weird. Yeah, that's what I do, and it changes everything. And I talk to them like they're people. I'm talking to them in my mind and in my heart, but then I also just speak to them like people. I say, hey, you know, tadpole, you sweet little thing, I'm so excited to meet you today. I know you're scared, but I can't wait to help you as soon as you're ready to let me do that, you know? So.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 36:01
Do you have, can you share one story with us of an individual donkey who you have seen on the journey from fear to trust?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 36:12
Yeah, this question. So it's actually a mule, which is half donkey, half horse. I also have a little donkey story. But so a mule, which I work with a lot as well, half donkey, half horse. Terrified of farriers. He went through this awful experience where he was sedated. It wasn't enough. He flipped over while still tied up. They gave him more sedation. Yeah, it was, it was really wild. It was really bad. And they never got him trimmed. He ended up at a rescue. No one could handle him there. And then my client ended up getting him. Uh, Romulus is his name. He's a big boy. He's a big tall guy, and, uh, I went to meet him and we couldn't get anywhere near him. As soon as he saw my farrier tools, he ran to the other side. Um, we started with trimming the other mules that were there so that he could watch, and the lady was able to get a hold of him and just bring him over. And as he watched me trim, he broke out into a sweat, his— and he was trembling. And it was just the sight of me and my tools. And I was like, wow, I've never seen this before. I kept coming back every like 4 to 6 weeks to trim the other ones. And we always brought Romulus over to watch. And then I would start giving him a treat and he'd take a treat from me. And then it got to where I could touch him, but I couldn't do any— the moment I even— if I even looked at his feet, he'd be like, pew, gone. It took 6 months.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 37:49
Wow, perseverance.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 37:50
Wow, 6 months. And I thought maybe I wasn't gonna get it. I thought, I thought maybe, maybe this is the one that I can't break through because I've never had a donkey that I can't eventually break through with. And actually, this, this logo that you're looking at here, I'll have to send you the picture. This is based off of the photo of him and I I trimmed his hooves on this particular day, all 4 of them at liberty with no halter, no lead rope, and then he leaned in and wrapped his head over me. It's the most— that's one of the most powerful stories I have. Yeah, Romulus. Wow. And I was like, I was like, we did it. And now he's moved to Kentucky, he doesn't live here anymore, and he can be trimmed by any farrier. So we broke through that, we rebuilt the new relationship, and we completely shifted that, that for him, which was, was really satisfying.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 38:53
Yeah.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 38:54
And then I have one other donkey, Bambino. Okay, he's at— he was at Oscar's Place. He's my favorite Oscar's Place donkey everywhere. He kicked the nippers out of my hands clean straight out of my hands. I have it on video with his back foot, and he was just a real spicy boy from the auction line. And I— he trims at liberty for me now. When I say liberty, that means no halter, no ropes, nothing. It's just me and the animal, and they stand right there with me.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 39:25
Yeah.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 39:27
And so I posted that video of him kicking the nippers out of my hands and It went viral actually quite several years ago, and it was really great because people would have immediately said, "That's a bad donkey." I'm like, "No, it's not. He just didn't really like what was going on. It's not that big of a deal." Yeah, he's great now. He's my favorite. He's my nipper kicker, and he does great.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 39:56
Great. Megan, let's now move on to the Donkey Hooves and Health Academy. You're the one who founded that. When did you create that? So when did you start it? And can you tell us briefly what it's about?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 40:13
The Donkey Hooves and Health Academy, that is its name now. I kind of renamed it about a year ago, but in 2020, COVID hit, the virus came. I had been working on a circuit trimming donkeys all over the state of California. And all that came to a screeching halt because I was also caregiving for an elderly lady. And so I had to make a choice, like, are you going to travel and work and bring COVID back to Miss Judy, or are you gonna, you know, not? And so, but then all my income stopped, and I had people online that had been following me for a long time, and they were like, why don't you— can you teach me how to trim my donkey? And I thought, no, not online, I can't. I can't do that. I've been teaching in person, but I don't know how I'm gonna do it online. Well, COVID, I think, did this to a lot of people. It kind of said, "Whoop, you better figure something out." And so I did. I decided to try to teach people online how to trim their own donkey's hooves. That was in July of 2020, and I have over 1,000 students in this course all over the world. And I just changed the name to the Donkey Hooves and Health Academy just about a year ago. And I teach donkey owners DIY donkey hoof trimming, how to trim your own donkey's hooves and how to do it just like I do it, which is at liberty, stress-free. I teach you how to put your heart on your donkey. And then I do holistic care as well. So, you know, talking about the food and the movement and all that really plays a big role in a healthy donkey feels better too. So, um, when we have obese donkeys or donkeys that have metabolic issues, they're a little more grumpy and a little harder to handle too. So that, that plays a role. So yeah, that's, that's what I do now primarily, is teach online, right?
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 42:09
So what does a typical day, work day for you look like? So you're balancing the, the hoof trimming, the hoof work, as, as well as the Online Academy. What does it have? So what does it look like typically?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 42:21
Yeah, so I'm kind of semi-retired. I work at Oscar's Place down there as a farrier.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 42:28
And then tell the audience what Oscar's Place is.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 42:31
Ron King is the CEO, co-founder of Oscar's Place. He has a great interview if you guys haven't heard it yet. Oscar's Place is a donkey rescue in Hopland, California. And when I started, there was about 6 60 donkeys back in 2021, and now they're over like 300 donkeys. Now we've got like 5 farriers, uh, 3 of the other farriers are actually former apprentices of mine, which is really fun. All ladies too. Um, and then we've got another, a gentleman farrier, um, nearby in that area because there's a lot of donkeys. It's a lot of feet.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 43:11
We touch on the gender thing. Why do you think there are this— why do you think that the females are more dominant as farriers, or as farriers, donkey farriers?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 43:22
As donkey farriers, probably, um, because the farrier industry is male-dominated, but it's getting— there's more and more women coming on. Uh, women do so well in this industry is because we're caregivers. A lot of us are, are really generally more someone who wants to provide care. And I look at hoof trimming as a care service, like, like a nurse or something. They're more likely to be intuitive and be willing to allow an animal to have their big feelings, to process the things. There are some wonderful men, like my mentor, that I worked with all those years ago, almost 20 years ago, he was a man that was very compassionate and intuitive. So there are men out there that are like that. And I'm lucky to know quite a few in the industry that are like that. I've got another, a gentleman apprentice and a few other people, but the reason why the girls ended up down at Oscar's place is just because they had apprentice under me. And I was like, come on, everybody, get on down to Oscar's place. We've got too many hooves. Leg. And, and, and, you know, the donkeys are coming out of the auction, so I knew that, you know, Oscar's Place needs farriers that are gonna be really good to the donkeys and understand who they are. Um, so, but yeah, women are just— women are great in a lot of ways. Um, just being able to handle, yeah, like I say, those big feelings and letting the animals process and Give them space to do that.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 45:02
Yes. Meagan, have donkeys taught you anything about stress and safety and trust?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 45:11
Donkeys want to feel safe. That is— and once they do, you can do anything with them. Um, the idea that they're stubborn is not true. They're very discerning. They're just very thoughtful. So safety and trust, I think everything that I do with them is built on trust. So like the way I develop a relationship with a donkey is based on me showing them that they can trust me. And when you want someone to trust you, you show up authentically, you show up lovingly, you're not trying to be sneaky or trick 'em or anything like that. Um, although in one of— in some of my teachings, I call it the sneak attack, where they don't know. I pretend I'm not a farrier when I first come in, but, um, you know, uh, and I'm meeting them where they're at. And I think that, you know, if we did that just in life with everybody, it would— it'd be— it'd be good. They really teach me that it's okay to be myself. People say, why do donkeys love you? And I'm like, because I'm just, I'm a weirdo and I just go out there and I'm like, hey guys. And I always feel really free to just be silly with them more so than probably with people. Although I'm getting better at that as I go, but yeah. Did that answer the question? I'm not sure. Yes, it did.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 46:50
Megan, for those people who do have donkeys as pets, what is perhaps one or two guidelines you would offer for the donkey's welfare?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 47:02
Understanding who your donkey is outside of being your pet or your companion is really important for you to really understand that these are desert animals. And how much of a role that plays in you being able to keep them healthy and happy and thriving, because I know that's what you want, right? You got this donkey because you love them and, and you want to have them in your life for a long time. Um, understanding this aspect of them really dictates everything that you're going to do with them as far as how you handle them, how you're keeping them, what you're feeding them, and the environment that you're providing them. And if you do that correctly, your donkey's gonna be happier and healthier, and you're gonna avoid a lot of so-called behavioral problems, and you're gonna avoid a lot of the common hoof issues and the sicknesses that they can get. And if you have a happy, healthy donkey, then they're way more likely to be with you long-term and be in a physical and emotional state where they can interact and play with you and do the things like maybe you want to do running with them or packing with them or whatever it is that you want to do with them. They're going to be able to live their best life. Yes. Yeah.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 48:20
Very good. Very good advice. That applies to all animals, species, doesn't it?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 48:25
Yeah. From a real holistic point of view too, like I think that species-appropriate care really boils down to We're looking at that from a holistic— what do they need so that they can feel their best and be their best?
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 48:39
For people who don't own donkeys but would like to support donkey welfare, what can they do? How can they help donkeys?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 48:49
Well, they can find a donkey rescue like Oscar's Place, or there's some other wonderful rescues. I want to start naming some off, but then I don't want to not name everybody. But Happy Ass Burro Rescue, Hee Haw Halfway House. So you could find— you can adopt a donkey at a rescue and help pay for their care. You can correct people when they make stupid jokes, like the donkey jokes. When someone says, "Oh, donkeys are stubborn," you can say, "Absolutely no, they're not." I heard, uh, Megan Hensley, or I saw, you know, um, Donkey King or whatever, and this is— that's not true, you know, things, things like that.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 49:39
Yes. And how can— Megan, last question— how can people contact you or find out more about your academy?
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 49:48
school.com. So, but this is S skool.com/donkey is where my academy lives now. And then you can also find me on donkeyhooves.com, but really the, the school.com/donkey, but S-K-O-O-L. And you're also on Facebook? Yes, and then on Facebook, just find me as Megan Hensley. The Donkey Farrier. Um, I have a professional personal profile. You can message me there. Uh, come follow me, come see my videos. Um, we're always talking about fun, or I'm always— I'm always talking about donkeys. That's all I do.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 50:33
Megan, thank you very much for being with us today and sharing your story, and I really look forward to looking out for you when the Donkey King comes.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 50:45
Yeah, we didn't, we didn't talk much about that, but yeah, you're gonna be able to see me on TV on The Donkey King, um, which we are so excited about. That is going to raise a lot of awareness and really put a spotlight on donkeys that hasn't ever been there before.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 51:01
And that's coming up in, in television in 2026.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 51:05
Yes, January 3rd is the, the premiere date, so it'll probably be out by the time this airs. Yeah. And so I'm excited. We're, we're really excited about that, to, to, to bring donkeys to, yeah, to the mainstream. Yeah.
Natalie Stockdale (Host) · 51:24
Thank you very much, Megan.
Megan Hensley (Guest) · 51:26
Thank you, Natalie. Animals and Us is a production of Kintsugi Heroes. Thank you to Xavier Rudd for his permission to use 'Follow the Sun' as our theme music for this series. If you enjoyed this conversation, share the podcast with a friend and let us know by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to support Kintsugi Heroes and the stories we share, head to Kintsugiheroes.com.au and follow the instructions to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you for listening, and we'll see you next time.
You don't have to be in crisis to call.
Subscribe
Spotify
Apple