HorseHage, which also produces the well-known Mollichaff range of feeds for horses and ponies, recently sent members of staff from each regional producer to attend a training day at the headquarters of The Donkey Sanctuary at Slade House Farm, Sidmouth, Devon.

The team consisted of Debbie Harris and Gail Booker from Mark Westaway and Son in Devon; Rebecca Murray from Friendship Estates in South Yorkshire, and Mark Watson from Fox Feeds in Hertfordshire.

The training began with a presentation by Dr Faith Burden, Veterinary Projects and Development Manager at the Donkey Sanctuary, and then the rest of the day was spent having a ‘walk and talk’ training session which involved seeing the whole of the site and meeting all the donkeys. This was led by Maxine Carter (Slade House Farm Manager) and Sarah Tulloch and Liz Hazell-Smith (Veterinary Projects and Development Assistants).

Said Debbie Harris: “All aspects of donkey management were covered, including condition scoring which was very different to scoring horses! The day was not only extremely informative and enjoyable, but we all went away feeling that the team at The Donkey Sanctuary are very passionate about their own donkeys as well as donkeys throughout the UK and the rest of the world.”

Look out for a brand new product to be launched in the New Year called Mollichaff Donkey which has been formulated under the scrutiny of consultant nutritionist, Deborah Lucas and some of the UK’s leading donkey carers, and will be specifically for donkeys.