8
community
july3
2014
Training a Burro for 100 Days
people selected as a trainer to work with
After the competition, the
a burro.
trained burros are made available for
At ‘The Great Burro Turn- adoption via a competitive bid process
around,’ Seeburger and Cali will be to approved households.
scored on handling, condition and health
Seeburger sounded confident
of the burro, traveling through a pattern that Cali will find a good home. “I really
where Cali has to walk, trot, stop, back think she is incredible,” says Seeburg-
up, side pass and turn, as well as a trail er. “She’s very smart, very loving and
course with a series of ob-
stacles which could include
jumps, backing up and step-
ping over things. Forty per-
cent of the scoring is based
on a Freestyle presentation
where the trainer and burro
have four minutes to show-
case what the burro has ac-
complished during their 100
day training period. See-
burger says she may have
Cali wear a pack and show-
case her as an animal that
can pack your food, beer,
fire wood and other gear for
Cali when she was living at the BLM
camping.
with her thick, rough coat.
Vernonia
5:00pm at the Vernonia Fire Station
National Night Out
is a community appreciation
night for all the first responders that
help keep our community safe and healthy.
Come on out, show your support & say thanks!
• BBQ • Touch a truck
• Family fun activities
• Raffle • Demonstrations
Hosted by Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
and the Vernonia Police Dept.
Contact: Brandi Abney 503-429-8252
Mariolino’s
Pizza & Grill
Open for
breakfast, lunch & dinner
Daily Specials
We have ice cream!
Cones-Shakes-Sundaes
Serving Vernonia since 1970
721 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
(503) 429-5018
continued from front page
she’s very kind. I’m hoping she finds a
home where someone can focus on her
as much as I have and really wants to be
a burro trainer.”
Seeburger has been actively
marketing Cali, creating a flyer and a
Facebook Page for her. She has also
placed ads on Craig’s List inviting
people to visit her on Seeburger’s farm
and attend the ‘The Great Burro Turn-
around.’
Seeburger says her time work-
ing with Cali has not been easy. To start
with, Cali’s coat was very thick, rough,
unkempt and dirty after living the first
four years of her life as a wild burro with
almost no care. “She wasn’t very happy
with her life,” says Seeburger. Seeburg-
er had to wash and shave her coat. Cali
looks much better now that she has been
receiving regular care.
Training a wild burro was also
not easy says Seeburger. “She wouldn’t
do anything I wanted for the first forty-
five days.” Now Seeburger says Cali
can work ‘at liberty’ where Seeburger
can have her follow specific commands
with the use of a lead or halter. Seeburg-
er also showed us how Cali can jump
over a barrel, step down from a platform
and back up.
“I’m a dog lover,” says Seeburg-
er. “But I think a burro could be man’s
best friend. Not only will she eat your
weeds and keep your grass down, you
can also use her manure as compost!”
Seeburger says a burro is differ-
ent than a horse in several ways. She
explained that a horse is an animal of
flight. It will run if it feels threatened or
is attacked. “A burro is not made to be
fast and they will stand their ground and
fight if attacked. They’re not an animal
of flight; they’re an animal of fight.”
Seeburger says that burros tend to think
things through and won’t get themselves
into a situation they can’t get out of.
“They move a lot slower and think about
what they are doing. A horse is actually
easier to train, because a burro will think
and fight you.” Seeburger says a burro’s
eyes sit more on the side of their head
where a horse’s are more forward look-
ing. It gives the burro better peripheral
vision, which makes them a good pack
and trail animal. Seeburger also noted
that although a burro can run, they are
really designed to walk. “Their favorite
speed is a walk. They’re not an animal
that is fast. They just want to do their
job and do it slow.”
Seeburger had an interesting
perspective on her time working with
Cali over the last three months. “I think
every school student, before they gradu-
ate, should have to train a burro,” says
Seeburger. “It would teach them pa-
tience, understanding and give them
confidence in themselves and the ani-
mals they work with. Cali has taught me
more in my life than anything else.”
For more information about Cali Girl
you can reach Leslie Seeburger at 503-
429-5402.
