News from HorseWorld A donkey who paints! Rescued donkey wields paintbrush to help celebrate charity’s 60th
A rescued donkey has been showing off an unusual and special talent – painting! And hundreds of thousands of shoppers will soon get the chance to view the results of her creative flair for themselves, in Bristol’s Cabot Circus shopping centre.
Patty, an eight-year-old rescued donkey has put paintbrush to figurine to paint one of the 60 model ponies that will be displayed in the flagship shopping centre from 21st July to 7th September, as part of HorseWorld’s Trail of Painted Ponies, a public art trail to celebrate the charity’s 60thyear.
Patty can also paint on canvas and her colourful creations will be on show over the forthcoming weeks!
The art trail itself will be sweeping its way through the city’s newest shopping centre, so shoppers will be invited to visit the whole herd. HorseWorld’s Trail of Painted Ponies will feature designs by celebrities, sports clubs, animal welfare organisations and members of the public who entered an art competition. The model Painted ponies measure up to 60cm high and long. HorseWorld patrons Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks have designed a horse each, and of course the enigmatic Patty has painted her very own piece, using ‘clicker training’, a technique that uses a ‘click’ sound as part of positive reinforcement training.
Vicky Greenslade, Assistant Manager at HorseWorld Visitor
Centre yard, works with Patty to carry out the training; the pair have a strong, trusting bond and Vicky is able to ask Patty to perform all sorts of unusual tasks – such as painting a model pony, one brushstroke at a time! Patty often features in presentations. She kisses and can kick a football, all as part of her training.
“Clicker training has been used at HorseWorld for the last eight years,” says Vicky. “The technique can be used if a horse is frightened of an object, area or traffic, to help the animal to assimilate and desensitise. Or if the animal is retired, this type of training can be a really good way to exercise and provide mental stimulation for the horse, as well strengthening their bond with people.
“Patty was rescued in an emaciated condition in 2005 where she was for sale at a UK auction, after being shipped over from Romania with another donkey Pixie. Pixie has since been rehomed and Patty has stayed at HorseWorld’s Visitor Centre. Patty was very nervous as she’d had no contact with people apart from at the auction. Once she was at HorseWorld, she began her rehabilitation training. Patty is now the leader of the donkey herd at HorseWorld. At eight, she is actually young to be the leader and therefore the group she leads is quite a naughty, cheeky bunch!
“Patty has been doing clicker training for about one year and took to it straight away. She now
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carries out one or two sessions a week. When clicker training, the timing and noise of the click is the most important part, not the food treat. The click has to be at the right moment, and is a positive reinforcement to reward the animal carrying out the desired action.”
HorseWorld is a leading UK
equine charity that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes up to 100 abandoned, neglected and mistreated horses every year and is now responsible for over 400 horses, ponies and donkeys, including those out at responsible loan homes.
You tube link:
http://bit.ly/MAxPz0
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