Donkeys

There's nothing quite as special as a donkey, whatever its size or age. They are man's best friend (whoever said it's a dog was off base). They are protective of sheep when dogs and coyotes come around. A lot of people get a donkey for their kid's first mount, as the donkey is a lot quieter than a horse or mule (think about it... Mary didn't ride an Arabian in her delicate condition). A true confidence builder, the donkey's gentle nature allows kids to gain confidence to graduate to a horse or mule if they choose. There are several types of donkeys. People use lighter, more active donkeys for riding. Larger donkeys of a quieter nature are used for raising good riding and draft mules as well as other jackstock. Donkeys don’t require as much or as high quality food as horses.

A female donkey is called a jenny or a jennet. If a jack (male donkey) is mated with a mare (female horse), the animal that is born is a mule. A cross between a female donkey and a stallion (male horse) is called a hinny. Small donkeys called burros are often used as pack animals because they are sure-footed.

Halter Breaking
Donkeys are good at halter breaking young calves (polled or dehorned) and horses. The donkey wears a collar that is connected to the halter of the animal that is being taught to lead. The animals are then turned loose in an enclosure, always under supervision. Where the donkey wants to go, it will go. The colt or calf has no option but to follow. This way the donkey is the bad guy breaking it to lead, not you. See the picture at the bottom of the page of a donkey in action!

Here's the halter-breaking donkey, tied to the colt with quick-release snaps. Often people use a collar on the donkey instead of a halter. With that the donkey has a little more pulling power. A short strap between the two lessens the chance of getting a leg over it while eating. Photo courtesy Gary Wagenaar.

Guard Donkeys
A single donkey, usually a jennet, sometimes a gelding (jacks rarely work because they can be too aggressive with lambs) is put in with the sheep and goes through a bonding stage. When it has bonded with the sheep, it will protect them against fox, coyote and dogs. When the donkey hears a strange sound it will alert the flock to danger. Then the donkey will chase and often trample the predator.

These twins sired by Henry, out of a Jen Jack daughter were pretty rare. They both survived and matured to 14:2 hands out of parents 56" and 54". They are now used as a driving team and packing.

Tootsie, owned by MDMA member Reggie Benson, is out of a spotted jennet and sired by Gabriel, the black jack pictured below. This picture would melt a heart, wouldn't it? Here are a few yearling jennets enjoying each other's company.

Gabriel was one of the best riding donkeys around. He is the sire of Tootsie, above, and of Gary Wagenaar's spotted jennet "Tulip", as well as Deb Maage's mules.

Donkeys need more hoof care than horses or mules. Our pastures around here aren't like a rocky, sandy desert to keep them worn down. Usually in small or soft pastures, their hooves grow fast and don't wear down or break off, calling for regular trimming. In the larger picture above, notice the pile of hoof trimmings already cut off before I went to get a camera! The close-up of the back hoof in the upper left shows that after much trimming, there's still a long ways to go. Donkey hooves' soles drop in a way a horse or mule doesn't. You are often able to cut away until the hoof is in a normal shape, as the bottom left picture indicates. The jennet didn't hardly know how to walk with proper trimming, and I'm sure it was a strain on her muscles and tendons, but a lot better for her joints and her general well being to be trimmed instead of ignored longer. Her front hooves were pretty twisted, but with regular trimming, they, too will straighten out.

Miniature donkeys must be under 36", but under 34" is the preferred size. We encourage breeding for soundness and conformation instead of just trying to get as little a donkey as possible. With linebreeding you have to be careful to check for parrot mouths and monkey mouths. In any breed of animal when you attempt to get them huge, small or anything else not the norm, you run the risk of getting bad characteristics. Conscientious breeders such as MDMA members John and Mary Block, (with Bert and Earnie, below) and others in the MDMA and ADMS have succeeded in maintaining a line of miniatures that make wonderful pets and driving animals with soundness, disposition and conformation a priority.

John Block driving Burt & Earnie hitched to a miniature covered wagon built just for them.. Burt & Earnie have appeared many times in the Minnesota State Fair Parades and the Minneapolis Holidazzle Parades as well as many other appearances from Iron World to the Cherry Festival in Traverse City Michigan.

Burt & Earnie are winners of the American Donkey and
Mule Society "Versatility Hall of Fame Award" plus they hold additional "Honor Roll Awards" They are also two of the first donkeys to win the National Miniature Donkey Association "Ambassadors for the Breed" Award.