What can Donkeys do?
From Lisa Fergason
Written by Lisa Fergason
Donkeys are the oldest domesticated equine...but even in these modern times, they have many uses. Their most common use is as a friendly, calm riding or driving animal. They make great trailriding animals and perfect companion animals to other equines and help keep an eye on smaller livestock such as goats and young calves. Donkeys range in size from the miniature Sicilian Donkeys, small standard, large standard and the American Mammoth Jackstock Donkey (which can be 54" or taller - up to as much as 17 hands), plenty tall enough and stout enough for a full grown rider.
Donkeys are much more social than the horse or mule...and seem to prefer human companionship over equine friends. They are usually easygoing, vocal and demand attention. Their disposition is much quieter than their cousins, and they are also "quieter" physically...they do not move around when you are pettingm, brushing, saddling, mounting. They do not tend to walk the stall, pace or "worry" if their friends leave. Their voice, however, is not quieter - they are quite loud...and always let you know that they see you outside and bray enough to encourage to hurry up on the feeding or to come pay some attention to them.
We have really enjoyed the donkeys...and are concentrating on raising and training the mammoth jackstock donkey. They seem a perfect equine for the "babyboomer"...maybe a lady who has been a bank VP all her life and is retired now and wants a quiet animal for some relaxing jaunts around the woods...a novice who is inexperienced with equines...or for someone who has been hurt by a horse or mule and wants a quiet animal to regain their confidence on. We use them for trailriding, and show them under harness and in halter and performance classes including Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining, Dressage and speed event classes.
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