I want to say that we intentionally became donkey rescuers, but the truth is, they found us. In 2015, a livestock trailer showed up in our gravel drive with an aged, mangy, pregnant donkey, complete with a deformed hoof. We welcomed her to our 6 acres, and four days after she arrived, Pearl gave birth to Ruby. Pearl and Ruby are now living the good life on our mini-farm. In this small article, I want to share some of the realities of donkey ownership if you may be considering donkey rescue.
In the past six years, I've learned a lot about caring for donkeys. First, they are not mules. A mule is a mix of a horse with a donkey, and mules are born sterile. Second, donkeys are not as tame as horses, especially when picking up their hooves for the farrier during hoof trims. Hoof trims can be extremely dangerous. I have trained Ruby to pick her hooves up since she was born here, and she is very willing during hoof trims. We do not know Pearl's history and assume previous owners mistreated her as she is not fond of anyone picking up her hooves. We have to sedate her during every trim. Before becoming a donkey owner, consider if this is something that you can take care of every eight weeks. We are fortunate to have a patient farrier who is calm and gentle with our animals.
Donkeys are smart and easy to train if you respect their space. Donkeys know how to take care of themselves and are not to be rushed. They take their time when introduced to new situations. They are not as stubborn as they are cautious. If they trust their handler, they will follow. Unlike horses I've owned, donkeys will remember training forever. They are very curious and like to learn—the more calm and patient my attitude, the greater the success in training.
Donkeys can not process sugar. Most of us automatically assume that horses and donkeys eat apples, melon rinds or carrots, but all of those foods contain sugar. Donkeys originate from desert climates with bodies designed to exist on scrubby growth. Our lush grass here in Tennessee contains more protein and sugar than their bodies can process, resulting in obesity and lameness. Therefore, we have to restrict their grazing area to a small plot. Just as people with diabetes have to monitor sugar intake, we likewise have to monitor Pearl and Ruby's sugar intake. That, to me, has been one of the biggest challenges in caring for our donkeys. We have moveable electric fencing that I regularly modify,
Cattle farmers use donkeys as protection animals from coyotes. It's best to keep dogs and donkeys apart, so no dogs are injured. Donkeys enjoy the company of people but approach them with care and slowly. Let them walk up to you to say hello. If a donkey snorts at you, that means it feels threatened. They would like for you to back off. They are acutely aware that they are prey animals.
Donkeys provide a great deal of companionship with a bit of a learning curve. Donkeys are highly social, developing strong bonds with their pasture mates, and should never be made to live alone. They form deep bonds with their handlers as well. Often when we walk outside, they walk up to the gate and "talk" to us. If I have had a long day, I usually head out to the pasture to get some "donkey time," and I always feel better. We are so attached to Pearl and Ruby that one might say that they rescued us.