Does Anyone Own A Donkey?

[johnworf]

I've just bought a donkey for my grandchildren to ride. He's 12 and is from a petting farm. He is still settling in but seems a little sad. He's in with horses and ponies currently but I am looking to get another donkey friend for him.

Any hints or tips for keeping donkies?

Stuart is cheeky and will try and bag both his and Sid's food. Sid usually pulls him inline with a tiny back leg kick. He just likes to chance his arm.

If they spot me walking up the path they'll bray loudly or run over to the fence. I'm under no illusions... Its purely cupboard love 😂

Please don't keep a single donkey, they get really sad without a friend.

During the Summertime there are quite a few donkeys on the beach in Weymouth, Dorset giving rides to children.

At the end of their workday and the saddles are removed some of the donkeys 🫏 love to get down on the ground and roll around in the soft sand. They’re adorable!

They do love to roll. Mine in the mud and in the shavings in the stable.

It must be lovely for the beach donkeys to get in the sand at the end of the day. Bliss!

I have 2 so no lonely donkeys ☺️

This is such an heartwarming thread with a joyful ending.

Donkey buddies forever.

What a lovely lovely thread.

I now want a farm and some donkeys.

Please do update!

Oh I love this thread. Perfect and heartwarming on a wet and windy Friday night after a busy week. Thanks OP, and I completely agree we NEED more threads like this on MN! Cheers!

Is the plan still for your grandchildren to ride them, OP? Sorry if this has been covered upthread and I’ve missed it!

So happy I stumbled on this thread, they are absolutely beautiful. They look so kind.

Can you tell me about your donkeys? Girls or boys? Is 3 the magic number?!

Two of my grandchildren have ridden on Sid. We believe that Stuart is unbroken and has spent his life in a field with other donkeys and that's about it. He is only 8 so we are thinking of starting to break him next spring. Stuart isn't rideable at the moment but is a cracking friend to Sid.

Gorgeous!

I have 2 Jenny’s and a Jack well gelding. I’ve had them 12 years. They are right characters and luckily our land and stables are down the road as they are quite noisy 😁

Ah, they are lovely. Would love one but our pony is terrified of them 🙄

I know this is an old thread but how are the donkeys doing now? I hope they are happy and well. Are there any other MNers who have them?

I have added another 2 boys since I started this thread. They are all doing well. I would have more if i could!

Sid, Spot and Stuart 🥰

Op you need to start Donkey Diaries.... Lots of invested folks here! There was a thread about ducks on an' island 'that lasted absolutely ages a few years ago.

I have a Tiktok account where I post their antics

Oh they’re gorgeous @johnworf
Good on you helping them 👏🏻💐
I wonder what happened the duck poster @Freezingcoldinseptember.
I loved reading about them on Mumsnet. The OP had a fabulous pond in her garden

I don't have donkeys anymore but I had 2 rescues for many years.

They are wonderful pets but are quite different from horses & ponies.

They definitely do need another donkey companion & they form close bonds.

Their coats are not waterproof (unlike horses/ponies) so need access to shelter outside the rain.

Be careful with diet as they are very prone to lami & obesity.

The basis of their diet is Barley straw as forage (rather than hay or grass that a horse/pony would have). Ask specifically for Barley straw suitable for feeding (some bedding straw has been treated to prevent bacteria , mould etc).

We had lots of fun doing agility, in hand dressage, clicker training & local shows.