Okay .... has anyone fostered a pair of donkeys through the Donkey Sanctuary?

[Millie1]

If so, how do you find the Donkey Sanctuary to deal with? Their requirements sound pretty stringent, are they in reality? Are inspection visits unannounced or by appointment (guess there's no point in the latter but would like to know). DH & I would like to get two donkeys. We have plenty of land, I grew up with horses and ponies, so lots of equine experience. It would be difficult, after years of having my own horse, to have someone looking over my shoulder all the time IYKWIM. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand their need to do this - and it's definitely the right thing - we just don't know whether to foster or buy our own. Thanks!

Love donkeys. Have no experience of the Sanctuary sorry. Would imagine that it's a little like rehoming dogs/cats in that they reserve the right to check up but when they meet you and see it's a good home/pass their checks, etc., you get the ok?

I'd go for it if I were you. Have thought about it myself but am struggling with muddy fields and horses atm and that's enough for now.

Let us know how you get on.

Thanks Owls. DH is mad about them too. Think they come to check the place out before they place animals with you but then inspect you 3-4 times a year thereafter. Whether we own the donkeys or they're fostered from the Sanctuary, they'll get the same treatment, it's just the feeling that big brother is watching. But all for a good cause.

Don't envy you with muddy fields and trying to get horses out. Our grass is in a terrible state - weeks of snow have left it brown and dry (we feel like we're in Australia when we look out ) but some green shoots are starting to push through.

I routinely pester yard owner about donkeys, she always says no

hope you get some and show us lots of pictures of their fluffy ears swoon

There used to be a little donkey at a place we were at and he was a terrible escape artist. There was a small gap under the gate and he used to lie down and wriggle under. I always laugh at the memory of the big burly farmer, having caught the little horror, leading him down the lane whilst being kicked repeatedly in the ankles.

Nowadays I can get my fix from the farm along the road from my house when I go to buy my eggs and horse feed. They have several donkeys and one is a stallion (is that right for donkeys or are they Jacks or something?) and so there is usually a foal and they are all chocolate brown. Oh they are gorgeous.

I did think I'd like one for ds but I put him on one at a fete last summer and he looked very worried and wobbly! He is super-confident on ponies so I was surprised at the difference. So maybe not such a good idea after all.

I love donkeys . Theres a sanctuary very close to my parents, and when we visit them we always go to the donkeys too.

Checking depends on the sanctuary in question - a friend of my dads (and he says he would like to live on her yard as the animals are so pampered) tried to adopt/foster from Sidmouth, and gave up as they were so fussy

They are cute, aren't they? Don't know what we're going to do. DH wants to go ahead and get a field shelter built and then source the donkeys. They'll spend summer in paddock adjacent to house and then winter at yard 100m down road with stable opening into field. It's a pain they need shelter all weathers cos the field shelters seem to cost £££.

Be prepared for th long haul, my donkey finally died at the age of 65.

Oh my word ... that must be a record .. and you must have missed him/her terribly

He was ready to go but was part of my life for 30 years, he was 30 ishn when we got him. I have another one now which I bought pissed in a pub in Ireland at a horse fair, he was 4, now 14.

Wow! I had two horses, both ex-racehorses which we had since they were 4-5. We kept them after they retired and they died at 24 and 27 .... I was heartbroken. Still makes me sad to think of them but they had a good life. DH has wanted donkeys for years and years so now we have the space, why not. No doubt I'll get mega-attached to them too

He is buried up in our field and then my old horse who went shortly after age 34 is buried next to him, they have a lovely view of Poole Harbour.