Can you ride miniature donkeys

They really make an emotional bond with their owners, and with anyone else who gives them a chance. They will ask for your attention with nudges, brays, and funny little sounds.

They learn quickly and are very eager to please. Miniature Donkeys are inexpensive to live with and almost trouble-free as they are hardy and long-lived. They are safe around small children and those with physical or mental considerations. They have highly adaptable personalities that lend themselves to a myriad of situations. Having Miniature Donkeys in your life is like bringing home new friends.

Miniature Donkeys are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Bred to be small, tough, docile, and trainable, they were used to carry firewood, deliver freshly baked bread, pull carts filled with laundry, and were used to pull ore carts in mines.

Because these industries have changed native Miniature Donkeys are no longer used for these purposes and are almost extinct in their lands of origin.

They have been crossed with standard-sized donkeys to create a more versatile work animal. Because of this, the Miniature Donkeys in North America have global genetic value. They were first introduced to this country in Today there are over 52, registered in the United States. Many more are registered in Canada, and recently they have become a popular export to Europe and other foreign countries. They are referred to as jacks, jennets, and geldings.

The life expectancy of a well-cared Miniature Donkey is around years, and they can often do that with a minimum of special needs. Their conformation should be that of a well-rounded animal standing on four straight legs with all parts in symmetry and balance.

They should also look athletic and capable of performing a multitude of tasks. Miniature Donkeys are easy to live with and economical to keep. A three-sided shelter is perfect for them as they will go in when they need to. They need room to run and play but require much less space than a horse. Decent quality grass or grain hay is perfect for them, with alfalfa and grain being rarely appropriate.

They require a high fiber — low protein diet. They founder easily if overfed and this and related issues is the number one killer of Miniature Donkeys, other than advanced age. They need their hooves trimmed every six to eight weeks, should be de-wormed every two to three months, and require the same vaccinations and schedule as a horse does.

One of the most important things to understand about these little guys is they need each other, even when kept with horses, sheep, goats, etcetera. They are tremendously social and their play behavior with each other is much like that of a young horse, but they never outgrow it. Miniature donkeys are placid animals. Most mini-donkeys are between inches from their hooves to their withers. Some are smaller, but a few are bigger. At that height 36 inches , they become a small but regular donkey, and they start to be measured by hands rather than inches.

This is one of the most surprising facts about the miniature donkey. Meet KneeHi. Measuring just He lives on a farm in the U. As herbivores, mini-donkeys like grasses and grains. Mini-donkeys also love treats. Donkeys are also fond of sweet things like molasses, but these should be kept as occasional treats instead of everyday foods.

Dwarf donkeys were bred for work, so they can pull carts and transport goods just like their bigger cousins. They simply have to do it in smaller quantities. It depends. However, kids and pets can catch a ride on a miniature donkey whenever they like.

Given proper care, a miniature donkey will live for around years. Most mini-donkeys are pampered pets, so they tend to enjoy long, full lives with access to food, shelter, and medical assistance whenever they need it.

Such was the case with Tiny Tim , a miniature donkey in Canada. He was a small, sickly foal who was rejected by his mother at birth, so his owners took him inside and raised him along with their dogs.

Tiny Tim plays fetch, sleeps in a bed, and lets his humans know when he needs to do his business outside. Miniature donkeys will tolerate all kinds of cute, silly costumes, so people frequently dress them up like dogs in sweaters.

These outfits can be quite the attraction at public events like fairs and horse shows. As with any animal, there are both pros and cons to owning a miniature donkey. For example, a lot of mini-donkey owners are surprised to learn that their small, sweet animal can also be quite stubborn and headstrong when they feel like it.

As a breed, donkeys make excellent guardians for livestock. On the other hand, dwarf donkeys are a lot smaller than regular donkeys. They might not be able to defend livestock with the same ferocity as their bigger, heavier cousins. Female donkeys are called jennies or jennets, and they can come into heat at any time of year. It usually lasts for 3 — 4 weeks or until the jennet becomes pregnant. Donkeys have one of the longest gestation cycles in the world, and this includes miniature donkeys.

Their pregnant for anywhere between months. They usually have a single foal, but the occasional donkey will give birth to twins. That being said, a happy mini can be one of the most rewarding animals to be around. Unlike normal sized donkeys who can usually bond easily and well with a horse or pony, your miniature donkey needs a similar sized, like-minded friend. A pair of mini donkeys will be much happy and content together — finding ways to play together and run around.

Think of it as double the fun and double the happiness for your donkey. If you provide a pair of mini donkeys plenty of ways to frolic and play, they will provide hours of entertainment for themselves, as well as anyone who happens to be in their view. One thing to note, a PAIR of mini donkeys can potentially be great companions for a single lonely horse, but only a pair of donkeys, not single, which could turn to fighting and food theft.

Mini Donkeys that are allowed to graze in a field all day long can get overweight quite rapidly if they are allowed any type of treats or grain with added sugars such as molasses. Once a mini donkey has become overweight, it can be tough to get them back on track to healthy size. Be sure and keep an accurate record so you can see any fluctuations over time and make adjustments before weight gain — or loss — becomes an issue. You can purchase a weight tape at a tack shop, farm supply or online at horse.

The tape does take a little practice for both you and the donkey! One note, measuring tapes are approximate, not exact like a scale would be. DO NOT use a weighing tape for dosing medications or strong dose dewormers.

Mini Donkeys Vs. Horses — Unlike horses, mini donkeys are not nearly as skittish, and in turn, are often much more curious. Miniature donkeys will very seldom run away if they are spooked by a strange noise or a rock, which once caused me to get bucked off one of my horses. Calm, cool and intelligent, a mini donkey does not require a lot of space, eats much less food and over time will be naturally inclined to hang out and be by your side whenever possible. A bored donkey is a naughty donkey. Toss a large ball, hoola hoop or an old tire into their pen and they will entertain themselves and stop chewing on your barn!

The list of things they will play with is nearly endless, just be sure they are safe from nails, staples or anything that may cause harm to your donkeys.