OK, I think I finally talked my hubby into letting me get a standard donkey for myself and my son. Did want a horse, but donkey's are more affordable. So, are they good with children? (My son will be 7.) I've heard yes. I'm looking for a jenny to ride and drive, both me and my son. Probably won't get one until next spring, but hey, I'm excited! Also, we were offered a young donkey colt that we would have to break ourselves, with some help. Should we bother with a baby? We would have to buy it and start from scratch, it would only be 6 months old when we got it. ALso, anyone have plans for a homemade 2 wheeled buggy? My husband is pretty handy, so we could make one.

-- Tricia (never-enough-pets@excite.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

I can't give any real advice, but I want a donkey, too. My husband thinks I'm crazy. But we had a really sweet jenny when I was growing up & I'd love to have another like her.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), February 07, 2002.

This site offers numerous plans (pdf Format) for building donkey carts out of various materials: Donkey Cart Plans, http://www.eng.warwick.ac.uk/DTU/pubs/animals.html Found this site, has a lot of inexpensive reprints covering about everything to do with mules and donkeys: Reprints, http://www.geocities.com/heehawbookcat/reprints.html This is the address for this link: The American Donkey and Mule Society, est 1967, 2901 N. Elm St., Denton TX 76201, (940) 382-6845 phone, (940) 484-8417 fax or e-mail us at adms@juno.com

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

http://www.donkeys.com yahoo.groups.com has this donkey site, you must start there. All sorts of great information donkeys for sale and for adoption. We adopted our two jennies, are so glad we did, they are working out wonderful for us. Start with good information first. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Yes I think you would be happy with a donkey. We got one as a baby and made a lot of mistakes by getting our training info from well meaning friends that owned horses. Don't get a colt if you want it to be ridden in the next 4 years. Unlike a horse, they should never be ridden till they are 4. NEVER! We made that mistake along with a lot of others. If you can get one that is older and already trained to at least lead properly you will be a lot better off. They don't need much training to ride. They must be able to trust you and they are very smart. Make sure that it was well treated before you got it because they never forget or forgive bad treatment.

-- Corky Wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.net), February 07, 2002.

I've raised horses, donkeys and mules, and I don't put a saddle on them until they're 3 years old. You not only want the knees closed (kinda like the soft spot on a human baby's head), but you want a brain to work with.

Since it doesn't sound like you guys have a bunch of equine knowledge, you'd be better off getting a critter that's already trained to ride and drive, whether horse, donk or mule. A good seller will also train you. It may cost you more, but at least you won't get killed!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

There is no better watchdog in the barnyard then a donkey. Will keep wolves off of sheep.

-- roberto pokachinni (pokachinni@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Donkeys are very sweet but very different from horses in training esp. A donkey really has to been shown a reason for doing something but a horse will follow if you know their language.

I love donkeys but if you get a colt I'd geld him number 1 and I agree with the previous poster to get an older trained horse. I'd get an older trained gelding for your situation. The horse market has been depressed and if you look you might be able to find a nice trained gelding at a reasonable price esp. if pedigree isn't a consideration.

Good luck!

-- zeb (wrangler@jridgeranch.com), February 08, 2002.

Thanks for your help. I really would like to start with an already well-trained donkey. Don't think that we will get one unless it is. The only problem is that it is really hard to find a standard donkey, everybody has mini's. Anybody know of any for sale in NW PA? Thanks again

-- tricia (never-enough-pets@excite.com), February 08, 2002.

We have one large gelded Jack, Rosco. He really watches all the stock, even snorts when deer are out there. We can ride him. He mainly just lives here.

The only problem with him is that I cannot send my Border Collie out in the pasture he is in, usually I have steers and whethers in with him. Even though he knows all my dogs, he will not allow any animal to be herded, period. Not even chickens. He has no problem with the dogs in the barn yard, if he is being groomed or ridden, just when the dogs are "chasing his animals". You have to be careful with your dogs.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), February 09, 2002.

Don't know if these folks also carry Standards, but it's worth the call:

Mammoth Saddle Donkeys For Sale

The True Trail Alternative

Donkeys by DeRose

The Pet You Can Ride

Quality Imprinted Mammoth Stock

Trained for saddle and harness

David DeRose 1-717-784-3664

RR#8 Box #320B Bloomsburg, PA 17815

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), February 09, 2002.

We have an older gelding he has had some training and I have been working with him. I have had horses before and I can tell you Donkeys are very smart. They are great with kids and love attention. They seem to hate dogs though. He keeps all dogs out of the area. The only problem I have with mine is that I have to seperate him from the calves when I feed them. He will take over and knock them out of the way. He runs the show. Good luck and I think you will enjoy any kind of donkey.

-- Jeff (jeff@jeff.com), February 11, 2002.