DONKEYS History’s Assets and Ass…persions

BY MONIQUE NOBLE

pejorative and the less offensive term ‘donkey’ started being used instead. Where the name donkey came from is unknown, but speculated to have come from the Middle English word ‘donekie’ which sounded more like ‘monkey’ and referred to a small dun horse, or possibly just the word dun itself which is a grayish brown colour common in donkeys.

Happily, despite their original nom de plume and unfair representation, donkeys have flourished as one of humankind’s most steadfast and hardiest companions, proving more robust and nimbler than their equine cousins in most environments.

Donkeys have been trusted companions to humankind for thousands of years. Despite some lingering skepticism from being misunderstood, they are quite versatile and worthy animals.

In some historic cultures, the donkey was revered as an essential resource, primarily because its domestication allowed humans to travel great distances. This mobility was a crucial factor in the development of long-distance trade in Egypt. This made donkeys a symbol of wealth to Egyptians. In some cases, donkeys were so highly regarded by their owners that they were mummified in the same manner as people held in high esteem, thus accompanying their owner in the afterlife. Donkeys were also closely associated with Christianity. Biblical canons relate that both Mary and Christ rode donkeys. Legend attributes the cross-like markings most donkeys bear on their shoulders to the sorrow Christ’s donkey felt in the shadow of the cross. Unable to leave his master, but unable to watch his death, the donkey turned away and the shadow of the cross fell upon his back and has remained there ever since.

It is hard to believe that such a humble, helpful creature could on one hand be so revered, but then on the other, subjected to harsh ridicule. On the other side of the spectrum, donkeys have been portrayed as foolish, stubborn, and a symbol of poverty throughout history. Unflattering literary portrayals of donkeys have occurred from the times of ancient Greek poetry to present day pop culture. William Shakespeare himself popularized the term ‘ass’ in reference to imbecilic, clownish characters in his work. It was because of this the term ‘ass’ became a

Donkeys are related to horses and are part of the Equidae family; however, they are a distinct species. As such, they have their own nomenclature. Male donkeys are known as jacks and females are known as jennies. Jacks are frequently bred to female horses to produce mules. Jacks have been bred to mares for centuries, as a mare can produce larger, more rideable offspring than a jenny. If a male horse, or stallion, is bred to a jenny, the resulting offspring is called a hinny – a less common cross than a mule. Surprisingly, hinnies and mules are quite different in appearance. Horses and donkeys have distinct mating behaviours and, as a result, most stallion-to-jenny breedings are accidental and result in smaller offspring. Due to being species hybrids, almost all mules and hinnies are sterile.

While donkey breeds are diverse, some things remain constant. With sizes ranging from miniature (24 inches tall and weighing 115 lbs) to mammoth (average 14 hands high and weighing 1,200 lbs – the largest on record reaching 17 hands), a donkey is still, recognizably, a donkey. Capable of living over 30 years, donkeys vary in colour from white, to dun, and black, with most falling happily in the middle with a grayish-brown colour. Manes and tails are sparse, with the mane standing upright and their tails – more like a cow’s tail than a horse’s – are tufted with hair at the end. Donkey hair coats are not waterproof, and consequently, they can get water-logged. Because of this, they require adequate shelter from inclement weather.

Donkey heads are shorter and less refined than a horse’s but proportionate to their bodies. They have large, intelligent eyes and straight, elongated ears that are constantly in motion and attentive. There is speculation that their sizeable ears also help them regulate body temperature.

Donkey necks are strong and short and tie into a steep shoulder. Donkeys have almost no wither, but they do have short, strong backs with well-sprung rib cages leading to powerful and well-proportioned hind quarters. Built for neither speed nor comfort, a donkey’s stride is short and efficient; their legs are well muscled with good bone. Ideally a donkey’s pastern angles match their shoulders and lead into strong, small hooves that, while similar to horses, require distinct farrier care. Donkey hooves are more u-shaped and have a different angle than a horse’s hoof. They are also more elastic and grow at a different rate. It is important that a donkey’s farrier be wellversed in the differences between donkey and horse needs. Like any hooved animal, it is easy to lame a donkey with incorrect trimming practices.

Incredibly sure-footed, donkeys can be ridden but they are better suited as pack animals, driving stock, or livestock guardians and companions. Donkeys are incredibly brave, and – unlike their horse cousins – they generally will have a standoff with anything they feel is threatening, aggressively defending themselves and their herd mates if need be.

While donkeys do have a bad reputation as not being dog friendly, when properly introduced, a donkey will tolerate dogs, provided the dogs are polite and don’t harass them. Donkeys are very adaptable, social creatures, and will make friends with any herd they are put in, but two donkeys are always better than one. It is also very important to keep in mind that donkeys are designed to be ideal desert dwellers. Extremely hardy animals, they can live on very little or low nutrient forage. As a result, donkeys are notoriously easy keepers and can get it is critical that a watchful eye is kept on their weight and treats are, sadly, kept to a minimum. very fat, very easily. Obesity in donkeys can lead to both laminitis and founder so

Donkeys are incredibly smart and surprisingly charming; they are cute and funny, and they know it. A well socialized donkey is engaging, curious, and eager to please their humans. They often form incredibly strong bonds and remember friends even after long periods of separation. Donkeys remember everything, particularly if they had a bit of a rough start in life, which can make rescuing donkeys a little difficult. It can be challenging to re-establish trust with a donkey that has been mistreated. Often this remarkable memory and high sense of self-preservation results in donkeys being referred to as stupid and stubborn.

Known as a ‘hee-haw,’ a donkey’s bray is unique as they create this sound while both inhaling and exhaling. In contrast, horses cannot make sounds while inhaling (mules, interestingly enough, can both bray and neigh). A bray is loud and can be heard up to three kilometres away. Donkeys bray for a number of reasons: to communicate with other donkeys, to let you know they haven’t been fed, to let you know they haven’t been fed enough, and to warn of dangers or irregularities in their environment. If a donkey is braying persistently, it is a good idea to investigate, as it may mean they are stressed, either by their own illness or discomfort, or by a herd mate’s discomfort (another reason they make such good companion and watch animals).

Happy donkeys will also bray when they see someone they are fond of, and if you start laughing don’t be surprised if they join you. They are quick to learn that shared humour usually also leads to shared food and all the good scratches.

Alberta donkey lover and breeder Kim Baerg often cannot keep up with the demand for well-socialized, wellbred donkeys. Baerg’s journey with donkeys began in 1988 when she was gifted Fox Spring Tess as a foal. “Tess” quickly won Baerg over and helped to create a well-established and respected breeding program at Eagle Hill Equine near Sundre, Alberta. A donkey’s gestation period can last from 11 to 14 months, allowing donkeys to have a foal only every two years, which can make building and maintaining a quality herd of donkeys challenging.

While demand for donkeys is still present in Canada, the number of donkeys has been in sharp decline. The world population of donkeys has dropped by millions in the last decade, which has generally been attributed to technological progress expanding across the globe. Fortunately Baerg is not the only champion of donkeys who feels that conservation will be vital to preserving the species in the future. The number of donkey sanctuaries and conservatories are growing, as donkey lovers and breeders ensure there will always be a friendly, long-eared face trying to charm its way into your treat pockets. AB