ALL ABOUT DONKEYS

Donkeys are very fun animals. They have huge ears and make the strangest noises, but they can also be very useful to us and are very strong! There are many interesting things about donkeys that most people don't know – let's learn more about donkeys.

What are donkeys, and where do they come from?

Donkeys are one of the oldest domesticated animals known to man, which means that donkeys used to live in the wild, eating grass and living in herds, until some very clever people learned how to make friends with donkeys and tame them.

Donkeys originate from two species of wild donkey found in North Africa and Asia. It is thought that donkeys were domesticated around 6000 years ago and were kept for meat, milk and use as pack animals — animals that carried heavy loads for human beings. They helped traders transport silk and spices over long distances — journeys that often lasted many years.

Donkeys belong to the same family as horses and ponies. They have a lot of similar characteristics to horses and look very similar too. Donkeys can be big or small, and they are extremely strong for their size!

Why do donkeys have such big ears?

Donkeys come from very dry parts of the world and would often have to spread out over a large area to find enough food and water to survive. This means that their fellow donkeys would often be far away. So, one reason that donkeys have such big ears is so that they can hear other donkeys calling when they want to mate or are in trouble. They have such good hearing they can hear other donkeys braying from many kilometres away.

Another reason donkeys have such big ears is because of how hot it is in the arid areas they come from. Their huge ears help them cool down by releasing heat. In a donkey's ears, the blood flows very close to the skin, and the heat from the body moves out of the blood and into the air, helping to cool the donkey down.

Donkeys also use their ears to communicate with humans and other donkeys. Just like us, donkeys can get happy and upset. You should be careful when a donkey's ears are pinned back because he might be mad. A donkey will show that he is happy when he puts his ears to the side.

Why do donkeys make such crazy noises?

Donkeys make a HEE-HAW sound that is called a bray. A donkey's bray can be very loud or soft, depending on their mood and the reason they are braying.

The main reasons donkeys bray are to communicate with other donkeys, to show affection and ask for food. They may also bray to show that either they or someone else is in danger. Donkeys are very clever. No two donkeys sound the same, and female donkeys are often quieter than male donkeys.

DID YOU KNOW?

Donkeys need to be schooled just like ponies. First, you must lead them on a halter, then get them used to a saddle and bridle, and lastly, they need to become familiar with riding aids.

CAN YOU RIDE A DONKEY?

The short answer is yes! Donkeys are perfect for kids to ride and are very reliable.

You just need to bear in mind that the experience of riding a donkey is very different from the experience of riding a pony. Donkeys prefer to plod along at a slow pace and aren't as agile as ponies, so don't expect them to gallop and jump over fences.

Donkeys also have a shorter stride than ponies and are not able to move as fast. If you try to hurry up a donkey, he will probably not move at all. They like to go slow and want to be sure that what they are doing is not going to put them in danger. Donkeys are perfect for going on outdies or walking around the farm. They must be trained properly, though, so don't just get on the next donkey you see.

DID YOU KNOW?

Donkeys make a much different sound to horses and can do something that horses can't; unlike horses, donkeys can make sounds when breathing in. A donkey makes the "HEE" noise when breathing in and the "HAW" noise when breathing out. Put it together, and you get a "HEE-HAW!"

Fun facts about donkeys

1 Donkeys are stronger than horses of the same size.

2 Donkeys can see all four of their feet at the same time.

3 Donkey fur is not waterproof, and they don't like to be out in the rain.

4 Donkeys are very strong and are often used to protect flocks of sheep.

5 Donkeys make friends for life and will often be seen hanging around the same donkeys every day.

6 Donkeys are very sturdy and can walk on almost any terrain.

7 Donkeys don't like to be alone and do well with another donkey or a pony as a friend.

8 Donkeys are known for being stubborn, but the truth is they won't do anything they are not comfortable with.

9 Donkeys love carrots, just like ponies. Be sure to break them up into small pieces, though.

HEE-HAW

Now that you know all the fun things about donkeys, why not say hello to the next donkey you meet? Maybe you will even get to ride him and play with his ears. HEE-HAW!