lead rein loan..... donkey?

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smellsofhorse

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I have 2 horses and a pony.
My 2 and half year old daughter loves being around them but i really dont think my pony is an ideal lead rein pony, she nibbles when being lead, can be temperamental and just isnt a quiet type.She wants to gallop around jumping things!

My daughter has ridden a pony a few times and loves getting a donkey at the beach.

I thought having a loan or maybe buying a donkey would be a good idea.

What do you think?
 
Donkeys can do everything ponies can do - it sometimes just takes longer to teach them as they have to be persuaded to see the benefit of doing it!
I love my donks, and they are great with kids. But they are very different to horses and as such you need to do lots of research before you consider getting one. For example donkeys pair bond very strongly, and if they are seperated from their friend their body can go into a state of shock which stops them from eating and can even kill them in extreme circumstances. Then you have differences in feed, their coats etc to consider.
I have never seen a donkey for loan however thinking about it. But over winter beach donkeys are sent to winter homes. Maybe you could offer to take two over the winter for your little girl? If not, I think buying would be your only option.
 
tasteofchaos said:
Donkeys can do everything ponies can do - it sometimes just takes longer to teach them as they have to be persuaded to see the benefit of doing it!
I love my donks, and they are great with kids. But they are very different to horses and as such you need to do lots of research before you consider getting one. For example donkeys pair bond very strongly, and if they are seperated from their friend their body can go into a state of shock which stops them from eating and can even kill them in extreme circumstances. Then you have differences in feed, their coats etc to consider.
I have never seen a donkey for loan however thinking about it. But over winter beach donkeys are sent to winter homes. Maybe you could offer to take two over the winter for your little girl? If not, I think buying would be your only option.
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I know it may be hard to find 1 or 2!
They are few and far between.
I volunteered for years at a horse sanctuary which had donkies too so I'm happy I know enough and will research too.
 
My daughter had a loan donkey thirty years ago. He was called Chichester and was companion to an eventer. He came to us when his friend was away eventing. Strong and full of character!
 
Nicr looking ridden donkey advertised on dragon driving ,think they wanted £650 for him, cant do links but it wont take long to look.
 
Donkeys are heaven and can do everything a pony can do. Mine are ridden, driven and played with but....

They need more companionship than a pony. They pair bond very strongly and love human company. They also eeyor (?) a lot and very loudly, so if you have close neighbours you would have to check they liked donkeys too!!

They also do need a fair amount of looking after - they are designed for eating scrub in the desert, so the rich English grass can cause weight and feet problems.

I think talking to the Donkey Sanctury is a great idea, they loan out Donkeys and always give great advice.
 
tasteofchaos said:
Yeah, they don't allow them to be kept on the same grazing as horses do they? Because of the worm risk I think.
They are still a good source of information though.
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I understand donkeys are different to horses and require different care.
The donkey sanctuary do a great job.

I know i would need at least a pair and could fence them their own section off but they also need a permanent shelter with concrete base.

My horses have trees for shelter in the field and stables.
The thats not enough for donkeys though.
 
DON'T GET A DONKEY - you will fall madly in love and your horses will become surplus to requirements when you realise donkeys are far superior in every way, shape and form!;):D
 
Good luck! I know my donkey who was orphaned at birth would definately object to doing lead rein lol.
Max is adorable he loves a cuddle and groom then goes and rolls in the sand he plays for hours with my section A girlies and is easy to look after.
As long as he's got the shade of a tree in the summer, a rug on in the winter with a field shelter and a cosy bed of a night time he's happy.
I know the donkey sanctuary recommend that the live with another donkey but thats not always possible.
You will fall in love forever with a donkey thats for sure.
 
lily1 said:
Good luck! I know my donkey who was orphaned at birth would definately object to doing lead rein lol.
Max is adorable he loves a cuddle and groom then goes and rolls in the sand he plays for hours with my section A girlies and is easy to look after.
As long as he's got the shade of a tree in the summer, a rug on in the winter with a field shelter and a cosy bed of a night time he's happy.
I know the donkey sanctuary recommend that the live with another donkey but thats not always possible.
You will fall in love forever with a donkey thats for sure.
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I would really like a donkey as a pet as well as for my daughter.

But im starting to think getting a small a pony would be easier!!
 
I had a show donkey when I was little and his was fantastic.

He used to live with the horses and was simply great! he shared the field without issue and has his own stable which was in the field so doubled as a shed, he loved having a shed in the summer so I would def say thats an essential. He also had an indoor and outdoor rug for winter as he was spoilt! I blooming loved that donkey and still do, he was amazing. Some of my best memories of being little are down to him. We used to go to shows - there was ridden classes too and the people are so friendly, its a different world to show horses/ponies and one I think is fantastic esp when you are a kid.

I think getting two would be a good idea as our boy loved seeing other donks at shows, but I know of alot of donks who live wit horses and are happy chaps too.
 
Have I just imagined this or are some horses scared of donkeys??!!

(should I go and hang my head in shame right now for writing this??!!)
 
Wow, won't the Donkey Sanctuary let the donks live with horses - oh dear. Thats the main job of my donks, to keep my horses calm and settled and amused, and they are very good at it.

Can see it might be because they need different sorts of forage, but worms, no. According to my vet, that old wives tale is because people used never to worm the donkeys - and then wonder why they had them if kept on a busy yard!! This vet practice has over 100 donks on their books and the practice has never had a case of lungworm in donkeys!!
 
ncarter, yes! they can be scared. But, as with pretty much anything else will generally get used to them just fine given time.
 
They definately can be scared when I bought Max home Rocky my 17hh warmbloods eyes nearly popped out of his head! he was petrified at first then after a week of being in the next field they became the best of friends.
Donks do smell different to horses but what actually makes them scared I dont know. When we take our ponies to Suffolk show they go mad when they see other donks they think lots of Max's are there, but you should see the horses that have never come across one before they are def scared!
I wouldnt be without one.
 
ncarter said:
Have I just imagined this or are some horses scared of donkeys??!!

(should I go and hang my head in shame right now for writing this??!!)
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Obviously not :D

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;)
 
The donkey sanctuary are far too picky in loan homes and want your other equines making over to them too in case the donkeys become bonded. They will only let them out in pairs and ask for far more than a donkey needs to be happy.
However there are other rescues that are far more realistic, think Blue Cross, World horse welfare, Redwings ect.
Donkeys are fantastic and ideal starter animals.
 
The Blue Cross also have the most adorable little lead rein pony on their website at the moment - almost (almost but not quite!) makes me broody just so I can have the pony! WHW have a couple of sweet looking ones too:) No donkeys, unfortunately! But they are cute little ponies:)
 
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