Where to keep a mini donkey?

F

FREEMAN

New User
Joined
21 December 2024
Messages
4
Visit site
I’ve been thinking about getting a miniature donkey for a while now and I’m wondering if livery yards allow them? I’ve never really heard of yards having donkeys and most donkey owners tend to have them on their own property. We are in Leicestershire. Thank you
 
Donkeys don’t cope well on their own, even with horse company, they generally require donkey company and they pair up for life. Many livery yards won’t accept them so make sure you have somewhere secured before you take on your pair, or see if you can rent some land. They are usually very good doers and very good escape artists, just to want you!
 
TheMule said:
Donkeys don’t cope well on their own, even with horse company, they generally require donkey company and they pair up for life. Many livery yards won’t accept them so make sure you have somewhere secured before you take on your pair, or see if you can rent some land. They are usually very good doers and very good escape artists, just to want you!
Click to expand...
Our plan is to get a pair if we can find a livery yard or just one if they have a donkey already there. I’ve seen some livery yards do it but was just unsure if it’s a common thing
 
Two minis can share a stable on a yard. Some yards are snotty about donkeys, believing that the horses will catch lungworm (they shouldn't if the donkeys have ever been wormed with ivermectin) and that horses are scared of them. The latter is usually a lack of training issue with the horses.

If you get donkeys treat them as if they are laminitics, even if they are on the thin side and never had laminitis.
 
I don’t know much about them apart from a couple of trips to a nearby donkey sanctuary (they are incredibly sweet) - I believe they don’t do well on muddy ground and are better in hard standing through winter. This might affect your choice of yard and I’m not sure most livery set ups for horses will be suitable. Maybe see if you have a similar sanctuary nearby where you can see how they are kept and ask advice. It’s lovely to see them there in groups but of course there are issues even if you get a pair - e.g. if you were to lose one.
 
You need hardstanding so you can control their grazing. We feed good quality straw. Their coats arent waterproof and they hate the winter weather. We have a donkey barn they go into whenever they want, on their hardstanding. They also need companionship and are very intelligent. They love to play.

Ours also have access to a sand school where they love to roll and scratching brushes. We don't have miniatures. They go out on the grass, which is a track system, for only a few hours and are walked every morning to keep them exercised.
 
Last edited:
Another huge thing to factor in is that donkeys can live for 40 years or more…. Where are you going to be in 40 years?

I have 2 I have now had for 25 years …. My life aims are now very different but there is zero chance of downsizing …. not many places want 2 loudly braying (it is very noisy) donkeys actually living near them!
 
canteron said:
Another huge thing to factor in is that donkeys can live for 40 years or more…. Where are you going to be in 40 years?

I have 2 I have now had for 25 years …. My life aims are now very different but there is zero chance of downsizing …. not many places want 2 loudly braying (it is very noisy) donkeys actually living near them!
Click to expand...
When we had to downsize because of my late husband’s cancer, I still had my two donkeys, I researched several places and found the incredible sanctuary/rescue called Farmersfield Rescue for Elderly Donkeys aka FRED in Dumfries….They took them for me for which I will be forever grateful…..
One was elderly the other middle aged…
 
FREEMAN said:
Our plan is to get a pair if we can find a livery yard or just one if they have a donkey already there. I’ve seen some livery yards do it but was just unsure if it’s a common thing
Click to expand...
You will absolutely have to buy two, regardless of if where you keep it already have one.
 
It's also worth pointing out that a livery yard set up for horses may not be suitable for donkeys even if they would accept them; their forage needs are very different (most modern grazing is too rich for horses and donkeys are thriftier by far than even the most rotund native pony) and they need donkey savvy vets and Farriers, plus would require lungworm testing before being kept with or near horses. A lot of horses are also scared of them, at least at first.
Really you need your own land/sole use. They are not just horses with longer ears.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top