FACTS ABOUT MINIATURE DONKEYS

They originated in the Islands of Sicily and Sardinia near the Mediterranean Sea.  The first donkeys were imported to the United States in 1929.

The first farm in the United States to actually breed and raise miniature donkeys was the Danby Farm in Omaha, Nebraska.

The miniature donkey is a wonderfully gentile and intelligent animal.  They are very social and easy to train.  The miniature donkey is extremely versatile.  From pet or companion to diligent competitor, they continue to excel.  They can gracefully tippy toe around a group of handicapped individuals or small children and then enter a show ring to conquer an in hand trail course. 

Donkey Terms to be Familiar With

Jack-   A Male Donkey

Jennet-  A Female Donkey

Foal-  A Baby Donkey

Gelding-  A Castrated or Neutered Male Donkey

Sire-  Father of a Particular Donkey

Dam-  Mother of a Particular Donkey

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Miniature donkeys average height is from 28 to 34 inches at the withers (or shoulders).  They must not exceed 36 inches to be registered.

They normally weigh about 300 pounds as an adult.

Coat Colors:

The original donkeys coat color was predominately gray.  Now the coat colors are found in a wide range.  Shades to grays, browns, blacks, sorrels, and white are just a few.  They can also have a variety of combinations of these colors in spotted patterns.  The solid colors usually have a contrast of lighter coloring on the muzzle, belly and around the eyes.  If an animal does not have the light coloring around the muzzle and eyes, it is said to have "No Light Points" or NLP.

Donkeys have a form of a cross pattern over their backs.  This darker line runs down their backs and across their shoulders.  This marking is known as the Donkey's Cross.  This cross marking is found on all donkeys in some form, except for the True Black coats.  And whose to say, it could actually be there and is just not visible because of the dark color.   It can be seen as a "broken line" on the spotted donkeys and is obviously much more visible on the lighter coat colors.

Size: up to 36" tall

 There are probably about 10,000 of these donkeys in the United States today but there is not an accurate account of them because they are not all registered. A registry was established in 1958 by Danby Farm in Nebraska and is now a part of the American Donkey and Mule Society in Denton, Texas. Approximately 15,000 of these donkeys have been registered since the inception of the registry but many more exist in unregistered herds. The breed is defined by size. The adult miniature donkey must not be more than 36 inches tall when mature, measured from the highest point of the withers to the ground.

 Characteristics

 The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey is by nature one of the friendliest and most affectionate animals of its type. They are very tame and gentle. They are also easier to manage in everyday life than some donkeys simply because they are smaller. They love their owners and seek attention. They do this with friendly nudges and brays and funny little sounds designed to get you to pay attention to them. The miniature donkey is extremely intelligent and docile and is easily trained. Geldings or jennets make the best pets. Jacks enjoy braying and may become excited in the presence of the females.

 The size of these donkeys varies from 26 inches, which is considered extraordinarily small, to 36 inches at the withers. An average height would be about 33-34 inches. In general the smaller the donkey the more valuable it is accounted to be. Other things that make a donkey valuable are good body and leg conformation and one of the more unusual colors such as spotted, white, sorrel, "chocolate" (dark brown) or black. Gray-dun, the various shades of gray with the dorsal stripe and cross is the most common color of these donkeys.

 Conformation of the animals is supposed to be that of a small, compact, well rounded animal standing on four straight strong legs with all parts in symmetry and balance. The average donkey will weigh from 250 to 450 pounds with most animals being in the lower weight ranges. The hair ranges from flat to curly to long and shaggy and in texture from smooth to wiry. The hair coat is shed out much later in the summer than that of the horse and serves to protect the donkey from the weather and the flies. Almost all of these donkeys will have a "cross". The cross is a dorsal stripe of darker hair down the length of the back crossed by a shoulder stripe across the top of the body at the withers and showing down the shoulders. Most of the donkeys will have darker markings on the ears, the tip of the tail and around the feet. Some have "Garters" or stripes ringing the legs as well. A few of the donkeys have "collar button" markings, which are dots of black hair on the neck just below the place where the head joins the neck. The registry calls a donkey the color of the body and assumes a lighter colored nose, belly and inside of the legs. If the animal has a dark nose and/or belly that is noted on the registration certificate. A dark nose is called "dark muzzle" and if no parts of the body show the light "points" the donkey is said to have "no light points". The dark points are found in all donkeys but are not too common, the light points being the norm.

 Life expectancy for well cared for miniature donkeys is around 30-35 years so they are truly a lifetime pet.