[hunterrider33]

I have a 15 year old whose recovering from a hind suspensory injury. The vet says the most important thing for him is to be turned out, however he refuses to be out for more then 2 hours. We ace him to put him out so he doesnt run but once the drugs wear off and hes "done" with being outside he takes off running like an idiot! Which as you all know for a horse recovering from a suspensory injury, this is no good!

Soo we are been throwing around the idea of getting him a donkey to go out with. He wont go out with horses or we would try that. Has anyone had experience with getting their horse a donkey companion? Has it worked with helping them stay calm outside? I dont want to get one and have him kill it either, im not 100% sure what he will do. Let me know your experience with this or if you have any ideas on how to get him to want to be turned out longer then 2 hours

[caryledee1]

I think it is going to depend a lot on your horse! My 28 year old TB is now out with just a donkey for companionship. He tolerates her, but has never really warmed up to her. He had a mare friend, but she died last spring. He doesn't try to hurt the donkey or anything, but basically just ignores her.

Can you get a donkey on a trial basis and see how it goes? Like from the humane society? Is there a reason you want a donkey rather than a pony?

[FatCatFarm]

We have a spotted miniature donkey named Vidalia and she is wonderful. We first got her to keep an only pony gelding company but then she graduated to keeping my rather aggressive gelding company by default. He needed to be separated from the pasture companions he was abusing and she refused to be caught to leave the paddock he was going into. The end result is an odd couple pairing that is extremely cute - BIG loud leopard Appaloosa gelding and teeny gray spotted mini donk jenny. She is extremely good at staying out of his way when he takes the odd swing at her over a territorial moment about his food. She is cheap to keep but does require routine hoof care and worming. I feed her only small handfuls of grain and have to be careful she doesn't get too fat. She is very cuddly. My 7 year old daughter adores her. Vidalia is very cute mushing on the cats too. She likes to menace the dogs at times, but then can be caught mushing on one here and there too.

I think they make great companions for only horses. The standard size can be picked up very cheaply; the minis start at about $200.

[nextyear]

We also "rented" a donkey to rehab a suspensory injury, horse was a 17.2H 4 yr old and was brutel to other horses so lived alone. Started out with them in 2 small paddocks that the donkey could go to either side but horse could only stay in 1 then turned them out in a larger paddock that had a small (10X10) enclosure that the donkey could get into but again the horse could not so when he had enough of his friend he could go get a time-out. They ended up being the very best of friends and the donkey would put his front feet up on the horses chest and they would place face.
Horse rehabbed went back to work and was sold, we ended up keeping donkey who was a wonderful babysitter for our weanlings and is now retired (he is about 29yrs old) out in a large pasture with a few horses that do not bother him like the baby's were starting to.
Pony's in my experience can get the horses running just like another horse and can do damage kicking if the horse is a pain like the one we had rehabbing.

[GotMyPony]

I have a standard donkey as companion for my gelding. My donkey was said to be 7 yo when I got him about 2 years ago but he was a CL find so who really knows... My boys get along really well but I'll give you one caveat: don't assume that all donkeys just want to stand around and relax. My donkey is often the one who is trying to get the horse to go for a gallop and man, that little guy can tear it up! So while you're looking and talking to sellers, you might want to ask about how often theirs like(s) to go for a good run! Or possibly just look at older donks...

[Tutt]

I've had a lady donkey for 10 years. Bought her at 2, she has baby sat a half dozen TB geldings, all beautifully. All the horses like her, and the rescue I have now is very attached to her. She knows he has to see her so she always comes out in the field when I ride. Your boy might prefer a lady donkey.

[TheJenners]

My question is why won't he go out with horses? Is he mean, a bully, or what?

If he is that way with a horse, he may or may not abuse a donkey. Buuuuuut, donkeys are very good at taking abuse and most have NO qualms about sticking up for themselves. If your horse is a jerk, I'd recommend a jack or gelded jack.

I got a mini donk for my WB who was obnoxious, not bad, but constantly trying to harass the other horses over the fences, etc etc; basically just wanted a friend. I wanted a gelded jack who was youngish, so he'd play, not be too cranky, etc. I got an intact (soon remedied) TINY mini, only 31'' tall, and they are besties. The donk is a tough little creepazoid, takes knocks and gives them back twice as hard, but he's friendly with people and totally adorable. My WB is off at the trainer's and there was some paddock shuffling, and the donk got put in with another gelding who has always been a bastard at feeding time (the BO used to have go in with a dressage whip when he first arrived). Yeah. Donkdonk nipped that in the bud!!

Other cute pics of Odie:
Besties
Yes, a very real issue with donkeys, thankfully Odie just holds it every now on then, no actual nomming.
Odie trying to instigate playing, bestie was tired and having none of it.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...01581650_n.jpg
Donks are fun to snuggle with (and DH has a sneaking affection for him).

[purplnurpl]

we always have a medium sized donkey on the property.

The horses LOVE him. In fact, they usually fight over him.

[Hawleyite]

I have two donks to keep my horse company, a standard and a mini. They work beautifully!! I had to get a second donkey to keep the first one company when I rode because he didn't like to be alone himself!! Very low key companions, very snuggly they compete to get the most scritches and dogs will definitely will not chase your horse!! They do know that our dogs are off limits though. They do have different energy levels so check out when considering and be careful not to over feed. They will always make you laugh!!! Be careful they are contagious!!

[hunterrider33]

Great to hear everyone's success stories! Does anyone know where I should begin looking for one? We're going to talk with our vet and some people in the are, but when I google searched it doesn't look like there are any rescues in my area, only breeders, and id prefer an older already gelded and been around horses. I'm in Georgia btw
Thanks again!

[Ozalynda]

I had a couple of donkeys over the summer. The plan was for them to go with the sheep, but it quickly became clear that they would not be able to tolerate the lush sheep pasture without becoming obese or in the worst case foundering.

My one broodmare was completely utterly terrified of the donkeys. The rest of the horses more or less ignored them.

Donkeys have evolved to survive on very sparse pasture. They are grazers and browsers. They can quickly become overweight on a nice horse pasture.

That was the downside. The upside is that I have never met a sweeter, gentler animal. They exude kindness and peacefulness.

[bathsheba8542]

Everyone who visits wants to go to the barn and see the horses...what they end up doing is spending all their time petting our donkey! We ADORE her and so does every horse in the barn. She's a turn out companion for my young TB, and he loves her. She is quiet, well-mannered, and puts him in his place when he's rude.

Check the rescues in your area. We found ours through Camelot, and we are so happy we found her and gave her a new life. She DESERVES it.

[Hawleyite]

Agree with checking the rescues. There are many out there waiting for new homes!

[Appsolute]

There are two mini donks at my barn. At night they live in a paddock with two other horses, durning the day they are turned out with the whole herd (10 horses in all).

First I LOVE the mini donks – oh their personalities are amazing, they are funny, cute and affectionate. They love handling and attention – I love love the donks.

That said – These two at least like to RUN! They will go out with the herd and gallop around bucking. Sometimes just the two of them will tear off galloping about (usually after a good wrestling match, they play rough!).

They get along well with the other horses. They are on the bottom rung, and know who they can hang out with, and who to avoid. Some of the horses ARE aggressive towards the cute little donks – so, not a companion for all horses.

My main concern would be that the donk wouldn’t keep your rehabber quiet – but join in on the galloping around!

[Appsolute]

Donkeys have evolved to survive on very sparse pasture. They are grazers and browsers. They can quickly become overweight on a nice horse pasture.

Oh, and I agree on BOTH of these points. The donks at our barn do well on the crispy fried California "pasture" we have. Being bottom of the totem pole, they get the scraps of dinner from their paddock mates - that alone keeps them borderline fat.

The upside is that I have never met a sweeter, gentler animal. They exude kindness and peacefulness.

This is very true - I am a life long "animal person" but had never known any donkeys before last year. I am smitten - seriously my favorite creatures.

[nextyear]

Great to hear everyone's success stories! Does anyone know where I should begin looking for one? We're going to talk with our vet and some people in the are, but when I google searched it doesn't look like there are any rescues in my area, only breeders, and id prefer an older already gelded and been around horses. I'm in Georgia btw
Thanks again!

We lucked out, looked at a lot of ads and could not find any for under $1000.00, happened to be talking to a hay supplier and told them we were looking and suggested we go talk to a woman that had a whole farm of anything and everything that she rescued, she was more than happy to let us have him on loan, but when she came and saw where he was going to live, gave him to us. He is still intact and I have never had a issue with him with any horse, we have had him for 10 years now! Talk to the breeders and everyone at hay-grain supply to tack stores.

[FatCatFarm]

Got mine off of Craigslist.

[SMF11]

I got mine when I offhandedly remarked to a friend "Oh, I've always wanted a donkey".

Two weeks later a total stranger called me and said "I hear you want a donkey" (and she had one that needed rescuing).

[TheJenners]

I got mine from cold calling breeders.