Are donkeys...
Stubborn? Can be, but it's often a matter of mishandling and trying to push, not dissimilar from a native pony
Stupid? No, far from it, they're pretty clever and occasionally wily
Comical? No but they have a sense of humour and play people up on occasion
Over-sexed? I wouldn't say so, but any ungelded male is like any other ungelded male, so not sure what "over" implies
Lustful? Ditto above
‘Well-hung’? Hadn't really thought about it but then I have had breeding stallions for a long time and haven't been a donkey carer since my teens in terms of regular work, just occasional since, like the local farm nativity etc
Humble? I don't see donkeys as having all these human characteristics, it's anthropomorphic and pointless, donkeys are straightforward, not pretentious if that counts, but nor are most animals proud or humble, they're just being what they are..
‘Christ-like’? Ditto above, it's Jesus rode the donkey not Jesus was a donkey for goodness sake!
Stoic? Pretty much like any native they get on with things as best they can if they can work out what you want, and some will suffer fools more gladly than others but in many situations they don't have any other experience of life so yes probably
Hard-working? Ditto. the ones I cared for were mostly pets and paddock keepers, they did a good job of that!
Tough? Yes, resilient and survivors, but there again it's an animal thing generally
Inferior to horses? Nope, different species and a pointless comparison, like is a zebra inferior cos you can't tame or ride one usually? No but as a zebra, or donkey, it is what it is.
Loving? Can be in the right hands, the 4 I had charge of were except one that was primarily cheeky but he wasn't bad in any way, just not a cuddly boy in his teenage thug phase like a young pony or young anything I guess
I would say third world donkeys are used because they work for the job asked of them and are cheap and plentiful in those areas. In the UK most are seen as pets and/or companions to other equines, rather than having a job to do. A few are driven or ridden by kids or do the odd nativity show, but they aren't working animals here in the same way. A bit lusher grass and the third world carrier might look at horses or oxen, a lot less and they'd need a camel, it's suitability and ease of availability, keep, experience that counts, hence traditions in cultures arise.
Here other than being a nondemanding companion or pet donkeys get looked down on by some horseowners not as inferior but as unrideable in the leisure market horses fill (adults, competition) and thus unsuitable. Also as carriers of lungworm that can transmit to horses but aren't prevalent without donkey presence, they can be seen as too dangerous a companion to risk when a cheap pony is readily available, or a free one, and has greater comparative needs to the equine they already have, tho not the same as some appear to think
Personal views, as I said, I cared for 4 donkeys when I was an early teenager, have occasional experience since but nothing recent or current. I like donkeys but don't have a job for them here so don't keep them.
Topic: Has anyone kept Donkeys? (Read 9686 times)
