Miniature Donkeys:
Small Package, Big Personality
These
pint sized donkeys will steal your heart.
By Barbara
Nefer
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| When
I arrived at Dinkie Donkies, the herd was scattered all around
the pasture. Within moments, the cute little Miniature Donkeys
had surrounded me, lipping and snuffling and bumping my hands
in a not-so-subtle quest for petting and scratching. Even though
I knew they were equines, for a moment I almost believed I was
in midst of a group of loving but long-eared dogs. Dinkie
Donkies
When you meet your first Miniature Donkey, you're likely to
get the same enthusiastic greeting. Dan and Carol Greenfield,
the owners of Dinkie Donkies in Webster, Florida, say that
these animals have a huge capacity for affection that belies
their modest size. |
Dan
and Carol Greenfield welcome visitors at Dinkie Donkies. They
are located at 12679 SE 50th Street in Webster, Florida. Give
them a call at 352-603-3878 or visit them online at www.dinkie-donkies.com.
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“Donkeys
can relate to love. They understand emotion and, unlike a horse,
they will love you in the same way a dog does,” says Carol.
Dan adds, “They each have their own distinct personality
and will love you in their own special way.”
Dan and Carol have been raising Miniature Donkeys for the past
four years on their 22 acre Sumter County spread.
“It's been a total change of lifestyle for us,”
says Carol.
As Dan tells the story, “I used to be the deputy city
manager in Palm Bay, and one day a man named Robert Clark called
me about a problem with his road. He raises Miniature Donkeys,
and I took my wife out to see them.”
With that fateful visit, a new passion was sparked for the Greenfields.
According to Dan, “We were both won over, and we bought
our very first Miniature Donkey sight unseen.”
The Greenfields were about to discover what so many Miniature
Donkey owners already know: the cute little critters are highly
addictive.
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Soon
they had purchased a new spread and their herd was expanding.
Currently they have 23 Miniature Donkeys and a thriving business.
Their farm, Dinkie Donkies, offers sales, stud service, and
guidance and information for owners.
Their Jack, Merle Haggard Jr., is known for his excellent bloodlines,
but he's also gained a different kind of fame. There is a banner
on the front fence proclaiming “Home of Sire Merle Haggard
Jr.”
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Passersby
sometimes miss the word “sire” and stop in hoping
to meet the country music legend and get his autograph.
“There was one lady we just couldn't convince,”
laughs Dan, “even though I kept telling her that Merle
Haggard didn't live here. She kept asking if he was away in
Nashville and said that she was going to come back with her
friends.”
Dan and Carol also have three full-sized mules, which they lovingly
describe as “lawn ornaments.” Two were given to
them by a woman with cancer who later passed away, and one was
a rescue from a distress sale. “Now they're with us for
life,” says Dan.
Mediterranean
Roots |
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Miniature
Donkeys have a long history, and the pampered pets at Dinkie
Donkies lead a much different life than their ancestors. Their
roots lie several thousand miles from Florida, all the way
across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily
and Sardinia. Because of this, they are sometimes known as
Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys or Sardinian Donkeys.
Life in their native land was rough, as they earned their
keep by hauling supplies and water into the mountains or walking
endless circles to turn a grain grinding stone.
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Dan
Greenfield enjoys a moment with Merle Haggard Jr. his miniature
jack. |
In
the 1920s, New York stockbroker Robert Green was the first person
to bring them into the United States. Their importation continued
until the 1960s.
Green said of the little animals, "They possess the affectionate
nature of a Newfoundland, the resignation of a cow, the durability
of a mule, the courage of a tiger, and an intellectual capability
only slightly inferior to man's."
The Greenfields strongly agree with this assessment, especially
the Miniature Donkeys' intelligence. |
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“Unlike
horses, they can think through a situation instead of just
spooking or fleeing,” says Carol. “They go through
a multi-step reasoning process to figure things out.”
The original donkeys imported from the islands were between
32 and 38 inches in height, with most of the first herd measuring
35 to 37 inches.
Today's Miniature Donkey is generally between 31 and 35 inches
tall, and confirmation should equal that of a well-built full
sized donkey.
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This
herd at Green-field Farm displays an array of coat colors.
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While
some breeders strive for the tiniest animal possible, Don
believes that it's safest to aim for 31 to 32 inches. “With
anything smaller, you run the risk of breeding complications,”
he says.
In
Your Own Backyard
Although
estimates vary, there are likely about 50,000 Miniature Donkeys
in the United States today. Unlike their hardworking forebears,
they are usually purchased as pets since their affectionate
nature makes them ideal companions for children.
Some do become workers, pulling carts or acting as guardians
for other herd animals. Their bravery and protectiveness makes
them effective guards against coyotes. The highest quality
donkeys often have a successful career on the show circuit.
As Dan describes it, “They do everything that horses
do in a show, but they do it on a lead rope. They walk, trot
and canter, and they're also judged on color and confirmation.” |
All of the Greenfield's donkeys are registered with either
the International Miniature Donkey Registry Inc. or the Miniature
Donkey Registry, and they encourage buyers to register their
babies. This preserves records of the donkeys' bloodlines
and also makes them eligible to show.
Miniature Donkeys are enjoying a wave of popularity in the
Sunshine State. Recently the Greenfields joined up with other
local breeders and enthusiasts to launch the Miniature Donkey
Association of Florida. |
A
young donkey rests peacefully in the sun. |
“We're
having our second meeting on January 12,” Dan says
proudly. “We've got a professional judge coming out
to educate people on what to look for when buying a Miniature
Donkey.”
The pasture at Dinkie Donkies is dotted with a veritable
rainbow of color. While gray-dun is the most common, Miniature
Donkeys run the gamut from black to white with a wide range
of brown and sorrel/chestnut hues in between. They can also
have roan or paint coloration, and most of the donkeys have
a “cross” that runs down their back and across
their shoulders.
According to Dan and Carol, red is currently the hottest
color. “The demand changes, almost like a fad,”
they explain. “Not too long ago, everyone wanted black.
Now it's suddenly sorrel.”
The rare and most popular colors command a premium price,
and jennies (females) tend to be more popular and cost more
than jacks (males).
In Central Florida, the price range varies from $600 to
$1200 for a jack and $1800 and up for a jenny, depending
on her confirmation and whether she has been bred. Successful
show ring competitors and studs can cost as much as $5000
to $6000.
“Most people want a jenny because they have such good
temperaments,” says Dan. “Jacks are like little
stallions, and they can be a handful. We encourage our buyers
to geld the jacks, and we give them a discount when they
bring us proof that it's been done.”
Even though they are much smaller than standard donkeys
and horses, the Greenfields recommend at least an acre and
a half for housing two Miniature Donkeys. “Because
they are herd animals, we recommend getting a pair,”
says Dan. “If you don't have a barn, they should at
least have a three sided shelter so they can go inside at
night.”
At Dinkie Donkies, the animals have cushy quarters in 12'
x 12' stalls. They spend their days grazing on spacious
pastures, but as evening rolls around they show just how
loud such a small animal can bray as they come to the barn
and demand their dinner.
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While
it's easy to be won over by such cute and affectionate creatures,
prospective owners should realize that buying a Miniature
Donkey means taking on a long term commitment. With proper
care and nutrition, these hardy creatures can live into their
30s and beyond.
“They need their shots twice a year, just like a horse,”
Dan says, “and they also require regular hoof trimming.
They can founder or colic like a horse, but it doesn't happen
often. They are amazingly healthy animals.”
The Greenfields try to give their herd as much attention as
possible, but with almost two dozen donkeys and only 24 hours
in a day it can be a challenge. When they get new donkeys
that might not be as well socialized as their herd, they put
a special focus on the newcomers. Because they have such a
social nature, even the shyest Miniature Donkeys tend to become
attention hounds very quickly. |
GOOD
EATS! |
All
of the hooved residents at Dinkie Donkies dine exclusively
on Seminole Feeds. The Greenfields like the fact that
Seminole makes a product to accommodate any need. The
Miniature Donkeys eat a blend of Seminole Leisure and
Wellness Calm & Cool. Two of the three mules eat
Wellness Calm & |
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Cool,
but the third has trouble gaining weight so Seminole
Senior Formula helps her stay in good condition. “We
love being able to customize their diets,” Dan
says. |
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Over the past four years, the Greenfields have rarely regretted
their decision to start Dinkie Donkies.
“I only have regrets when it's time to clean the stalls!”
jokes Carol.
Dan adds, “It's always hard to let them go when we sell
them. You can't help but get attached to them.”
But as hard as it is to let them go, Dan and Carol can always
take heart in the fact that by selling their babies, they
are spreading the joy of Miniature Donkeys for more and more
people to share.
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Barb
Nefer is a freelance writer in Celebration, Florida.
In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Appaloosa,
Figment, and racking up hours in the ApHC Saddle Log
Program. |
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