STUBBORN? NOT REALLY
In popular culture the notion that donkeys and their like are stubborn persists. But they really are just misunderstood. In fact, what is commonly perceived as stubbornness (hence the term “mule-headed”) is actually a good quality: Donkeys prefer to think things over before reacting. When faced with something new or frightening, a horse will follow his ancient instinct to flee. A donkey is more likely to stop in his tracks and refuse to budge until he has assessed the situation. “For this, they’ve got a reputation for being dumb and stubborn, but they’re just thinking about things,” Purdy says. “I’m not saying they won’t run, but their first reaction is to stand still. People want to hurry them, but you have to give them time to look at things. You’ve got to be patient. There’s no way to hurry a donkey.”
On the plus side, the donkey’s stoic nature makes him an excellent therapy animal, Purdy says. “A donkey will stand there all day to be petted or groomed. In that, they’re like Golden Retrievers. They really are quite affectionate.”
They’re also extraordinarily playful. Donkeys play rough, much like dogs do. They will rear up, bite each other’s necks, and chase each other around a paddock or pasture, in behavior that looks aggressive but is amazingly gentle and rarely results in serious injury. Even Odie and Rory, the Mini and Irish Sport Horse, roughhouse together. “They play really rough, and it used to worry me a little bit, but no one has ever gotten hurt,” Gravel
says. “Donkeys are great companions for playful horses. They will play with anything---balls, traffic cones, sweatshirts.”
In addition to serving as a companion for your horse, donkeys provide another valuable service: They are terrific guard animals that can deter predators like foxes or coyotes from approaching your hens, barn cats or other farm animals. This instinct comes from their natural dislike of canines.
If there’s a drawback to getting a donkey for your horse, it may be that you might soon have two donkeys. “We do adopt out donkeys as horse companions, but I encourage people to take two donkeys,” says Firestone. “They will bond with a horse, but they’re so much happier when they have another donkey. Once the donkey is bonded, and then you take the horse out, the donkey will have a meltdown. They’re herd animals, too,” she said.
And be aware that donkey fever may be hard to shake. Moore got her first donkey as a companion for her reining horse; over time, she decided that horses were too expensive, and all she wanted was donkeys. “I got rid of all my horses and got a Mammoth Donkey who satisfies my need to ride,” she says. “But a horse and a donkey---they make a wonderful couple.”