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We ventured into the world of miniature donkeys in the summer of 2007, bringing two jennets home from different sides of the state in the same week. To those who know little about donkeys, they are very loving, affectionate creatures, but they can also be quite opinionated and demanding. If a farm has a donkey, people usually know about it! Our donkeys are quite vocal, and quite loud! If you're late with their meal, they let you know about it, that's for sure! But they also provide a lot of love...and sometimes a lot of entertainment as well (thanks, Gracey!) So now time to meet our donkeys! As of September 1st, 2008, we now have three donkeys, as our Kochia had a baby. Donkeys are cute as it is. But the babies are well beyond cute! Say hello to our longears!
Here's Gracey! She's too cute for words, and full of personality! Mind you some of that can be naughty personality...I was warned of this prior to purchasing her that she can keep life interesting, and she does! Gracey foaled in April, 2001, and registered with ADMS. She is about 34" tall, and a chocolate/brown. Gracey also drives, and we have taken her out, she's SO CUTE and just great in front of a cart! I love driving her as there's just something so incredibly cute about looking between her donkey ears and watching her little donkey butt! She enjoys her job, does everything that is asked of her (once she's hitched, that is), and doesn't care about anything! But Gracey does keep life interesting. Let's just leave it at that! But I love her!
Here is Kochia. She was born July, 1993, and is just the sweetest, kind, most gentle and loving girl. When we're out there, she prefers to be around us than to eat, or do whatever else a donkey will do. She is attached to my hip! I have learned that Kochia is a mom to several mini donkey foals, and I'll bet she was a good one! She is so quiet and gentle, I would trust her with anything. She's so laid back, she's had a couple of fun outings, when my son was in kindergarten, I took Kochia and one of our pygmy goats to his elementary school, where they met with all of the kindergarten classes. Then, in 2011, she was the donkey for the "Donkey Walk" on Palm Sunday for a local church, where she received a lot of attention. Kochia is also registered with the ADMS, she is 36" tall and is a grey-dun. Kochia was exposed to a 32" brown ADMS jack, Kreier Kountry Sully, for a late summer, 2008 foal. Update: Kochia gave birth to a little girl on September 1st, 2008.
Kochia's ultrasound at
60 days
Here she is! Meet Katie. She was born on Labor Day, September 1st, 2008 at 3:45am. She was 24" at birth and is as sweet and loving as can be. Little Katie could not have come at a better time. Our family was going through a very devastating time, as my Aunt Kathy had died very unexpectedly and tragically the day before our Katie was born. My Aunt's friends all called her Katie. I stood in the barn that morning at 3:45, watching Katie be born, sleep deprived from being at the hospital the night before, and not sleeping well after returning home, and watched the very uneventful birth. I didn't need to lift a finger, yet I had been up for a couple of hours before her birth watching momma donkey on the barn camera, who was showing obvious signs that the foal would be coming anytime. I went in to check the sex of the foal, a girl! As I was standing there watching the little jennet take her first steps....the name hit me, as if whispered into my ear, Katie, after my aunt! Kathy, after all, had been looking forward to seeing this baby. It was a textbook birth, and little Katie was up and taking her first steps in 15 minutes, and trying to buck shortly thereafter! Katie just loves people, and loves to be loved on. Enjoy the photos! I'm sure my Aunt is in Heaven somewhere laughing about having an ass named after her.... (Click on photos for a larger view!)
THE DONKEY’S CROSS
“Bring me the colt of a donkey” was the Mary Singer
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