Man's Best Pack Animal – The Lovable Donkey

Sore shoulders, aching backs and stiff knees leave indelible memories for wilderness travelers approaching their fifties.Young couples with children hang their backpacks up in the garage, while others hide them in long forgotten places. One solution to answer the call of the wild is to replace backpacks with panniers. Relegated to the status of a breeding animal for mule owners, the noble donkey, once the esteemed animal of choice among ancient Egyptians, is slowly making a comeback both as a riding animal and a pack animal.The lovable donkey is the perfect working pet for families with only one to two acres of pasture.

While both children and retired couples may easily hike most mountain trails, the obvious problem of carrying supplies, tent, cooking gear and the kitchen sink prove daunting. Much attention has been given to llamas and goats as pack animals.While these exotics capture the imagination of many, the most loving, dependable and sure-footed equine, the donkey, quietly stays the course, as the world's most trusted and lovable pack animal.A pet pack donkey is easily trained, and yearly feeding and health costs are less than the cost of cable television.Best of all, a donkey offers therapeutic love for anyone willing to reach out a hand and scratch a pair of long ears. 

For years I had been a summer fly fishing guide and a high school teacher. My primary exercise regimen consisted of rowing during the summer and walking from desk-to-desk the rest of the year.In short, I reached my 50's woefully out of shape.As the author of a Montana fishing guide, I made the decision that it would be nearly impossible for me to cover all the backcountry trails carrying 60 pounds on my back.My last back packing trip a few years ago had been exhausting.Nearing the trailhead I looked up to see a middle-aged man leaning on his saddle sizing me up. The practice for trail right-of-way is for the hiker to give the right-of-way to riders and stock animals. What a spectacle I must have presented for this muleskinner to pull off the trail for me.

"You looked awfully tired, " the mule-man said sympathetically.

"I'm more than tired," I replied, shifting my pack for some momentary relief.

"You need one of these fine mules," the man continued.

Surveying his matched pair of mules, I laughed and said, "I don't think my two-acre spread would accommodate even one mule."

"In that case, what you need is a burro.One acre is all you need.Well, you're only a mile from the trailhead.Have a good one."

"A mile! I still have a mile to go. Are you sure?"

The man re-adjusted his cowboy hat, smiled, and headed up the trail. Looking at his pack mule, I rolled my shoulders and shifted my pack. I couldn't help but wonder on all the creature comforts tucked away under those diamond hitches. Last fall one of my ninth grade English students, Amanda Jennings, wrote an essay on training donkeys.Her expertise on donkey training convinced me that a rank beginner, a greenhorn like myself, could train a pack donkey.With Amanda serving as my mentor, I bought my first donkey and named him Buddy, my new fishing buddy.

Wherever mule breeders and mule lovers gather, donkey breeders and donkey lovers will be there as well.For a newcomer, the best source of information is to join in the fun of a mule and donkey show.You won't find a friendlier group of people, nor a better place to buy a donkey. Buying from a reputable breeder generally eliminates buying a sick or troublesome animal. Professional breeders take pride in their animals and their reputations.A buyer may be surprised to find him or herself being interviewed by the breeder. Most breeders disdain sending off their donkeys to be forlorn pasture ornaments for suburbanites to glance at on their way to work.These animals need love and work.Finding a donkey breeder is surprisingly easy.

The best source is contacting The American Donkey & Mule Society at 2901 N. Elm Street, Denton, Texas 76201 (940-382-6845). The AD&MS organization publishes a magazine, The Brayer, four times a year. Each issue offers articles on the care and training of donkeys and mules as well as up-coming regional events.Scattered throughout each issue are advertisements from breeders from around the country.The office staff at ADMS will provide state association presidents who may direct a family to breeders in their area.The ADMS website is http://www.fortunecity.com/business/gonda/118/index/html. 

The age and sex of a donkey should be considered in terms of other animals that a family might own, as well as how soon a family wants to pack.Geldings are generally considered easiest to train and maintain.A three year-old gelding broke to halter and to lead can be ready for the trail with three or four months training.

Keep in mind that a young weanling offers the advantage of watching a young donkey grow, and they are as adorable as kittens and puppies. For the couple with young children ages 2-4, the weanling would be the perfect pet for the entire family to train. When the children reach the age of five or six, both they and their pet donkey would be ready for an adventure in the backcountry. The disadvantage of buying a weanling is that a weanling would not be able to pack until he or she was three years old. At three years of age, a large standard will carry up to 80 pounds his first summer. Thereafter, the donkey should easily pack between 100-125 pounds for 10-15 miles per day. For the older couple or a family, this eliminates having to carry any weight on their backs, with the exception of possibly a daypack for a camera and lunch.

Training should begin with the breeder. A novice should expect that the donkey he or she is set to buy should be halter broke, have some training with a lead rope and have some experience loading into a trailer. Donkeys are intelligent and forgiving of first time donkey trainers. A training regimen essentially focuses on the bonding process and building trust. Establishing who is the boss quickly transforms into, "Boss, I love you." Responding to the lead rope, familiarity with pack equipment and exposure to strange sights and weird phenomenon prepare the donkey and his trainer for a safe trip into the mountains.

Maligned throughout the ages for being stubborn and cantankerous, donkey trainers know that their donkey's refusal is usually born of fear. When the donkey is faced with a new sight or challenge, he stops and assesses the situation. We ascribe this characteristic to people as being cautious and prudent. Good looks, charm, intelligence and loyalty, that is what the world knew about the donkey until the age of mechanization.

Buy a long-eared pet and get your ass into the mountains – your family will love you for it!