Are there female donkeys

They originate from France and stand at 14 to 15 hands, they have a thick coat which traditionally is matted and tangled and is brown bay in colour.

Thanks to tenacious work carried out by The Donkey Sanctuary we have been provided with a sound base on which to further investigate the 17 breeds of donkeys currently known in Europe. While we don't have all the different donkey breeds living at The Donkey Sanctuary here in the UK, there are different breeds and cross-breeds synonymous with the area from which they originate at our rescue centres in Cyprus , Italy and Spain.

Yearling : A yearling is a young male or female donkey between one and two years of age. Hinny : A hinny is the result of breeding between a female donkey and a male horse.

Mule : A mule is the result of breeding between a male donkey and a female horse. Although millions of years ago donkeys and horses had the same ancestors they have evolved to be very different species and understanding those differences are of vital importance to the care and welfare of donkeys.

There are two distinct species of wild donkey; the Asiatic branch of the species came from an area stretching from the Red Sea to Northern India and Tibet where the ass had to adapt to different climate, terrain and altitude.

Consequently there is more than one type of Asiatic wild ass. There were two separate species of the African ass: the Nubian wild ass and the Somali wild ass. Our modern domesticated donkeys are all descended from these African wild asses ancestors. Donkeys were first domesticated around 6, years ago in North Africa and Egypt for meat and milk.

Around 2, years ago donkeys were among the draught animals used to carry silk from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean along the Silk Road in return for trade goods. The overland route was approximately 4, miles or 6,km and lasted several years. No single animal completed the entire journey and mixing of breeds occurred as unplanned matings happened en-route to give us the beginnings of the diverse range of donkey breeds we now have.

In Greece donkeys were found to be ideal animals for working on the narrow paths between the vines. Their use for cultivation in vineyards spread through the Mediterranean countries to Spain, whose coast at the southern tip is separated from North Africa by only a few miles - possibly another entry route for the African wild ass. The Roman Army was responsible for the movement of donkeys into Northern Europe. Even when they are, they don't panic.

Donkeys stop to assess the situation, a trait that's commonly confused with stubbornness. This surefootedness paired with strength — they can carry up to twice their own body weight — make them ideal " beasts of burden. Once a donkey bonds with a herd of sheep, cattle or goats, it will protect the animals as it would its own, keeping dogs and coyotes at bay.

A jackass is just a male donkey. Before "donkey," there was ass — a word that comes from the Latin phrase " asinus ," which refers to the animal. While ass is interchangeable with donkey, "jackass" refers specifically to a male donkey. This derives from the male donkey's nickname "jack" paired with the original donkey terminology "ass. A wild donkey is a burro. This means unlike the jackass and mule, burro is actually just another way to say donkey.

But the term does have a more specific meaning, and there are some specifications. For starters, those living west of the Mississippi River often say burro while those to the east use the term donkey. Others use burro to refer to smaller donkeys or wild donkeys still roaming rangeland in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Oregon, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

So what's a mule? The word "mule" isn't just another name for donkey; this animal is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Mules, which are often between 35 to 70 inches 0. Their sounds are a blend of both parents; a mule bray begins with the common horse whinny and finishes with the hee-haw bray of a donkey. Personality-wise, mules also have a bit of each parent. Mules are typically calm, steady and strong. That's why riders often choose the surefooted mule over the sometimes flighty horse for mountainous and steep terrain.

Sure, you've heard elephants never forget, but this phrase could very easily apply to the donkey. Adult hinny, photo courtesy Criadero Villa Luz.

A hinny resembles a horse more than it does an ass. It looks more like a horse with long ears and looks very much like a mule. The hinny has been used as a saddle animal from antiquity and is more difficult to produce than the mule, because the jennet does not conceive well with the stallion. Although hybrids are typically sterile, two documented cases of fertility do exist. She was bred a second time to a jack and produced the jule, or donkule Kate. She was bred to a jack twice and foaled first with Blue Moon, and then with White Lightning.

More numerous cases have emerged with the new technology and better national and international communication. Today, donkeys and mules are registered with several different registries, the largest being the American Donkey and Mule Society.

Is training a mule different from training a horse? Sometimes, horse training techniques will work on mules and donkeys that are of a certain mellow personality type, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Most mules require a kind, polite, sensible, logical and sequential way of training with consideration, consistency and respect for the animal. They are far too intelligent to simply be forced or coerced into behaving.

Training Longears is easy if you just slow down, take your time and break things down into logical, sequential and doable steps that address not only what you want to do, but how to build and condition his body properly so he can do what you want more easily through the training process. Longears comply when it feels good and is safe to do so.

If you are thorough in the early stages of training and take your time, the later stages of training will go much faster. There is a lot we can learn about ourselves and the way we communicate with others through interaction with animals in general and with equines in particular. For instance, their uses in therapeutic riding programs for the disabled generate amazing results and enhance the lives of people who might otherwise give up on life.

There are measured physical improvements that take place as well as mental and emotional changes. This is why they are also helpful in teaching young people how to interact in a positive and engaging way in their families and communities. The therapeutic riding program, Hearts and Horses that I strongly support here in Colorado has expanded their program for the disabled to also include at-risk kids, the autistic, wounded warriors and kids in general through an equine summer camp.

Mules and donkeys are able to carry more weight proportionately than can a horse of the same size. Where side walkers are needed in the case of larger people during therapy, smaller mules and donkeys are a better choice than a taller horse that would put the rider in a position that is harder to reach by the side walkers. Horses and other equines particularly mules and donkeys that are used in these types of programs truly give people a full and rewarding life. Exposure to equines inspires people about life and exotic hybrids bred from mules and donkeys command even more attention to these types of animals and the lifestyle they represent.

Photo courtesy The Donkey Sanctuary. Many people make the mistake of sending their mule to trainers who use abbreviated training methods. These people most often wind up with problems. Mules and donkeys do much better when they are trained in a logical and sequential fashion, taking the right approach and being willing to allow adequate time at each phase of training.

The training should be done by the owner and only guided by the trainer for the best results. Training should start with mules and donkeys the day they are born and should continue through their lives as a day to day routine…much like raising children. Mules and donkeys can carry proportionately more weight than a horse of the same size.

However, you do need to be careful about making broad generalizations. Obviously, a horse, or mule, who is out of condition is not going to be able to carry as much weight as one who is conditioned properly, so it is all relative to the situation. The maximum weight a horse or mule can carry will depend on a lot of variables. Generally speaking, a mule, or donkey, can carry more weight than a horse because of the unique muscle structure of the animal.

However, an equine that is not conditioned properly will not be able to efficiently carry as much weight as one who is. Also, the rider with better balance and riding ability is going to be easier for the equine to carry than one who is not balanced regardless of the difference in actual weight. The size of the equine and the proportion of the equine to the rider will also affect balance and carrying ability.

If he is fit, he will be able to carry more than those who are not, but conformational abnormalities will also have an effect. If he has any deviations in his bone structure i. The easiest way to test for weight tolerance is to watch the way the animal moves. If he is halted and seems to be have difficulty moving, the weight is obviously too heavy.