Mirror P Miniature Donkeys

06/19/2024

Need a bigger camera range lol 😂 I can’t keep up! Daisy (few spot) and Otis (black)

06/19/2024

Otis (black) and Daisy (few spot) getting in some laps before it’s too hot 🥵

06/10/2024

I just love that their purchase of Murphy in 2018 was the catalyst for their donkey journey!!

My family has had horses since I (Savannah) was 4 years old. Although horses and donkeys have their similarities... there are some things that make them very different. When we bought our first donkey, Murphy, in 2018... there were still many things that we did not know about miniature donkeys or ev...

05/24/2024

Saw this so got a quick snap then changed to video… see comments 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ really Otis?!?

05/08/2024

Otis is such a brave, independent little guy! He’s in the front… his mama is the spotted jennet WAY in the back!

05/08/2024

Be sure to click on the original post to comment “signed” 💙🫏💝 or to share so it shows on their share count 😊

The following is an open letter to the American Association of Equine practitioners. If you would like to “sign” the letter in agreement, please feel free to comment “signed,” tag your favorite vet clinics, rescues, clubs, etc, like, or share this post.

Open Letter to the American Association of Equine Practitioners Regarding the Inclusion of Donkeys In Educational Materials

May 7, 2024

Dear American Association of Equine Practitioners,

For nearly 7,000 years, two millennia before horses, the humble donkey has been serving humans. They began their service to humans packing water, food, and supplies through northern Africa, into Eurasia, and eventually spreading around the world. In America, our cultural history is closely tied to donkeys. George Washington, ever the forward thinker, and understanding the value of a great mule with regards to agricultural work, acquired donkeys from the King of Spain in order to develop the breed we know today as American Mammoth Jackstock. The American west was crisscrossed for hundreds of years by explorers and prospectors holding a lead rope tied to their trusty, steadfast, and thrifty b***o companions. You’ll scarcely find a better partner in the unforgiving desert. As it has been throughout history, people today find immense joy in the companionship of a donkey. Whether you participate in driving, trail riding, liberty, or even trail runs, there are events for donkey lovers proliferating across the country.

However, even with all the love we as donkey caretakers feel for our animals, they are still often left out. Despite their myriad of incredible attributes, they struggle to shake the perception of being stubborn, stupid, low-value, unworthy, and “less-than”. “What do you even do with a donkey?” is a common refrain heard by donkey owners. Seeking out information about their care typically ends with few legitimate studies, outdated, debunked ideas, and often simply false statements from places that should know better, such as large rescues and land grant universities.

There is hope for donkeys; unridden equids are growing in popularity, and with that, of course, we have an increasing number of donkeys as pets. As a result, new studies are being done to quantify in exactly what ways donkeys are different from horses, and how they are the same. Around the world clubs, groups, and nonprofits are popping up, dedicated to donkey education and welfare.

However, those groups are often fighting an uphill battle against misinformation or no information. An all-too-common excuse for poor ownership and care? “It’s just a donkey; you don’t need to.”

You don’t need to? Don’t need to…what?

You don’t need to vaccinate them? You don’t need to trim their hooves every six to eight weeks? You don’t need to feed them clean, good quality, species-appropriate grass hay and straw, free of mold, weeds, and debris? You don’t need to call the vet when they are ill? You don’t need to offer them companionship and training? You don’t need to use tack that fits their body shape and doesn’t cause pain? You don’t need to be aware of weight limitations as riders? You don’t need to protect their feet on long pack trips? You don’t need to listen when they tell you they do not want to? You don’t need to listen when they tell you they’re sick, or injured? You don’t need to…?

Why do people think you don’t need to? Because “it’s just a donkey. They’re different from a horse…”

After all, in 2024, of the nearly 40 public Facebook posts the American Association of Equine Practitioners has posted so far having to do with equine health, care and keeping, one, only one, has used inclusive language that could even possibly relate to donkeys. Only one has mentioned exclusively equids rather than specifically horses. None have explicitly mentioned donkeys or mules.

“If spring vaccines were needed for donkeys, wouldn’t the AAEP have mentioned it?” “If donkeys need dental care, why didn’t the AAEP say that when posting about dental health month?”

May 8th is World Donkey Day. In preparation for this day, we, as caretakers of our beloved donkeys, ask you to make one simple change to improve the lives and visibility of donkeys, to elevate them culturally, to a place of dignity: we ask that going forward, in times when it is relevant and especially on public-facing forums such as social media, the AAEP includes language and space for donkeys. We believe this simple change can help drive people’s perception of these incredible animals, and lead to a marked improvement in the lives of domestic donkeys in America. All it takes is adding “and donkeys.”

“Schedule your yearly dental exams for your horses and donkeys.”

“Here are ways to prevent colic in your horses and donkeys.”

“Ensure you have a qualified farrier for your horses and donkeys.”

On World Donkey Day the AAEP has an opportunity to be a cultural leader, not just in the United States, but throughout the world, by pledging to use donkey-inclusive language in relevant articles and social media. The AAEP has an immense platform, made of uniquely qualified professionals, from which to educate the public, donkey owners, prospective owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and veterinary staff. Help those of us who love donkeys to loudly, and publicly say they’re not just donkeys, and donkeys deserve better.

We ask this with respect and appreciation for all the AAEP, equine veterinarians, and support staff do to keep all our equine companions healthy, happy, and comfortable. It is our most earnest hope that this small change will have a cultural effect which will help all of us long ear guardians be educated and empowered to offer the best possible care to our beloved donkeys.

Sincerest thanks,

Burros Rock Arizona & Yonder (BRAY)

05/03/2024

Happy 15th birthday 🥳 to Buttons!! He’s been here almost 2 years, this just past foaling season we had his first 3 foals, 2 girls and a boy, all 3 wild spotted 🎉🎉🎉 If he had enough time with all of them, there could be 6 of his get next season (November 2024-April 2025) - first up will be Tabitha in the fall, the other 5 if he got them all will be spring.

Can’t wait to see what they look like!

Side note he’s the most aggressive jack I’ve ever had, requires a breeding muzzle when a jennet is introduced, but thankfully does calm down after his initial excitement… he’s super sweet with people though! And based on this first foaling season for him, he’s knocks color clear out of the ballpark!!

05/03/2024

One more from my happy place this morning

05/03/2024

Facebook won’t let me post videos with pictures or even more than one video 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

05/03/2024

Making time for my happy place!

04/30/2024

Spent some time in my happy place this morning after chores were done 🫏🫏🫏

04/19/2024

Some dry pics of our tiny miss… and the last 3… “where’s Waldo” 😂 she’s so small you can’t see her over top of mama!

04/19/2024

And the 2023-2024 foaling season is over… Dorothy Lynn FINALLY released her hostage! 9 foals, 6 girls 3 boys, and everything textbook. WHEW!! Now to catch up on sleep… except I had to rush around and get to work this morning.

It’s a tiny girl 💝 more and dry pictures once I get home.

04/17/2024

He’s so much darker than he looks in the photo… I just love the black faces with the light muzzle and eyeliner 💙 Otis

04/10/2024

Not a bad gig 💙💝 I love making people happy by spreading the donkey love!

04/09/2024

Busy day but couple cute shots of the new baby napping… Elijah nursing… Elle always so dang close it’s hard to get a picture… and Dorothy Lynn the holdout, due last week, still no signs of imminent delivery, calmly licking away at the salt block 🤦‍♀️

04/07/2024

After seeing signs of imminent delivery last night, locking mama in a stall with straw, food and water, and checking on her several times in the middle of the night, then off to an early shift for work this morning, got home still no baby, mama was pacing nonstop, clearly unhappy to be locked up. Gave her breakfast, which she ignored. Still pacing after I finished feeding so I gave up and let her out, exhausted so went in for a nap, came out to this 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ after another mama tried to steal the last little jack, I just wanted to make sure things went smoothly, but mama had her own ideas 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ when I let her out I said “FINE have it your way, but you’d better not let anyone steal this baby!” And she didn’t. This is her third really dark boy, after one spotted… makes me wonder about her pH level, think I’ll check with ADMS to see if she has EVER had a jennet foal!

ADDING A NOTE: To avoid any more comments either here or on my personal page where I shared this post, that it is the sire who controls gender, yes of course, I learned that 50+ years ago in school 🤦‍♀️ I guess I could have been more detailed above but it never occurred to me that it would be assumed I didn’t know that 🤷‍♀️ BUT some of us have noticed certain jennets will have all or mostly the same gender, no matter the jack used, so pH level of mama at conception is a theory under discussion. 😊

03/30/2024

Definitely the favorite toy of my mini donkeys

03/30/2024

Looking forward to the 2024/2025 foaling season, if all goes well between now and April 30, we can expect as many as 14 foals…

Silver Dollar has had Sarah Beth and Jessica DeAnn since November 1, and got Kym and Wanda Jean back earlier this month after weaning their fall 2023 foals

Buttons has had Tabitha since November 1, Margie Grace since early January, Olivia Kay since she turned 3 in March, and Ellie Mae, Polly Anna and Stella Rae as of today

Tony has had Thumbelina, Cindy Lynn and Mary Jane since November 1 and Cassandra Rose since she turned 3 in late November

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

03/29/2024

I was about to give up hope on this pairing for the season, still no sign of an udder when I left Monday for my spring break trip with the grandkids… but checked this morning after getting home late last night and WOOT WOOT Seranade has started her udder!! Just under the wire but that’s ok, this will make 9 foals for this season, and the 5th for Silver Dollar! 3 girls so far, with Dorothy Lynn soon to pop plus Seranade by the end of April!

03/18/2024

A few shots of the older foals… thanks to Willis’ 2-legged mom!

03/18/2024

A few new pictures of Impressions and her new baby girl 💞

03/18/2024

Catching up on pics taken of Kierra’s baby boy 💙 since the first day… they were stuck inside due to rain all day Friday, Dorothy Lynn was trying to see if they had a pot of gold in there… Saturday he got to come out, and today he had visitors 😊 check the comments for a couple of videos!

03/15/2024

Couple quick dry daylight pics… I have to get loaded for a visit this morning, so more will have to wait for later today! So happy to see everything I need to see in short order! This little guy sure knows what to do!

03/15/2024

The best reason to be up after midnight! It’s a spotted boy 💙