Hurray For Miniature Donkeys!

I arrived at the farm on Sunday afternoon, got the dogs comfortable and immediately made a first move to get to know my neighbors better. I drove to the home of the guy who cut my hay this year. He and two other neighbors were sitting at his kitchen table sipping beers and we all had a nice talk. I mentioned during the conversation that I'd recently discovered miniature donkeys and thought perhaps they'd be the animal for me - if only there were some nearby. I was quickly informed of a herd of registered miniature donkeys about a mile down the road from me on a former dairy farm. So, after I left the kitchen table conversation, I drove down the road and found the family out in their yard. I stopped and asked if it was true that there were miniature donkeys nearby and was promptly invited to shut off my car's motor and take a walk into the field. We were immediately greeted by several diminutive donkeys who seemed thrilled to have human company:

There were three or four of them, all friendly:

And then several more heard us and came to say "Howdy:"

And then a whole "chorus line" trotted over to see us:

They were very small, very cute and very friendly:

They were, predictably, thrilled to see their owner. And then they trotted over to greet me:

I found their personalities similar to a litter of puppies - excited, sweet, loving and a bit boisterous. I was told that not a single one had ever nipped or kicked anyone. Not once, not ever. And they never would because they absolutely adored people:

We walked back toward the house where I'd parked my car and a young boy, who was there visiting, climbed over the fence to see the donkeys:

They loved him also and were delighted to be getting all this attention:

And then so many began crowding over to see the boy that he became spooked and tried to climb back out. He was assured that the donkeys wouldn't hurt him, though, and returned only to be mobbed by this loving bunch of critters:

The owner showed me the donkey carts which his wife and a friend use to tour the local roads. I was told that one of these tiny equines could pull two adults without any trouble and, in fact, clamored for the chance to do so:

The boy was still petting (and being mobbed by) the donkeys as I said thank you and began to drive back home. Will I raise miniature donkeys some day? I don't know. Stay tuned: