Five Christmas presents for your donkey

Whether you are lucky enough to have donkeys, or if you want to make a gift for a friend’s donkeys, here are five Christmas gift ideas they will love:

Equine ball 

Equine balls are easy to distinguish because they have a handle. Donkeys love to pick them up in their mouths and carry them around the paddock. It is common to see several donkeys behind the one carrying the ball, waiting for the perfect moment to “steal” it and continue playing. 

These balls are easy to find in specialised shops and online stores. They range in price varies from €5-60 depending on the quality of the material they are made of.

Rope toy

Young donkeys, especially if they are male, often enjoy tug-of-war with a rope toy. They each grab it by one end and have a good time playing tug-of-war. This is great for physical and mental exercise.

Rope toys made for big dogs are also suitable for donkeys, just make sure they do not contain sharp parts or that your donkey can eat them. There is also the option of making your own: just buy thick rope from hardware stores and DIY centres and knot it up. The price of a finished rope toy varies between €7 and €20.

Grooming kit

Donkeys love to be brushed. Brushing also helps us to bond more closely with our donkeys; it keeps the coat healthy and tangle-free and allows us to examine the donkey’s skin and check for lumps, wounds or other problems.

A grooming kit should include: stiff bristle brush, pads (plastic, rubber and metal), soft bristle brush, metal cattle brush and a hoof cleaner. These kits are the same as those used for horses and can be found in specialised shops. They usually cost around €20-60.

Hay ball

These balls are ideal for donkeys. Playing with them slows down the speed at which they eat and makes them have to work out how to get the hay out of the holes. This way, as well as helping to stimulate our donkey mentally, we will get him to eat in a similar way he would do in the wild: little by little and having to search for the food instead of eating it all at once. They can be found in specialist shops and cost between €20-50.

Rugs

Rugs are the perfect ally for geriatric, sick or donkeys with a poor body condition. Geriatric donkeys fighting the cold with a rug need to eat less to maintain their weight and temperature.

Donkey rugs are not easily found, so pony rugs will do the trick. Remember to take your donkey’s measurements to choose the one that best suits its size. 

We hope these suggestions will help you find the perfect gift for your companion!