Just A Donkey

Long ears and sad eyes, hanging out with a couple of horses. People driving past my place know her. They look for her, often circling, returning, and if they spot me out at the barn, pull in to ask questions about my donkey, Pimmy.

“Do you enjoy her as a pet? What do the horses think of her? What does she eat? Is Pimmy available for adoption? Where could we get a donkey?”

Pimmy is a great pet and totally bonded to her constant companions, my two horses, Rosie and Sunni. When I’m hauling off with one horse, Pimmy baby-sits the other. If I’m loading both horses to go someplace, Pimmy comes along. Usually, while riding on trails, I’ll be on one horse and leading another while Pimmy follows us loyally. For years and hundreds of miles, she’s tagged along behind. If another rider approaches, I make it known that a loose donkey is behind me. Horses that never have seen a donkey might become frightened of or aggressive toward Pimmy. She quickly grasps moods and knows to be careful.

While driving past my own property and glancing over at Pimmy, she seems like a slightly lost creature with sad eyes and long ears that capture the imagination. She appears a little sleepy maybe or even stupid. Actually, Pimmy is highly alert, smart as a whip, and fully aware of everything happening around her. She’s a quick learner and much more so than she likes to let me know. A simple carrot wave that captures Pimmy’s attention turns her into an all-action, highly-focused creature.

I respond to inquiries about donkeys as pets by explaining what I’ve learned during years with Pimmy. If I could have only one large animal, I’d happily choose a donkey.

Dear Readers, have a wonderful day, Diana.