Donkey Tales

Thought you might like to meet our two new MGF girls!  Last month Rod and I went to the large miniature donkey dispersal sale at the McRoberts Game Farm in western Nebraska.  Sadly, Jerry McRoberts had succumbed to lung cancer two years previous and his wife, Barb, was having to sell all their animals, including yaks, llamas, and Poitou crosses.  Jerry was intrigued with genetics and the breeding of woolly miniature donkeys, but since he always wanted to see what the offspring would throw, he rarely sold any of his stock.  His herd grew to over three hundred.

Dr. Shivago's Sashenka (a true woolly) and Tatianna

These animals lived on the range, fending for themselves, though fields of good grass hay were planted for them.  What amazed us was how, after a few days of being penned up together for the sale, and having strangers mingle amongst them, these "wild" animals became so calm and loving.  This was a tribute to the wonderful nature of the miniature donkey! 

We had gone for a proven jack, but were out bid...but that was okay!  Lost our hearts to a woolly "gentle giant" whom eveyone was calling Black Beauty...they only had numbers, not names.  We bought her and a smaller "black beauty" as a companion. Since they both were sired by MGF's Dr. Shivago, we gave our girls the Russian names of Sachenka and Tatianna. 

After quarantining Sachenka and Tatianna, we released them to acclimate in with our herd...They now go in our barn with the others to get hay and cool off in front of the fans, but still love the outside and will often come back out to enjoy the shade under the trees...From the distance, especially Sachenka, look like black bears in the woods, so have knicknamed them "The Bears!"