What is a Miniature Donkey?
People often ask us “are the Irish Donkeys miniatures”? The answer to this question is no. Donkeys that are of Irish phenotype are not bred down; they are a naturally small breed. The upper height limit for the Irish breed standard is 44”.
The miniature donkey is any breed of donkey that matures below 36” (class A) and 38" (class B) in height. If the donkey is above 38” in height regardless of breed it is NOT a miniature and most societies will not register the animal as such. The same applies to ponies and horses throughout the world.
Miniature Donkeys originated from the Mediterranean area of Northern Africa in ancient times and more recently from the islands of Sicily and Sardinia off the west coast of Italy. Over time the distinctions between the two island populations blurred and they are now considered one breed properly called Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys.
Miniature Donkeys have not been bred down in size per se. The 25-30 Miniature Donkeys originally imported into the U.S. were between the sizes of 32" and 38" with the majority of them being in the 35"-37" size range. Over the years, breeders have concentrated more on the 32"-33" size and today you’re most desirable and well-conformed donkeys are from 31" to 35".
The original Miniature Mediterranean Donkey was not miniaturised, but a proper miniature working animal, stocky, draft type, strong boned and well muscled. The word "miniature" usually means animals that have been bred-down in size, so keep in mind that 'miniature donkeys' are simply diminutive and not bred down such is the case of many other 'miniature' animals.
At maturity (3years), it is able to pull a cart or carry a pack as it did in its native Sicily and Sardinia. Their average height is 34" with a maximum of 36"(class A) and 38” (class B) allowed for the breed registration. In the United States Donkey Breeds are determined by size, not lineage.
Robert Green, a New York stockbroker with a farm in New Jersey, first imported miniature Donkeys from the Mediterranean to the United States in 1929. While he was travelling through Europe, dogs killed three of the imported Jennies only a few months after their arrival, but the three surviving Jennies, ‘Miranda, Palermo and Suzanne’, and jack ‘Impheus’, became the foundation stock for the Green herd. One of the Jennies was pregnant and on Columbus Day 1929, she gave birth to a little jack who was named ‘Christopher Columbus’, the first miniature donkey born in the USA.
Robert Green particularly enjoyed driving the donkeys to his extensive collection of vehicles, including sleds, chariots, woven baskets and imported Italian antique carts.
He is quoted as saying, “Miniature Donkeys possess the affectionate nature of a Newfoundland, the resignation of a cow, the durability of a mule, the courage of a tiger, and the intellectual capability only slightly inferior to man’s.”
In 1935 Green had a herd of 52 donkeys. He only sold a few of his cherished little donkeys when his herd became too large. Among his buyers were Mr. Richard Sagendorph, Henry T. Morgan and August Busch, Jr. (Whose donkeys one can find in pedigrees with the ‘Belleau’ prefix, and whose stud still survives today). These families also imported more of the little donkeys as well and were the original developers of today’s donkey stock. In the early 1950’s, Daniel & Bea Langfeld bought their first miniature donkey, Pepi, from August Busch, Jr. of St. Louis, MO, as a pet for their daughter who had cerebral palsy. The Langfelds established the Danby Farm in Omaha, Nebraska where they raised show quality Miniature donkeys. They were the first professional breeders of miniature donkeys in the USA, eventually having as many as 60 to 225 miniature donkeys in their herd. Bea Langfeld established the original registry, The Miniature Donkey Registry of the United States in 1958. She turned the registry over to the stewardship of the American Donkey and Mule Society in Denton, Texas in 1987.
