Know Your Donkeys & Mules (Old Pond Books) 35 Interesting Breeds from Abyssinian to Zedonk with Full-Page Photos, History, Appearance, Color, Size, Endangered Status, Origins, Work Tasks, and More

by Jack Byard

Do you know your donkeys? Did you know that the Bourbonnais donkey drinks 4 gallons of water a day? Or that the Poitou is one of the rarest breeds in the world? How about that the Belgian Draft Mule is the only animal that can see where it is planting its back feet? In this pocket-sized guide, you'll discover loads of fascinating facts about 35 breeds of donkeys (also known as burros or asses) and mules, including their appearance, history, breeding, and work in agriculture and tourism. From the critically endangered Abyssinian to the speedy Onager who can run at 40 miles per hour over a 15-mile stretch, inside this book, you'll find everything you need to identify a breed—including a full-page photo of each one! This fun and engaging guide is sure to turn both young and old into donkey enthusiasts! Used in the past for farming, carrying equipment, or transportation, it is difficult to imagine where we might have been without donkeys and mules. With their traditional jobs gone, today's donkeys and mules are playing new roles in tourism and animal-assisted therapies. From Ethiopia to the Grand Canyon, from Mongolia to the island of Sardinia, you'll learn essential facts about 35 breeds of these fantastic animals, and soon you'll be able to say you Know Your Donkeys and Mules !

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Jack Byard had a deep affection for his rural heritage and so wrote his first book, Know Your Sheep, with a view to sharing with others the countryside that he loves.

Reviews

[karen]

no one's gonna make an ass out of me!

although, now that i have read this book, being an ass is a pretty noble thing. hardworking, durable, stoic, gentle…

there are worse things to be compared to in the animal kingdom:



horrifying.

donkeys and mules are all right.

this is a poitou:



of which there are about 400 left. in the world.

and this is where i have to yell at nature a little: COME ON, NATURE!! why you gotta make all the cute/cool-looking animals get endangered all the time?







more of those, and fewer of these, please



and look at this guy:



what a cutie! he is a somali wild ass, and he is also in danger. but someone's on top of that situation:

Today they are a critically endangered species with fewer than 300 animals in their native land. In years past, the killing of a Somali Wild Ass was a serious crime and it was decreed the killer's hand would be cut off.

but still, asses, you gotta do your part



next up, the catalan donkey



they are tastefully described thusly: To put it delicately, male Catalans are known for their enthusiasm for the female of the species and are notably amorous.

and yet for all that amorousness, they are still in trouble. stop with the courtship, catalans - get to the business!!

the asinara looks like this:



and is white, but not an albino despite its underskin of pink and its pink or blue eyes.

and they live here, which is not too shabby:



and they are plentiful. it is a romantic view, after all...

the balear (artist formerly known as mallorquin or majorcan)



is noted for being strong and healthy with a slightly nervous temperament. The females were used mainly as draft animals, carrying crops of olives, producing the power for the corn mills, and for transporting the farmer and his family

i would be nervous, too, if i was expected to carry POISON on my back. ew. poor donkeys.

more things i learned from this book:

1) apparently, those of us afflicted with lactose-intolerance are able to consume donkey milk with no adverse effects.

2) assisted therapy donkeys exist



3) know your terms for your next sophisticated cocktail party:

a "zedonk" is a cross between a female zebra and a male donkey, while a "zonkey" results from a male zebra and a female donkey.



and Other zebra hybrids include a zebrula/zorse - the cross between a female horse and a male zebra, and a zibrinny - the cross between a male horse and a female zebra.

this book is full of other facts, even though it is just a tiny little thing. and who knew i would get so excited about donkeys. no one but greg stahl. so thanks, greg, for pointing this my way!

fwiends!



come to my blog!

[john callahan]

This is your best choice for a concise guide to breeds of donkeys and mules. Every breed gets 2 pages: one is a full color photo, and the other contains basic information about the breed.

At only $6.95, this book is a great buy.

Essential for fans of donkeys and mules.