For those of us who have a donkey, we know how cute and loving they are. We also know they can be a very difficult equid to manage. This is due to their genetic ability to thrive on a sparse grazing and a lower plane of nutrition than we are used to providing to our horses.

Sometimes it is hard for us to understand that fact and to manage them so they are maintained in a healthy condition.

Advice from Experts

We tapped into our friends at The Donkey Sanctuary in the United Kingdom to help us understand some basics of feeding this equid. You can view or download the Sanctuary’s PDF Factsheet for Owners: Feeding Donkeys by clicking on the image below or visiting the organization’s website.

Further Reading

  • Faith Burden, BSc, PhD
    Faith Burden, BSc(Hons), PhD, is the Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Equine Operations, The Donkey Sanctuary. She oversees all aspects of the organisation’s donkey-focused operations across the globe, with Sanctuary sites in four countries and partnerships in a further 10 countries. Burden is ultimately responsible for the welfare of the 6,500 donkeys and mules in the care of The Donkey Sanctuary, many of whom are aged or have specific health and behavioural needs. Burden and her colleagues also work to improve the welfare of donkeys and mules globally through partnerships, advocacy, research, and education. She is the co-author of more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and is a globally recognised expert on the health and welfare of donkeys and mules.
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