Our Story

A  close friend bought one. We saw it. Then, of course, we had to have  one. We bought our first miniature donkey from some people who have  since become dear friends. The donkey’s name was Ellie, “Sunrise   Mountain Ellie.” She was just 5-6 months old and so adorable! Our new  friends had been preparing Ellie to show at the State Fair in Dallas,  Texas. Since they had been getting her ready to show and had already  paid the entry fees, they encouraged me to go ahead and show her. They  said I had “nothing to lose.” I had never handled a mini donkey and had  no idea what I was getting myself into. Ignorance is bliss. I decided to  go ahead and do it. After all, I had nothing to lose!

Our  friends agreed to help get the donkey and me ready to show, but their  help was limited due to the distance between our homes. All this stuff  was new to my husband and me so we had to “wing it” to some extent. We  bought some clippers and did Ellie’s grooming ourselves. Not too bad a  job, if I do say so myself. The day before we had to leave for the show,  I took Ellie into my husband’s shower. (He wasn’t home at the time.)  Getting the mini donkey through the door of the house and into the  shower took all the energy I could muster. (Yes, it was just like the  cartoons.) But, I still had to bathe her. After all, I’d come this far; I  had to finish the job. It was hilarious I’m sure. Good thing nobody was  watching.

When it came time to leave for the  show, we loaded Ellie up in the back of our Suburban. (As I said, we  weren’t really prepared for all of this.) By the time we got to Dallas  with the donkey, it was starting to be difficult to breathe in the  Suburban. But we made it! There we were, getting ready to show our first  miniature donkey at the State Fair of Texas. It just seemed so surreal.

On  the day of the show we got up early, went to the barn, cleaned all the  poop out of Ellie’s freshly bathed hair, and got ready to go into the  show ring. I kept repeating to myself, “you’ve got nothing to lose.”   Ellie and I went into the ring. The other mini donkeys that went into  the ring with us were very well behaved donkeys. Ellie, not so much. I’m  sure it had nothing to do with her handler. I couldn’t keep her feet on  the ground. She kept raring up. At that time I was thinking I had  nothing to lose – but my dignity!

Finally,  after what seemed like forever, the judge called us out of the line-up.  I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong. Much to my surprise, it turns out  we had won fourth place! Some people don’t look at fourth place as a  “win” but they are wrong!

Regina Kirscht

Breeding and raising mini donkeys in our Lil’ Bit O’ Texas since 1996.

Note: The above references a "halter" class where donkeys are judged according to a breed standard for overall balance, correct form, coordination, muscular development, health, and disposition.