Mini horse or mini donkey?

Just because you pick up an older animal, doesn't mean it's been abused and unless you have training skills, it might be a good idea to consider something that has some training.

This was before my time but DH raised minis when he lived in NH, stallion had his separate paddock with a little 'hill' that was his and he played king of the hill with. DH also had a pygmy goat. The goat could get out of anything and kept insisting he was going out with the minis ... stallion was NOT pleased and when he got into his paddock and got up on his hill.

DH said the stallion grabbed the goat by the back of the neck and packed him over to the gate, like a mother cat with a kitten, and spat him out at the gate. Not a mark on the goat but DH said he'd never heard such squalling.

Oh my that photo of a mini donkey sure makes my heart melt! I will keep my eyes out for a mini donkey and do a lot of testing to make sure its the right one. One with cow experience and children... and that has been taken care of.

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Donkeys and Mules are a bit different to handle.

And I wouldn't recommend a young donkey, being around young kids or baby animals.
Baby donkeys can be very feisty, and like to chase things around.
And if the animals they chase run.. .. it normally doesn't end well.

If you want to go the donkey route, buy a mature Jenny or gelding, one that has been handled, has good manners and raised around cattle.

My jenny was a sweet heart with people, but I made sure she had manners.
She was a stinker to anything that was smaller than her. She would attack them.

The mini mare I have now, is pretty good with most stock. Most she will do is shake her head at them.
She is just wonderful and have owned her a long time.

You could also look into an gelded Alpaca, they are smaller and the trained ones tend to be gentle.
And goat wethers can make good pets too... and folks pack with them.

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Shari