Donkey books! (and mags)

For a good, solid book on just about everything on donkeys, check out ‘The Definitive Donkey’ {“A Textbook on the Modern Ass”} by Betsy & Paul Hutchins – the founders of the American Donkey & Mule Society {ADMS}. The ADMS also has a magazine, ‘The Brayer’ & many, many good books on donkeys & mules. Most of the articles are submitted by readers & focuses on minis, and on pleasure driving, but readily adapted to bigger animals & working types. Meredith Hodges is a regular contributer (she of dressage – donkey fame!) Also, for some really neat ideas on working donkeys, and ‘making do’ with whatever’s handy (even talks on how to use donkey or goat hide to make a home-made harness!), check out ‘Donkeys for Development’ by Peta Jones. She’s lived in Africa all her life, and teaches the peoples there how to properly care for, train & work donkeys. This book, too, is available from ADMS. It definitely gives food for thought, on how to get started farming w/ draft animals – no matter what species or size {although she only talks about donkeys, here} – when on a tight budget. I once saw a photo of her using 2 small donkeys (most there are small & undernourished), a chain & an old truck tire to haul a 55-gallon drum of water from a river to the garden – 2 miles each way, the caption said! Now that’s CHEAP! Anyways, the ADMS website info for anyone interested, is: http://www.lovelongears.com The magazine isn’t really a subscription, but annual dues for membership includes the mag… about $23/yr. Oh – they also have just article reprints, too, for sale… about two bits to a dollar, each.