Haflinger/Donkey strength/work comparison

[Robert MoonShadow]

I’m not sure where to post this, but here seems like the most likely spot… In trying to evaluate what to expect strength- and work- wise, in performance of my single standard donkey, there’s precious little direct information. So, I’m going with the closest in stature: does anyone know how the strength & work performance of a standard donkey would compare to a Haflinger or perhaps a Fjord? I’m asking this, after viewing the photo (sorry, I forgot who posted it) of a single Haflinger being used to skid a log. One of the intended jobs of this donkey will be snigging firewood (dry) logs & I’m wondering whether to expect a 4 or 6 or 8 ft. limit w/ a dry log. I know that terrain condition (mud/dry/snow), slope, distance, understory are all variables to consider, but I’m just after a basic idea. In the photo I’m thinking of, it looked to me to be about an 8-footer (although I don’t know if it was green or not). I’d really appreciate any input on this. I just found the photo again… it was posted by Dave Camire, if anyone wanted to check it out to see what I’m referring to.

[Rod]

I have both donkeys and Halfingers and there is no comparison in what they can pull. Donkeys are very limited in what the can do.

[Anonymous]

don’t know a thing about donkeys, can’t be too much different tho, 10 percent of their body weight can be sustained all day, like field work. for pulling, half their weight can be repeatedly pulled during the day, really heavy pulls can match their body weight, but only short distance, and not very often. i’m talking just ground skidding here. so, working up slowly to half body weight, for comfort and condition, that ought to get you a couple wheelbarrows full of wood per stick? what’s a donkey weigh anyway? bob h.

[amanda07]

Hi Robert, I’d have thought that the bredth of chest and width of hips would limit the traction of a donkey over a horse/pony?????… A

[manesntails]

I’ve heard Donkeys like one speed….walk

If you really needed them to get down and pull I think they’d take a siesta.

[Rod]

A donkey can outrun a horse and they do run fast. The like to romp and play and will walk, trot or canter and I guess gallop.

[manesntails]

@Rod 5186 wrote:

A donkey can outrun a horse and they do run fast. The like to romp and play and will walk, trot or canter and I guess gallop.

Ahhh, NO, sorry, they aren’t as fast as horses.

This is an excerp from an article called “Horse Church”

One characteristic of donkeys that really surprised me is their great stamina. They can run for much longer periods of time than horses. No, they can not run as fast (although quite fast for their size), but they don’t burn out so quickly either. Some donkeys can run for 2 hours straight. Even more important is that they can carry heavy packs for days on end. They have an almost unbelievable endurance. Churches must be able to endure not only hardships and persecution they must also be able to endure the rigors of day in and day out labor carrying the gospel to the world without losing heart or giving up.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Mane: I get the Breyer magazine, and aregular contributor there likes to post photos of her standard jack, whenever this speed question comes up… she has 2 retired racers – both mares – 1 is a standardbred/pacer the other a thoroughbred (both retired due to age, not injury or lack of speed). She turns him out with them & in her words, “plants his nose at their flank” no matter how fast they run. I guess it’s all in the individual’s motivation! :p Amanda: I think that it depends on the style (breeding) of the donkey… I certainly would want the stance & stature to fit a draft type… such as the draft-type Mammoth Jacks, only smaller in height. I think I’ve got that, in Dragon. The narrow foot stance, though, I think is better for close-quarter produce farming = nimbleness. From my limited understanding of it, the old-time ‘cotton-mule’ was developed for that same reason, but with added strength. But yes, I’m pretty confident that a horse of the same size is usually stronger & somewhat faster. Bob H. > thank you for the info on weight ratios… I did not know that about 50% pulling weight. I was aware of the carrying weight ratio. Now is that pull weight a total? Cart/wagon plus 50% of the animals weight? or total including cart? I’m pretty sure that having wheels involved would change things a bit, but by how much? Standard donkeys that I’ve had (when in ‘active’ shape = been packing, etc.) weighed from Little Bit = 43″ & 450# up to her dam “Big Momma” = 50″ & 700#. Elvis stood 46″ & like his namesake, had a very large weight range. 🙂 Rod: I totally accept your knowledge on Haflingers outpulling donkeys – as you said, you have both and of course would know (thanks!). But I’m just trying to get an idea of what a donkey CAN do – by taking what a Haflinger can do & use it as a base for calculations. Half of what a Haflinger does? 75%? 10%? That log in that photo I mentioned: could one of your donkeys pull a log that size? or cut it in half? I’m talking about over a sustained workday. You are EXACTLY the type of person I hoped would respond to this: someone with personal knowledge of both. 😎

[Rod]

I can’t answer my part definitively because I have not used the donkeys in a situation where I can compare equally. Also my donkeys are not well trained for pulling which my Halfingers are. The donkeys are small (12 hands) and light (500 lbs.?) and lack traction weight and muscle mass. My horses are 14 hands and 1100 lbs? more or less and have a lot more muscle and traction.

[Author]

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