North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["" <Lucky.Pittman@murraystate.edu>]

Naomi wrote:
 I know a good bit about donkeys.  I have 8 riding donks.  Trust me on this
one. Beating a donkey is not a good idea at all. Donkeys think more than
other equines because they have two choices in a scary situation.  They can
run or they can freeze.  

I know a lot more about walnuts & hickories than I do about donkeys - but I 
have worked on them a very little bit in my day; you left out the third 
choice they can make - they might just kill you(or try their dangdest to) - 
either now, or at some later date.  But! As the nasty ol' veterinarian, I was 
always having to do something painful to them, so I guess I shouldn't have 
been surprised - but they are SO very different from a horse, and none of my 
professors EVER told us that.

I still kinda wish I'd been able to get a gaited, spotted mule foal out of 
our little SSH mare - guess I could join the American Council of Spotted 
Asses without owning, but it'd be more 'real' if I actually had one!

Lucky