I get asked a lot of questions about my Mammoth Jenny, EmmaKate. Usually, the questions come when I am walking with someone new, over to my horse pasture, and before they see any signs of life, they hear the broken foghorn go off. Then she cones into view, with her big ears, and all their glory.

Then I usually get, “Is that a mule??”

No.

“Well, it’s gotta be part mule, right?”

Nope.

“But, she can’t, have babies though, right?”

She could, if I bred her to another donkey, or a horse.

“Wait….she’s a DONKEY?! I had no idea they came that big!!”

“That’s a BIG ass!!!”

Yes, I’ve heard that joke a time or two. 🙄 And yes, she is big. She’s actually a Mammoth Donkey, or American Mammoth Jackstock.

“Wow! That is so cool!”

Thanks. I think so too.

“But…why a donkey?”

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That last question always gets asked. So…why a donkey?

Well, hopefully Part 1 of “But Why A Donkey” was enough to convince you, but just in case it wasn’t, here’s yet another reason….

Yesterday evening I was feeding my horses – and donkey – with my 7 year old daughter. She has PANDAS, and had been having a pretty rough day. She ended up tripping on a root, and started crying and screaming. You know..the crying where they are so upset, they start to hiccup?

I tried my best to calm her, but suddenly we both felt something, and look up to see EmmaKate, gently nuzzling her. Yes, the donkey who I sometimes end up spending half a day just trying to catch, was beside my screaming daughter in a matter of seconds. She’s only 3 1/2, but stood completely still, as my daughter hugged her, burying her wet face, in her neck.

So, why a Mammoth Donkey, you ask?

Because she holds the key to our hearts. ❤️