Interactive lesson

Horse or donkey, step by step

Interactive lesson: do you need a horse, a donkey or a mule — company, land, hay and time, safety, buying, paperwork and the first-year plan.

Free sample Chapters 1 and 2 (8 steps) are free. The full lesson comes with the Horse or donkey: choosing and planning module. Already bought? Unlock

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The whole lesson as text

1. Do you need a horse

Before you look at adverts or go to a sale, answer a few questions honestly.

Is there work for a horse — Ploughing, carting, woodland or riding. A horse with no work or exercise gets fat, bored and restless.
Meadow or hay — You need 1 ha (2.5 acres) of meadow and grazing, or a reliable hay supplier. A horse eats 70–110 small bales over winter.
Someone at home — A horse eats 2–3 times a day and needs water, on Christmas Day too. Someone has to be there morning and evening, every day.
Room for two animals — A horse suffers alone, and so does a donkey. If even one answer is “no”, wait a year and learn with someone who keeps horses.

Why: A horse is not a machine you switch off in the shed. It eats every day for 25 to 30 years, and it needs a farrier, a vet, company and a person who knows how to handle it.

Before you buy, spend a week with someone who keeps horses: feeding, mucking out, grooming, picking out feet, leading on a headcollar.
On 3–5 ha (7–12 acres) of flat fields a compact tractor is faster. A horse has the advantage on steep ground, in an orchard, in woodland and on a wet meadow.

2. Horse, donkey or mule

A horse, a donkey and a mule are not the same animal in three sizes.

A horse for meadow and work — A horse of 350–700 kg ploughs, pulls a cart and works in woodland. For a homestead of 1 ha (2.5 acres) or more.
A donkey for the hills — A donkey of 120–250 kg carries loads and eats little: coarse hay, straw, a little grazing. Best for a hill farm and a small plot.
A roof for the donkey — A donkey's coat is not waterproof, so a roof is a must. It copes badly with lush grass, wet ground and rain.
Mule and pony — A mule is a sterile cross between a horse and a donkey, clever and tough, but rarely right for a beginner. A pony needs the same things as a big horse.

Why: They differ in feed, temperament, hooves and work. A horse is for a farm with meadow and real work; a donkey is for the hills, a small plot and carrying.

A horse lives 25–30 years, a donkey and a mule 30–40. You are buying a commitment for that whole time.
Fell, Dales and Highland ponies (135–150 cm, 400–550 kg) are sturdy, hard-footed and thrifty. An excellent choice for hills and woodland.