National Miniature Donkey Show set Aug. 13-15 in Waco

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

August 5, 2004 - There will be plenty of cute faces - with plenty of fluffy hair and long ears - at a national event coming soon to Central Texas.

The Southwestern Donkey and Mule Society (SDMS) will host the 2004 National Miniature Donkey Show in Waco Aug. 13-15.

The show, titled Champion of Champions, will be held at the Heart O' Texas Complex. SDMS media correspondent Cody Bartlett of Conroe said more than 150 donkeys are expected to be shown at the affair.

The SDMS was required to host a National Miniature Donkey Association-sanctioned event before they could even bid for the national show.

"When we applied to NMDA for the national show, we promised if they would grant us the show that we would give them the biggest and best national show ever. They gave us the show and the pressure is on for us to produce," according to a SDMS spokesperson.

The show will consist of 67 classes in five divisions: adult open, adult green (age 18 and over), junior (11-17), sub-junior (6-10) and pee-wee (5 and under). Each division will be awarded with cash paybacks, except for the peewees who will receive a special prize for participation.

Contests will include championship, high point, performance classes in showmanship, cart driving, and lead line obstacle courses, and halter classes.

"Donkeys are judged on conformation in halter classes and performance and ability in the performance classes," said Bartlett.

According to Bartlett, most miniature donkeys serve only as pets to love on, but can also be shown and pull carts.

"The number of donkeys at the shows is growing yearly. People see these wonderful bundles of joy and immediately must have one. Then they find out about all the opportunities involved with them," added Bartlett.

Bartlett owns a small miniature donkey farm in Conroe. He raises, sells, breeds, and shows his animals.

Soon another person, like Bartlett, will experience the joys of miniature donkey ownership. At the national show in August, the SDMS will hold a raffle for the chance to win a show quality miniature donkey that has been donated by Short Assets Ranch in Eddy.

The show is open to all registered miniature donkeys. Show entry information and show packets can be acquired by calling 940-586-1839. For national show information call 972-442-1965.