Miniature donkeys create smiles, amid competition, at national show

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

At left, 9-year-old Jonathan Novick of Brenham waits with his miniature donkey Tippy for his chance to compete at the National Miniature Donkey Show. -- Staff photo by Briskin

August 26, 2004 - The miniature version of just about anything has a tendency to evoke smiles from the young and old alike, and miniature donkeys are no exception.

On Aug. 14-15, the Southwestern Donkey and Mule Society (SDMS) brought over 200 of these smile-inducing equine to the Heart of Texas Fair Complex in Waco for the 2004 National Miniature Donkey Show.

"This was the first year the national show has been held in Texas and it was such an honor for the SDMS to host it in Waco," stated Rhonda Westbrook, SDMS president. "We have been working on getting this show to Waco for about three years now and we are really excited to be here."

The two-day event hosted competitors of all ages and offered 67 different performance, driving, and halter classes. To equalize the competition, five divisions, based on handler age, were offered for the performance and driving classes, while the halter classes grouped competitors based on the age of the donkey .

During performance class events such as showmanship, in-hand jumping, and lead line, the donkeys were judged on physical ability, overall performance, and how they responded to their handler.

"Miniature donkeys are very easy to train because the animal is so willing to learn, but the biggest thing you have to remember is that a donkey will humble you instantly," explained Westbrook. "They are so much smarter than humans and while you can make a mule or a horse do a few things, you have to ask a donkey."

In the halter class events the miniature donkeys were judged on overall appearance. "The judges are looking for a well-balanced bone structure, a pretty ear set where the ears are sitting really high on the head, straight legs, and an overall structural soundness," explained Westbrook. "Basically they are looking for good conformation."

Competitors from across the United States were in attendance at what organizers deemed the largest National Miniature Donkey Show ever. Susan Gemmell, 18, traveled to Waco from Lake Elsinore, Calif., with her two miniature donkeys, Jake and Hank, for the competition.

"I came to Texas because this is my last year to compete as a youth and I wanted to be at Nationals," said Gemmell. "Events like this are so important because it gets the donkeys out in spotlight and helps raise breed awareness."

Gemmell's family has been breeding, raising, and training miniature donkeys for over 20 years; and two years ago she started a miniature donkey rescue operation. "I take jacks that aren't wanted anymore," she explained. "They could be unruly or wild, old, young, sick, healthy and I bring them to our farm, geld them and turn them into show donkeys. Both Jake and Hank were rescue donkeys and it is a real privilege to take a donkey that is totally wild, work with it, and then bring it to a show. I love it."

According to Gemmell, many of the donkeys that she has rescued were suffering and may very well have died without her intervention. She plans on continuing her rescue operation, which she considers the most rewarding thing she has ever done, and will start college in California this fall.

One of the highlights of the event was the announcement of the 2004 SDMS scholarship winner, Cody Bartlett of Conroe. Bartlett, 17, has been raising and showing miniature donkeys since he was 11-years-old and competed in over 10 different events during the national show. He is an active member of the National Miniature Donkey Association (NMDA) and is planning to attend Colorado State to study equine science.

"The scholarship is for high school juniors and seniors," explained Bartlett. "You have to submit an application along with your transcript and an essay, sit for an interview with a judge and then the SDMS board members review the applications and choose a winner.

"This really is an honor and organizations like SDMS and NMDA do so much for increasing knowledge about the miniature donkeys," he concluded.