Buying a donkey near St Jean or Pamplona

[David]

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[FaithandGratitude]

Hi, cant help you there but she needs to read the book by a British male writer, Travels with my Ass, comedic obviously (writer's name escapes me) but it goes into detail about his Camino Frances with a donkey and particularly into Donkey care which is incredibly necessary to keep the animal in good shape. Their hoofs need proper and regular care; grooming, food (gas/allergies) also can be a problem. Their is an association in Britain where he did a donkey husbandry course. Anyway, hope she doeas her research. The book is actually extremeley heart warming as well as being very funny and a good account of the Camino Frances, as well as the vagaries of Donkeys.

 

[mspath]

For renting a donkey see Anes de l'Arradoy near SJPdP at this web site >>> http://www.loisirs.fr/anes-de-l-arradoy-ispoure.html

Margaret

 

[Larry DeMaster]

Tim Moore, a British author, wrote TRAVELS WITH MY DONKEY, subtitled "one man and his ass on the comino de santiago." He bought/rented his donkey near SJPDP. He is based in London and I'm sure you could get in contact with him via his publisher. The book is also a great read on the Camino. Other titles by Tim Moore inlcude FRENCH REVOLUTIONS & FROST ON MY MUSTACHE.

 

[newfydog]

I hope for the sake of the donkey that she has the prior experience and skills to take care of it. I had a friend, who loved and cared for his donkey, yet he still ended up with the heartbreaking experience of watching his friend die when it developed diarroea on a hot day.

 

[David]

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[Deleted member 3000]

When Moore published his book, animal rights activists were up in arms because of this "firm" treatment of the animal at times. I think it is important to know the woman's background in animal handling. Moore took a short course, which was too short I surmised during my reading. Anthropomorphizing a burro into something that might actually want to walk a pilgrimage may be a mistake, and may contain more than a little bit of hubris. A beast of burden is not a plaything for our amusement, perhaps?

 

[newfydog]

we can assume that she has lots of large animal experience rather than assuming she hasn't :

We didn't assume anything. She is your friend, perhaps you can tell us if she knows what she is doing.
Here's a guy we met with a horse he borrowed. The horse had done the Camino before, handled it well, and the owner felt it would be good for her. He paid someone with a car to arrange ahead and care for the horse each evening. He walked the first few km's each day for the horse to warm up. A good example of doing it the right way, which, I am sure, your friend will do as well.

 

[scruffy1]

Please do read Tim Moore's book, it will surely convince most people to abandon the idea. Donkeys are wonderful animals, in good health one can easily able to make the journey. The first and most striking conclusion from Mr. Moore's experiences is that we, both the pilgrims and most of the hospitaliers waiting to welcome us, all comfortably living in the Twenty-First century and are no longer able to comprehend, are no longer prepared, or can even imagine the difficulties of life together with a donkey. Robert Louis Stevenson got away with it but several years have passed since then, 133 to be exact.

 

[Kiwi-family]

If it's a talking donkey she wants, I'm wondering if Balaam might be a good person to talk with :wink: