So ell Enzina
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino de Santiago (2016)
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Walking the Via de la Plata in mid-summer? Take a reflective sun umbrella for yourself and at least a hat for the donkey.
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Donkeys are unpredictable around other animals. We once put our (young, sweet-natured) donkey into a field with our (older, sweet-natured) pet goat. Oh wow. Some time later I heard the goat crying and looked out to see him down on the ground, looking desperately towards the house, with the donkey's hoof planted on his neck while she buried her teeth in him! Had to run to his rescue and separate them. No idea what set that off. I've also seen another donkey chase a cat and (separately) a duck - which only got out of the way just in time! I would have no confidence that a donkey would pass calmly by a field of cows. Now a wolf though - that could be interesting - I think I'd put my money on the donkey....!There are a lot of cows and bulls on the VdlP, do donkeys get on with them?
Not to discourage you though! If you're used to long-distance walking and that kind of heat, and have time to learn about donkey care and so on, it could be a great experience.
Buen camino!
Hi KangaWalking the Via de la Plata in mid-summer? Take a reflective sun umbrella for yourself and at least a hat for the donkey.
Have you walked a long distance route before?
Donkeys are unpredictable around other animals. We once put our (young, sweet-natured) donkey into a field with our (older, sweet-natured) pet goat. Oh wow. Some time later I heard the goat crying and looked out to see him down on the ground, looking desperately towards the house, with the donkey's hoof planted on his neck while she buried her teeth in him! Had to run to his rescue and separate them. No idea what set that off. I've also seen another donkey chase a cat and (separately) a duck - which only got out of the way just in time! I would have no confidence that a donkey would pass calmly by a field of cows. Now a wolf though - that could be interesting - I think I'd put my money on the donkey....!
And as mentioned elsewhere, donkeys need good food, especially in arid conditions - a bit of nightly grazing would not be enough (actually they don't graze, they browse, so normally they pretty much wander around eating all day). So that would need to be factored into the load they were carrying. And of course water for the donkey as well as the human. They are not camels, as pointed out above - donkeys actually drink quite a lot of water.
Not to discourage you though! If you're used to long-distance walking and that kind of heat, and have time to learn about donkey care and so on, it could be a great experience.
Buen camino!
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