Can Horses And Donkeys Live Together?

Horses and donkeys are both members of the Equus genus and have many similarities. These similarities make it easy to assume that they can happily live together.

However, it’s not as simple as just throwing the two together. Donkeys and horses also have many differences, including health needs. Before combining the two, you need to learn about the specific needs of each, and put in place certain protocols. When everything is in place to suit the needs of both animals, donkeys make wonderful companions for horses.

Lungworm Risk

Traditional thought has said that donkeys shouldn’t live with horses because of lungworms.

The primary host of the lungworm is the donkey. This parasite can heavily

infest a donkey with minimal effect on the animal. However, horses are not tolerant to lungworm, and if infected, it can cause health issues. 

The main symptom of lungworm in horses is severe coughing.

With careful management, horses and donkeys can live together safely. Before introducing a donkey to your property, get it tested for lungworm. This is easily done with fecal sedimentation and fecal worm egg count tests. The donkey will need to stay on a strict worming schedule as advised by a vet and have a yearly test for lungworm.

 Shared grazing with donkeys is the highest risk area for horses contracting lungworm.

In addition to religious Donkey worming and testing, good pasture management is essential. This pasture management should include regular poo picking as lungworm larvae can live for some time in the soil.

Donkey health needs

As donkeys evolved to live in hotter, dry climates, they are prone to developing hoof problems when living in wetter areas. Standing too long in wet ground can lead to seedy toe and thrush. Like horses, donkeys need their hooves trimmed every 6 to 10 weeks. However, due to the shape of their feet, and specific trimming methods, use a farrier with knowledge of donkeys hooves. To help prevent hoof problems in wet climates, provide your donkey with a hard-standing area.

Another management consideration when keeping donkeys and horses together is shelter.

Horses are much more able to withstand rain than donkeys. Donkeys do not have waterproof coats and do not do well living outside in wet, cold, or harsh weather. Because of this, donkeys need 24/7 access to a dry, warm shelter, even if your horses are happy to live out all the time.

Feed and Water

Donkeys have different nutrition needs than horses. For donkeys and horses to live together successfully, you will need to ensure the needs of both are met.

Donkeys require a more restricted diet than horses as they are much more prone to obesity. Obesity in donkeys puts them at high risk of developing laminitis and hyperlipaemia, both of which are serious.

Ensure the food your donkey eats is low in starch, protein and sugar. Like horses, donkeys are trickle feeders and should always have access to high-fiber food.

However, too much hay can lead to obesity. Instead, donkeys should have free access to barley straw and restricted access to grass, especially rich grass.

For donkeys and horses to live together, you will need to carefully manage the grass in your paddock. You will also need to ensure the donkey does not have too much access to your horse’s hay. Also, avoid concentrate feeds for donkeys.

If your horse gets grain, feed it so your donkey cannot access it.

Donkeys can be much fussier about their water supply than horses. You will need to ensure the shared water source is always clean and fresh.

Bonding

Both donkeys and horses are herd animals and thrive better with companionship.

However, donkeys in particular form powerful bonds and should not live alone. The best companion for a donkey is another donkey, but they can also form strong bonds with horses.

If you plan to join a donkey with a horse, it is best to use a retired horse that it will not be separated from. Separating a donkey from his bonded friend can lead to extreme distress. The donkey may refuse to eat, which can lead to hyperlipaemia or other illnesses.

Due to a donkey and horse’s different natural behaviors, it is important to introduce the animals slower. This is to ensure the two have an understanding of their hierarchical position. Once you are satisfied the horse and donkey are friends, you can try putting them together. 

When together, ensure there is enough space to avoid fights over food or territory. Ensure your stable or shelter is big enough for both animals to use comfortably. It is best to allow the horse and donkey to share a stable or shelter if they are bonded.

It is also important to note that donkeys can live much longer than horses. In fact, they can live as long as 50-years. If a horse that a donkey is bonded with dies, it can cause severe distress. When keeping the two animals together, you will need to have a plan in place to limit the distress caused to your donkey, should his horse companion die.

Natural Behavior

Donkeys and horses react differently to perceived threats. Where horses will run away from what they see as a danger, a donkey will stand its ground. A donkey will use its front feet to strike at danger, or even chase and try to stomp on another animal. Because of this, you must be particularly careful when allowing dogs or other small animals access to a donkey. Horses can be much more tolerant.

You must consider this difference when keeping donkeys and horses together.

Expression of pain

Donkeys are much more stoic than horses. They hide pain much better, and if you are looking for the same type of signs a horse displays, it could be too late. When monitoring donkeys and horses together, you need to learn to spot much more subtle signs of pain or illness.

Conclusion

By learning the differences between horses and donkeys, you will be able to put in place the best management practices to keep the two types of animals together.

With these practices in place, horses and donkeys can happily live together.