Buyer question
How long does a Donkey horse live?
Our Animal Library gives the Donkey horse a lifespan of 30–50 years.
Source: the Donkey horse page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Donkey horse in the Animal Library
The detail
A tough, long-lived equine bred for packing and guarding, from miniature to mammoth. Donkeys are clever, cautious and affectionate, and they differ from horses in diet, hoof care and how they show pain.
- Origin
- Northeast Africa
- Best fit
- Companions, guarding, packing
- Upkeep
- 2 out of 5 (Low feed, shelter needed)
- Temperament
- Cautious, clever, loyal
What to weigh
Donkeys can live 40 years or more and need a donkey companion. They get fat on horse diets, and are prone to laminitis and hyperlipemia, a dangerous fat-metabolism crisis.