Eye-Catching “Mammoth” Donkeys
Audrey Cadle of Purcellville, Va., first heard of the Mammoth donkey breed when her husband went looking for a sturdy and surefooted pack animal for hunting. Audrey says they were overwhelmed by the size of American Mammoth Jacks (AMJ) when they went to visit a breeder.
“We decided we weren’t ready for Mammoth donkeys and settled on large standard donkeys,” Audrey says. After a few years of learning about and living with donkeys, Audrey felt they were ready for an Amercian Mammoth Jacks. In 2006, the Cadle’s first Mammoth donkeys came home to their farm.
Part of Audrey’s passion for the AMJ is educating people about the breed. “They are a heritage breed that was actually developed by George Washington and a few others. Washington was gifted some large donkeys from Spain and he bred them to the largest he could find in the United States until he was satisfied with the size.” AMJs are so rare they’re listed as critical on The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation priority list.
Audrey turned to agritourism as a way to help promote and preserve the breed. “I first started participating in farm tours by joining our local county’s tour association. They arrange tours twice a year - one in the spring and one in the fall. People would come to my farm during those weekends and I would offer donkey rides, time to pet the donkeys, and I would talk to anyone and everyone about the history and wonders of AMJ donkeys. People would come back year after year to see the donkeys and still do,” Audrey says. “When I saw how much the public loved the donkeys, I started taking them everywhere. We rode them in parades, gave donkey rides at our town Heritage Days, took them to schools, and then started a ‘Donkaholics’ club for kids. Somewhere in there, I decided to try advertising about holding donkey birthday parties.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Audrey Cadle , 37352 Wineberry Lane, Purcellville, Va. 20132 (www.donkeymeadows.com; https://americanjackstock.org/).
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Eye-Catching “Mammoth” Donkeys LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Audrey Cadle of Purcellville Va first heard of the Mammoth donkey breed when her husband went looking for a sturdy and surefooted pack animal for hunting Audrey says they were overwhelmed by the size of American Mammoth Jacks AMJ when they went to visit a breeder “We decided we weren’t ready for Mammoth donkeys and settled on large standard donkeys ” Audrey says After a few years of learning about and living with donkeys Audrey felt they were ready for an Amercian Mammoth Jacks In 2006 the Cadle’s first Mammoth donkeys came home to their farm Part of Audrey’s passion for the AMJ is educating people about the breed “They are a heritage breed that was actually developed by George Washington and a few others Washington was gifted some large donkeys from Spain and he bred them to the largest he could find in the United States until he was satisfied with the size ” AMJs are so rare they’re listed as critical on The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation priority list Audrey turned to agritourism as a way to help promote and preserve the breed “I first started participating in farm tours by joining our local county’s tour association They arrange tours twice a year - one in the spring and one in the fall People would come to my farm during those weekends and I would offer donkey rides time to pet the donkeys and I would talk to anyone and everyone about the history and wonders of AMJ donkeys People would come back year after year to see the donkeys and still do ” Audrey says “When I saw how much the public loved the donkeys I started taking them everywhere We rode them in parades gave donkey rides at our town Heritage Days took them to schools and then started a ‘Donkaholics’ club for kids Somewhere in there I decided to try advertising about holding donkey birthday parties ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Audrey Cadle 37352 Wineberry Lane Purcellville Va 20132 www donkeymeadows com; https://americanjackstock org/
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