Feb. 18, 2010 - What was fully intended to be a venture into the goat industry for retired Fannin County couple, R.W. High, 77, and his wife Lenda ,66, in 2005, became a full-fledged passion and love for the Mediterranean Miniature Donkey.
The Highs founded High's Miniature Assets in Savoy five years ago when they fell in love with the donkeys guarding their goats.
"She wanted little Pigmy goats," R.W. said. "Well we were told, 'you better get donkeys to protect them from coyotes.' Well, we put the word out, it was in the dill that we wanted a donkey. We wound up getting four. I'm the type of guy I don't buy just one of nothing."
A man hauling horses for a living had accepted four miniature donkeys as payment for his services and contacted the Highs.
"Well, he has never bought just one of anything in his life," Lenda said nodding toward her husband. "So he says, 'Well lets take the trailer and go down there.' Anyway, the man told us what he wanted for them and we said no. We had already researched and we knew what they were worth.
"We got ready to leave and he said, 'hey, my kids will be getting off the school bus in just a little bit and if they see them, then I'm going to be stuck with them, and I don't even like donkeys.' So he said, 'Load'em up.' So we took all of them, three little jennies and a jack and all the jennies were bred. That was in January 2005, and in May we had three babies."
"Today we have 38," R.W. added.
The Mediterranean miniature originated in Sicily and was imported into the United States. The true Mediterranean miniature will have a cross on its back.
"All the little donkeys have a cross that goes down their back and across their shoulders," Lenda said. "There is a legend about that cross that Mary rode a donkey into Bethlehem when Jesus was born and on Palm Sunday when Jesus went into Jerusalem he told his disciples, and it is in the Bible, to go and find a colt of a donkey. On Palm, Sunday he rode into Jerusalem on a back of a donkey.
"Then when he was going to be crucified, this little donkey, while the procession was going to Calvary, the little donkey followed.... After the crucifixion, when all the crowds left, the little donkey went up to say good bye to Jesus. He said his goodbye, and when he turned, the shadow of the cross fell on his back.
"I have to cry every time I tell it, but that is the legend," Lenda said. "Ever since that day, God has blessed the most humble of his creatures."
"With a cross on it's back," added R.W. "We say it is a legend, but who am I to question the Bible? They are the most loveable little animals and they love people."
"We just love them to pieces," Lenda said.
Because of their love for their donkeys, the Highs do not advertise that they have donkeys for sale. They are particular about who buys their friendly little donkeys, whom they consider to just as close a family.
"People pull in here and they say, 'I want to buy one of those animals,'" R.W. said. "Well, first of all, we do agree with you, they are animals, but they are little Mediterranean donkeys, they are pets. Now, where do you live, do you have a place for them, do you have a barn a shed? A lot of times we will even go there. If we feel a little leery, we won't sell one to them until we see where they are going."
The Highs prefer not to sell their donkeys to people who don't have another companion animal, unless they have a lot of time to spend with it.
"If you get just one, you have to be with them," Lenda said. "Because, they are herd animals and they prefer to have another donkey or a horse or something for companionship."
For the Highs, the worst part about raising donkeys is knowing, eventually, they will have to sell some of them. But they do strive to keep in contact with the buyers.
"Every donkey that's ever left our place, we come in the house and cry," R.W. said. "It is like losing your kid -- it is like your child leaving."
One of the ways the Highs insure they have quality, friendly little donkeys that will never forget them is through the practice of imprinting.
"When our babies are born, we go out and we pick up the little baby, or if it is standing up we sit down on the ground with it," Lenda explained. "We cuddle it and we hold it up real close to us and we rub our fingers and our hands all over its face, all over its nose, we put our fingers in its ears and in its little nose.
"Then we take its little face and we blow our breath in its little nose and that imprints that baby to you," Lenda said. "Then, we rub its little legs and check it all over. Then, we turn it loose and let it go back to its mom. If you do it too much, it will bond with you and not with its mom. They will go off with us and not stay with her."
While the Highs find the practice very successful with the donkeys, it can be used on other animals as well.
"You can do that not with just a donkey," Lenda said. "You can do that with a new born colt, a baby calf, any little baby animal... you can imprint them. Once you imprint them, they will never forget you, they will always know your smell."
And, likewise, the Highs will never forget them either.
To find out more about High's Mini Assets, visit www.highsminiassets.com .
Feb. 18, 2010 -
