Versatility Trail Program (VTP)
As much as we love to show our donkeys, plenty of our members enjoy trail riding their donkeys. At NASMDA you can join our VTP program and earn awards for your hours in the saddle on any of your long ears!
Our donkeys are smart and sensitive animals and need to be handled as such. Donkeys have long provided a punch line about stubbornness for the masses. NASMDA shows and programs provide a show case for willing, trainable animals and are loved by their owners and enjoy their jobs.
Our performance donkeys are mammoth and standard. Our mammoth donkey jacks are 56.01" and taller and our mammoth Jennets are 54.01" and up. Our standard donkey jacks are 48-56" and standard jennets are 48-54".
While we sometimes combine shows with mini donkeys, we do not offer classes or registration for mini donkeys.
In short, if you want to spend time in the saddle, you can do it with a donkey. Donkeys are stronger than their size would suggest, and if you haven't had experience with them we suggest you work with someone knowledgeable. We have professionals throughout the country that can help you with your donkey wishes.
Hello from the North American Saddle Mule and Donkey Association! Up until recently our name was North American Saddle Mule Association. We have recently restructured our association and have made the slight change to our name.
Adding donkey to our name was an easy choice because without donkeys, there would be no mules! And while we depend on jack stock for our mules, that doesn't mean we limit their usefulness to the breeding barn.
In NASMDA, our donkeys are true, all around athletes and we treat them and present them that way. We have halter conformation classes for animals as young as weanlings through aged stock. We have divisions for Jennets (females), Geldings, and Jacks(breeding males). We offer showmanship for our youth and amateur donkey competitors.
Our donkeys compete in English events, including hunter hack and working hunter, in addition to English pleasure and equitation. Western events, such as Western pleasure, reining, trail, and "donkeymanship" for our youth and amateur members are offered.
Driving is definitely a favorite event for our donkey competitors and we again offer several classes, including pleasure driving. We also offer obstacle driving and snigging. If that all sounds a little too slow for you, we also have speed classes and our donkeys love to run!
NASMA Executive Secretary, Debbie Walkinshaw
Jardot's Jewels Blaze owned by Peggy Knight
Photo by John McCarthy
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