Donkey Foal

I got this after reading that donkeys aren't actually stubborn, just careful, and watching it refuse to cross a tarp for ten minutes proved the point beautifully. That sense of self preservation is exactly what I wanted in a guard animal for my goats.

The foal's self-preservation instinct is no joke—she planted her feet at the gate and refused to budge until she'd checked the footing herself. Once she trusted it, though, she trotted right through. Watching that stubbornness turn into confidence has been worth every patient minute.

I expected a young donkey to bolt at everything, but this foal calmly sizes up new situations before reacting. That whole self-preservation instinct is real, and honestly it makes him easier to handle than I imagined.