Julia?
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=TO&Date=20020923&Categ ory=NEWS21&ArtNo=109230066&Ref=AR If you notice something that's not quite a donkey, not quite a zebra, and definitely not a horse grazing at the University of Findlay's farm, stop and take a closer look. Two zonkeys - half zebra, half donkey - are visiting the farm from New Mexico while their owner, former UF student David MacDonald, works on a project in Detroit. He thought exposing pre-veterinary and equestrian students to the extremely rare cross-breeds would be a great learning opportunity. "We get to teach them that these animals have a different attitude," Mr. MacDonald said, referring to their naturally wild side. "These students out here aren't just going to be working on quarter horses their whole lives." Dr. Michael Kerns, associate professor of animal science and director of veterinary services at the university, said the zonkeys have been a great addition to the horses and the more traditional "Old MacDonald" farm animals the students handle. "When you first see them, you take a double look," he said. "They look like donkeys, and then you think: Stripes? They have very outstanding stripes on them, so immediately you think of zebras." Lauren Murphy said she thought a pair of donkeys had arrived at the farm when she drove in one day and saw them grazing in the pasture. The stripes made her realize these were no donkeys, and the animals' demeanor emphasized that. "They make you appreciate the fact that they are still wild," the junior pre-vet major said. "The one definitely takes longer to warm up to people than the other one does. It makes you realize you have to go slow. You can't just rush right in." Dr. Kerns said he's using the opportunity to teach his students about interspecies crosses, how to read an animal's body language and temperament, and how to take a zonkey's temperature and listen to its heart and lungs. "I think it helps them to understand that it doesn't matter what the animal is. They all have hearts. They all have lungs," he said. Toni Bockelman, a senior pre-vet major, said none of the students has ridden the zonkeys, but they've led them around and watched Mr. MacDonald climb into their saddles. "It really amazes me how much more sensitive they are than horses," she said. "They're definitely very, very cool." Mr. MacDonald, a master blacksmith who specializes in architectural metal work, said he was a reluctant zonkey owner at first. The two zonkeys had been roaming free across New Mexico for about a year and a half when a client of his rounded them up along with some llamas. "I said a what and a what?" Mr. MacDonald recalled. "I thought they were some big, hairy, mutant things. I thought they'd be ugly." He said that when he finally got a look at them, he still wasn't sold. He knew it would take intensive time and work to break them. They were very flighty, easily spooked. "If you sneezed - anything - it would set them off," he said. Two years later, he's able to saddle and ride both Zena and Zelda. The two are 5-year-old half-sisters born three months apart from the same zebra stud but different donkey moms. They are a curiosity to passers-by and to animal lovers who like to check them out at the rodeos and demonstrations Mr. MacDonald has taken them to. While some crossbreeds, such as the sturdy, hard-working mule - which is a cross of a male donkey and a female horse - are very functional, the zonkey, Dr. Kerns suspects, is more of a novelty, a conversation piece. Mr. MacDonald said that in his case they've also been a boon to his metalsmith business in Los Lunas, N.M. Conversations about the zonkeys have led to quite a few job referrals, he said. "They're great advertising for me," he said. The zonkeys will be at UF's western equestrian farm for the next few weeks. The farm is located just south of Findlay, a quarter mile west of U.S. 68 on Township Road 40. xponent Chimera Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
