Talking Taylor part one: A rehoming story

As Equine Coordinator Emily Francis leads a gentle-natured donkey called Taylor to a patch of grass, there is a feeling of optimism in the springtime air.

The nineteen-year-old mare has come through her first rehoming assessment with flying colours; her calm disposition shining through in every examination held on the day.

“She’s lovely,” Emily smiles. “Taylor has got great potential for our Rehoming Scheme. She has got no specific needs and an easy-going nature, which was originally observed when she was relinquished into our care.

“Things are looking great so far.”

Taylor was first mooted to join our Rehoming Scheme at the beginning of 2025. Initial observations told of her interest in people; she sought human contact and welcomed scratches and attention.

But Taylor was also a rarity – a donkey who was happy in her own company. Despite suffering a bereavement in her past – her companion Brett passed away in June 2024 – Taylor has kept remarkably cheerful and content at our Woods Farm in Devon.

“We don’t often get single females who can be rehomed,” Emily explains. “If all goes well, I’d hope that Taylor can find a new friend in a loving Guardian home. She deserves that opportunity as she is such a sweet donkey.”

However, rehoming isn’t as simple as selecting a donkey and matching them with a Guardian home. There are several moving parts that all have to click into place.

At the time of writing, Taylor is one of 25 donkeys currently being prepared for rehoming at The Donkey Sanctuary. In 2024, 125 donkeys left our sanctuary farms and holding bases dotted around the UK to be rehomed with dedicated Guardian homes (113 rehomed donkeys were UK-based, 12 lived in Ireland).

For Taylor, today’s meeting with Emily is the first step in her rehoming journey.

A ‘beautifully behaved’ donkey

As she picks up a head collar, Emily waits for Taylor to approach before fitting it. Taylor does just that; leisurely walking forward and touching it gently with the tip of her nose.

“This is good,” Emily says. “Taylor came to me and has shown an interest in the head collar. This shows that she’s not afraid of it, nor is she head-shy.”

Fitting donkeys with a head collar provides our Equine Coordinators with what Emily describes as a ‘behavioural baseline’.

If any donkeys show reluctance to be fitted with one, or demonstrate extreme behaviour such as bolting or turning away, it gives us an idea of any future work that may be required to support them on their journey.

“Our farms are usually great when suggesting donkeys for rehoming,” Emily says. “When discussing Taylor with me, they told me she was consistent in her everyday handling and enjoyed human interaction. They thought she would be a great pick for going out to a Guardian home.”

Emily now leads Taylor through a gate and up a small hill to the rear of Woods Farm.

“Taylor has shown a willingness to walk and is engaged – she is curious about where we are going,” she continues. “She is happy being led, which is good news. Sometimes donkeys don’t want to be led, which can be a tricky thing to overcome in a private home.”

Once she reaches the top of the hill, Taylor begins grazing while Emily carries out a physical examination; touching her legs and underbelly, including her udder.

Any flinching or movement away would be noted, but Taylor remains non-plussed. The only sounds are the grinding of her teeth as she chews lazily.

“I’m very pleased,” Emily says. “Taylor is happy to be touched and had no issues with me checking her udder either. She has been beautifully behaved so far.”

The verdict

As Taylor is led back to a paddock at Woods, Emily has one more examination to carry out. She needs to pick out Taylor’s feet; something that should be carried out daily in a Guardian home.

“Donkeys’ feet aren’t suited to the wet British climate,” she adds. “Picking out feet allows Guardians to keep an eye on their donkeys’ foot health and identify any common ailments such as seedy toe or thrush.

“These conditions often arise from prolonged exposure to wet, muddy ground.”

As Emily lifts up her feet, Taylor remains unperturbed. She has shown a resounding calmness through every stage of her examination so far; a trait that Emily has noticed from the beginning.

Emily says: “Taylor approached straight away which was a great sign, so I was quietly confident that she would do well today.

“The next step for her will be a deep dive into her medical history to make sure that her veterinary records are up to date.

“We will look for sarcoid history, and the date of her most recent blood test. As donkeys are such stoic animals, medical issues aren’t always obvious on first look so we need to make sure there are no underlying anomalies or issues that could develop in the future.

“This is as important for prospective Guardians as it is for us, as it gives them an insight into their donkeys’ medical history, which is important when they insure their animals.”