No they need Nikes:)

I had to bring this question up because I want to know the answer. I am thinking about getting a donkey.

1) Some people put donkey shoes on their donkeys, others not. I think it depends on how dangerous the ground where they have to walk and what they are doing. There is also an ongoing discussion about the question whether horses really need horseshoes. 2) "Do Donkeys wear shoes? Donkeys have very strong hooves, and do not need shoes, but must have their fast growing hooves trimmed about every 6 - 8 weeks." Source and further information: http://www.asspirinacres.com/FAQ-miniature-donkeys.html Further information: - "Most donkeys do not need shoes. Mammoth donkeys who are ridden extensively may require shoes if their hooves wear faster than they grow out. All donkeys should have their feet trimmed on a regular basis by a knowledgeable farrier." http://www.saveyourassrescue.org/donkeyinformation/faq.html - "Most donkeys don't need shoes - but if they do lots of work on hard surfaces, they might be needed. Regular trims to keep the hoof in shape are usually all that is needed. The ADMS has a hoof packet available ($6 ppd) that can help farriers with their first donkey trims." http://www.lovelongears.com/about_donkeys2.html 3) "Many changes brought about by domestication of the horse have led to weakened feet and a need for shoes, including: Less movement and softer terrain: horseshoes are not needed in nature as the horse walks and grazes continuously over a wide variety of terrain. In the wild, a horse may travel up to 50 miles per day to obtain adequate forage. The consequence of this slow but nonstop travel on the horse's feet is to keep them worn to a small, smooth, even and hard state. The continual stimulation of the sole of the foot keeps it thick and hard. However, in domestication, the customary amount of ground covered by a horse on a daily basis is greatly reduced, and is often very soft, such as irrigated land, arena footing, or stall bedding. Therefore, hooves harden much less and are more vulnerable to injury. Wetter climate: Domesticated horses have moved from the arid steppes to either wetter climates or farming areas with intense irrigation. These softer and heavier soils soften the hooves and have made them prone to splitting, making hoof protection necessary. Consequently, it was in northern Europe that the nailed horseshoe arose in its modern form. Exposure to ammonia: The hooves of horses that are kept in stalls or small turnouts are constantly exposed to ammonia from urine. The hoof capsule is mostly made from keratin, a protein, and is weakened by this exposure. Wearing shoes does not prevent or reduce damage from ammonia exposure. Rather, they are meant to reduce wear on weakened hooves. Improper management: In captivity, without the natural conditioning factors present in the wild, the feet of horses grow overly large, long, fragile and soft. Hence, protection from rocks, pebbles and hard, uneven surfaces is lacking. Horse's hooves require regular trimming and close attention paid to a balanced diet. Without these precautions, cracks in overgrown and overly brittle hoof walls are a danger, as is bruising of the soft tissues within the foot because of inadequately thick and hard sole material. - Physical stresses requiring horseshoes: Abnormal stress: Horses' hooves can become quite worn out when subjected to the added weight/stress of a human, pack loads, cart or wagon. Corrective shoeing: The shape, weight, and thickness of a horseshoe can significantly affect the horse's gait. Farriers trained in hot shoeing can make custom shoes to help horses with bone or musculature problems in their legs. Traction: Traction devices such as borium for ice, horse shoe studs for muddy or slick conditions, calks, and rims are useful for performance horses such as eventers, show jumpers, polo ponies, and other horses that perform at high speeds, over changing terrain, or in less-than-ideal footing. Gait Manipulation: Some breeds such as the Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and other gaited horses are judged on their high-stepping movement. Special shoeing can help enhance their natural movement. [...] Recently, there has been a renewed debate over the traditional role of horseshoes. Observations of feral horses and barefoot domestic horses in natural boarding situations (including being kept on roomy pasture, not in stalls) have provided additional evidence that domesticated horses can grow hooves as healthy as those of feral horses and may not need shoes as often as many people think. Proponents of this idea, also known as the barefoot horse movement, argue that with proper care, horses may never need shoes at any time once they have been properly transitioned. Thus, the debate of when, where, why and if to use horseshoes is a hot topic today." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe 4) Blacksmiths and Donkeys (Real life blacksmiths shoe a donkey in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHplfJ9Vgh4

They like Donkey shoes better... it makes them feel special... ;-)

Maybe not. I think they need... DONKEYSHOES!

No they were the pack animals before camels and horses. They are fine as they are, they are perfect being the asses that they are and you can load things upon them shodless and be at ease.

I have 6 donkeys and i don't put shoes on them. The ground here is very hard and rocky and to be honest their hooves sort themselves out, I have only had them trimmed when they first arrived as they were overgrown because all teh donkeys were abandoned or abused and needed a bit extra TLC when they first arrived. :-D

No, I believe they can settle for hoes from their own species.

It depends on where they live and what kind of work they do.

Typically NO, because they tend to have pretty excellent feet as a rule. But, I suppose anything is possible. Perhaps if there was a problem that needed correcting, but then too...trimming might fix any related issues.

No. They also don't need an apostrophe and an S at the end when it's plural

Typically, no. However donkeys are much more prone to founder than mules. They are from typically pretty arid areas of the world where the diet is sparse and low in nutrition. If you live in an area with good grass, you have to be about as careful of a donkey as you would of a pony. If they founder, they'll develop seedy toe at the least, and then they need shoes to keep gravel and dirt from working up into the diseased area, causing abscesses. But in a normal, healthy donkey, the feet don't need much care at all.

No, they have very strong upright feet with hooves that wear down evenly, as a rule they live in rather dry areas. So they don't need shoes. Mules wold if they were being used a lot. But donkeys are asked to carry as much weight as a horse and have much stronger feet.

It all depends on the usage and the ground type. Basicly you would treat a donkey the same as you would a horse. We have about forty donkeys and showed them if you want more information get a hold of the donkey and mule association

Well it depends all on the owner optional. But it it used to reduce wear and tear on their hooves. I suggest it. If you use the donkey like a horse interms of riding it well greatly help/her.

rarely

no,donkeys are hardy animals and same with hinnies and mules-they have hard feet because of their breed but if they're hoof is cracked on the bottom they should have shoes on

There are special shoes for them. +5