Before purchasing a donkey there are several things to consider.  Two very important details come to mind before purchasing a donkey, pedigree and conformation.  Not all donkeys come with a registration or pedigree and these donkeys should not be over looked if they have nice conformation.  The problem is that they will produce foals whose pedigrees are far from complete and this may deter some prospective buyers.  Also you will never know exactly what genes this donkey possesses, therefore it is hard to determine which donkey would make a better breeding partner, assuming that you are try to avoid line breeding.  Registrations that are accompanied by a pedigree will give you a better understanding of the genetic history of the animal.  This information will in turn help you to make better breeding choices. 
 

PEDIGREE
First, it is essential that you understand all that the pedigree can provide. Items to note when looking at a pedigree include looking for line breeding. Line breeding is a practice that is heavily discouraged by both the American Donkey and Mule Society as well as foreign registries. There are a few breeders who have been in the business long enough to truly understand and utilize line breeding to improve the quality of the breed, however, those with minimal experience should steer clear of this practice. You should also know that animals who show line breeding in their pedigree are not eligible to be sold in the foreign market. Below you will see a pedigree. Notice that the third generation is indicated with an arrow. It is not desirable to see the same Sire or Dam indicated more than once in this column or any preceding columns. Also, a pedigree with few unknowns versus several is more desirable.

While on this topic it is important to look for proven animals and/or original imports within the pedigree.  If the donkey does not possess genes from stock who have proven themselves in the show ring this does not mean they are not of value.  Most farms do not show so it is hard to predict the quality of donkeys in the market.  NMDA has a list of herd sires.  Some of these have not shown much if any, but have produced progeny that have gone on to do well in shows (Get of Sire award).  If you are new, looking for the Herd Sire Showcase will also help minimize the chance of purchasing an animal that does not have the genetics to support a sound conformation.  This showcase does not include the more current herd sires, however, you may want to look for showcase donkeys somewhere within the pedigree of the animal you are considering.  Another route you can take is to go to sites like Got Donkeys and look through the posted websites for the best sires in the market looking for relationships among their donkeys and the animal you are considering for purchase.  Finally, you will want to compare the pedigree of the animal you intend to buy to that of your herd.  You will be looking for compatibility and the potential to produce future foals with clean pedigrees.  Sometimes it is difficult to determine what the pedigree of an offspring from a given jack and jennet will look like.  With a program like "Pedigree Biz" one can create a hypothetical mating to determine which combinations (jennets/jacks) are best suited for each other.   

CONFORMATION
 

At our annual conference you will learn how to identify qualities of a sound well conformed donkey.  Some of the best information I have gotten has come from the sources below.  Meredith Hodge has some of the best.  Her training videos are wonderful.  Tape #9 is one of the best for learning how to check the conformation of your animal.  Also, the websites listed below are very helpful.  Something that I have not read about and did not know to check is the tail.  Many donkeys can have a crook in their tail.  Judges don't feel for this, but it is a flaw that can be genetic and passed on to the foals.  Sometimes it is severe enough to be seen.  Other times it is slight and goes un noticed.  Please ask the owner if the donkey you are considering has this.

Also, do remember to check the teeth.  You will want to look for parrot mouth, an overbite of a 1/4 inch or more, or monkey mouth, an underbite of a 1/4  inch or more. 

Remember, too, that the height of the miniatures range up to 36". 

WEBSITES

NMDA Breed Standard
Cooke Livestock
Caring For Your Miniature Donkey (This is a book that can be purchased from the website.  Conformation is on page 16 and 17.  This book has a wonderful description of how to eyeball the overall balance of your animal. 

MAGAZINES

Brayer
Miniature Donkey Talk
Assets