Do We Really Need A Donkey

1 Corinthians 12:271 Thessalonians 5:11Hebrews 10:23–25

My friend TD has a barn full of some of the most beautiful, athletic, and intelligent horseflesh I have ever been around. Several years ago, we were talking about how blessed she was with the host of talent in her barn, and she made a joking comment in passing: “There will be no ugly horse in this barn.”

We should be careful what we say in jest—because sometimes God takes our offhand words and turns them into a lesson. And that is exactly what He did.

TD had agreed to board and work with a horse that had been injured. He needed light rehabilitation and some gentle barrel work to prepare him for competition again. When Jag arrived, he didn’t come alone—he came with a companion… a small donkey. Jag’s owner explained that the donkey was essential for averting his anxiety and stress levels. For years, trainers have recognized that stable mates provide continuity, comfort, and emotional stability for high-performance equine constantly on the road.

In earlier years, trainers experimented with sheep and goats—low maintenance and easy to house. Not only were the horses unable to bond with them, but their nervous, reactive behavior intensified the chaos instead of calming it. However, donkeys were different, in chaotic environments, they remain steady. Where goats scatter and sheep react, donkeys stand grounded—quiet, watchful, unmoved. And over time, trainers began to see what mattered most for the equine athlete was not just companionship—but the right kind of presence.

TD initially had no intention of housing donkey in the barn. Nevertheless, Jag, could not function without him. So, both Jag—and the donkey—stayed. TD’s seasoned barrel mare, Remilee (whose story is told in Run the Race), began to take interest in the little donkey. Before long, TD noticed something unexpected—a bond was forming… This was significant.

Remilee has her own challenges—genetic conditions that made competition difficult. She struggled with traveling alone, food allergies, muscle issues, gastric complications, and anxiety. The Lord was working on TD’s heart, and she began to see things differently. Remilee’s success required the right kind of presence not a goat or another horse but a donkey.

After Jag left, TD made a decision, she saw the proof for herself. So, she went looking for a donkey. And she found one—a small, coal-black donkey with a name as grand as her purpose: Princess Mariana Falina Rachelle A'nessa. Two animals, from different species classification bonded.. they are now inseparable. From the day Mariana arrived at TD’s barn there was no longer an option—wherever Remilee goes… Mariana goes.

I sometimes marvel, though I shouldn’t at God’s creative artistry and the ability to provide one creature to meet another’s need.

So… Why a Donkey?

The practical answer is clear. Donkeys bring a unique blend of qualities that directly offset a horse’s natural and deeply ingrained flight instinct. As prey animals, horses are wired for survival through immediate escape. Their ability to detect danger and respond instantly is not learned—it is built into their physiology. When faced with fast movement, loud noise, or unfamiliar stimuli, a horse’s brain triggers the rapid release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, preparing the body to flee before the mind has time to process.

The donkey though brings a different response into that environment. Where the horse is reactive, the donkey is resolute. Donkeys carry a quiet, territorial awareness—a watchful presence that does not panic but instead they introduce a steadying influence into the barn. Their temperament is calm, measured, and consistent, creating a natural counterbalance to the heightened sensitivity of a performance horse.

Unlike the structured hierarchy seen in a herd of horses, donkeys form deep, non-competitive bonds. Their connection is not about dominance, but attachment. This relational composure becomes especially important for horses that struggle with anxiety or the travel agitation. The donkey does not compete for position—it simply remains present.

There is also a practical resilience of the donkey that cannot be overlooked. They are hardy, adaptable, and low maintenance—well-suited for the demands of life on the road. Their longevity, often spanning almost five decades, and their highly social nature allow them to form lasting, dependable attachments that do not waver with circumstance. And perhaps most importantly, when chaos enters the environment—when noise rises, when tension builds—the donkey does not escalate with it, remaining consistent, non-reactive and steady.

The Spiritual Parallel … And this is where the lesson begins to deepen.

If you have ever experienced hauling horses to rodeos, jackpots or stock shows, you already understand how fragile that balance can be. Even seasoned horses—well-trained, disciplined, and experienced—can become unsettled when the environment shifts. A sudden noise, unfamiliar surroundings, or rising tension can trigger that instinct to flee. A horse once focused becomes scattered. What was once steady becomes reactive.

And if we are honest, that response is not limited to the barn … It is the human condition … our condition.

We live in a world filled with constant stimulation—noise that demands attention, pressure that stirs anxiety, and fluctuation that unsettles the heart. Like the horse, we are often quick to react before we take time to discern. Our thoughts race. Our emotions rise. Our sense of peace begins to fracture under the weight of everything pressing in around us. Just as the donkey brings a different presence into the barn, God has provided a different presence for us. He has not left us to navigate the noise alone.

God equips us for peace through His Spirit, His Word, and a community of believers. Yet not all relationships foster peace, many may respond as flighty sheep and goats. We must discern which voices and environments contribute to fear and instability, failing to strengthen our faith. At times some of our earthly companions, will mirror the panic of sheep and goats scattering in chaos.

Still, God will provide the truth that anchors us. It is through His provision that we encounter the steady influence of others, who do not waver when circumstances change. God places firmly anchored people in our lives, like the donkey — who remains calm in chaos and grounded in truth. In His wisdom, He has not called us to walk alone but in community. These individuals remind us of His Word when we feel overwhelmed and stand firm with us when everything feels uncertain. The Lord provides, not a little companion but the Body of Christ with the needed depth of maturity in a crisis. The church is to resemble the presence of His Spirit. In times of crisis, they return our focus to His Word, they steady our faith while the furor of a storm buffets.

But, beyond the presence of others, there is a deeper anchoring still. Because the ultimate steadiness we need is not found in people alone—it is found in Christ. He does not react to the chaos of this world. He is unmoved by it. And when we abide in Him, His steadiness begins to shape our response.

Final Reflection

Mariana did not look like she belonged in a barn full of the equine elite. But what she provided was not external beauty or athleticism but community, steadiness in chaotic circumstances. We all need community to speak the truth of His Word into our frenzied world, and to remind us of who our trust is anchored in. My challenge to each of us is not only to find your encouragers but to become an encourager (i.e., a little donkey) to others in need.