Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[Tess Glanville]

Hi, I'm hoping to do the Camino sometime about April next year, with a donkey...
Why a donkey? Because I do voluntary work for Riding for the disabled (UK) and I want to raise sponsorship for them.
Can anyone out there help me with information about finding and travelling with a donkey? I've read Tim Moore's book, but would love to hear about other peoples experiences....
Cheers,
tess

[sillydoll]

Hello Tess,
How wonderful that you work with Riding for the Disabled. I have a disabled son (now grown up) and always appreciated people like yourself who give of their time to people with disabilities.
You could try these two web sites for starters.
http://www.bourricot.com (its in French but a lot of useful information)
and
http://www.hikingwithdonkey.com/ who can help you plan.
You could also read Tim Moore's book - Spanish Steps.
Good luck,
Sil

[sillydoll]

Sorry Tess - I meant to suggest you read Sophie Thurnhams book The Great Donkey Trek' which is nothing at all like Tim Moore's book Spanish Steps.
She walked through Spain and France to Rome with a donkey in 1990.

[Pellegrina8]

I, too, have been thinking of walking with a small donkey, or burro. It was on the suggestion of my partner so I wouldn't be burdened by a pack and also have a companion. I'd love to hear of your experience with a donkey once you complete your pilgrimage. Also any other info you find in the meantime. I am just beginning to plan mine.
EULTREIA, ESUSEIA!
--Pellegrina8
(USA)

[Whalleyranger]

I met a Swiss guy at the albergue in Ruitelan last summer. He was walking with a donkey but taking his time with it - he was working at the hostel when I passed through and said he'd been en-route for several months, stopping where and when he could find work.

Enough people must have met him to be able to track him down and ask him for information.

[caballero]

I am going to do the Camino starting in September 2007 and I was thinking about doing part of the trek by horse. As such, I have looked for resources on this subject, and there is a link to a guy who is selling a book about the subject. I don't have the book yet, but it supposedly includes information about stables, veternarians, etc which seems to me to be just as useful if you are going with a donkey. Here's the link:
http://www.elcaminoacaballo.com/

Am I the only one who thinks that going by horse or donkey is just about the coolest way to go?

[spursfan]

You should also get "Horseshoes and Holy Water" by Mefo Phillips about their pilgrimage from Canterbury through France and Spain to Santiago on horseback

[esseesee]

For all those who are thinking of travelling with a horse or a donkey - whether to carry you or your luggage - can I please caution you to learn how to handle and care for the animal BEFORE you set out?

As a pilgrimage and possibly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, blisters and tendonitis may be tolerable for you - but it is neither fair, right or Christian to impose such things, or their equine equivalent, on an animal companion.

Even the most experienced people have problems with their equines.

Would you be resentful if saddlesores or hoof problems delayed your journey, or if veterinary expenses meant that you had to budget even more tightly for yourself? You will have to provide food for the animal, too, and this will be a further difficulty/expense/comsumer of time, depending on the season of course.

Do not underestimate the time needed to care for animals, either. I trekked along the Bicentennial Trail here in Australia for some 700km this winter just gone, with a riding horse and a pack mule. My mountain biker companions, despite their far greater energy expenditure during the day's travel, could relax a lot more in the evening. I still had "stable duties" on arrival at the campsite every arvo and every morning before leaving ...

Just a few words of warning from someone who hopes to travel to Santiago in 2008 with an Exmoor pony and a pack donkey (or two). I did not put myself off and never could do, but that is because I love equines for what they are, and always have done.

PS I am over 60 with knee problems; riding is no problem at all but walking and cycling is. Hence the equines!

[JustRob]

Travelling with pack animals has its own demands on humilty. Your animal is your first concern in the morning and your last concern at night. When resting, you care for your animal before giving the slightest attention to yourself.

It's an interesting spiritual and physical exercise, but not necessarily easier than going on foot. Just different.

[caballero]

excellent points esseesee and all. Personally, I wouldn't want to do the whole trail by horse. I think you would have to be a serious equestrian for such an undertaking. I think it would be a cool way to do the final few days, and a great way to arrive in Santiago. I will be in South America for 4 months this year before doing the camino, and I thought I would do some riding down there. Maybe arrange a multi-day trek/camp in Argentina and see how it goes.

[Barbara]

Please give careful thought as to where the donkey will go after the Camino. Mine lives with me, and we are moving house so that she can have a better field close to the house instead of 800 metres away, also donkeys need company and work to do when they are not walking with you. You can't just park them, you know, and you will almost certainly bond to such an extent that you will not want to part......
I spent four months waking with Dalie, and the biggest problem is accommodation in towns. No problem in the country with a tent, but sometimes it is nice to be able to do some visiting.
Please do not do this unless you really want the company, it is not a way to look cool, it is rewarding but you will meet a lot of instant experts, who will probably drive you mad with unasked advice.
I walk, the donkey carries the bags and provides intelligent company. I find the accomodation for both of us. Food is not a problem, she eats grass, fruit, bread, vegetables, chocolate, and cereals. (Muesli or spaghetti if there is nothing else.....) Horses are harder to feed.... :

[Rebekah Scott]

We had our first donkey guest stay in our barn last night. He didn´t mind sharing quarters with two lunatic dogs, and he left us a nice bit of fertilizer for the roses.

His human companion said he´s considering finding a home for Homer, because the donkey is just too slow. Donks only go about 2.5 km per hour, considerably slower than most hikers walk, and they will not be hurried!
I think they are wonderful animals. If we had adequate pasture here, I´d give slow Homer a home right now.

Another consideration: how fast do you want to travel?

Rebekah, who prefers mules for camino travel

[Barbara]

speedy they are not, but mine walks at the same speed I do, which is 4.5 km/hour. The average is a lot less though, nearer 3 but that is because everyone wants to stop and talk to her.......

[Dale]

I'll be walking in April and May I sure hope I encounter you and your Donkey on, "The Way". I did some Helpx projects last year. http://www.helpx.net I worked with two lovely Donkeys in Veletri Italy, Bella and Nutella . Hope you have a wonderful experience with yours