Donkey basketball

Donkey basketball is a variation of the standard basketball game, played on a standard basketball court, but in which the players ride donkeys.[1] A donkey basketball game is usually staged as a one-time fundraising event, typically in public schools.[2] Commercial farms[3] provide donkeys and equipment, splitting the proceeds with the hiring party. Donkey basketball has been practiced in the United States since the 1930s.[4]

Donkey basketball has been targeted by animal rights activists, who claim the sport is cruel to animals.[5][6] Critics cite problems caused by inexperienced participants handling the donkeys, such as the beating and kicking of donkeys by the riders and donkey owners, and the intentional starvation of donkeys a few days prior to a basketball game to prevent them from urinating or defecating on the basketball courts.[5][6] Promoters claim the events are "supervised" and the animals are "treated humanely."[4]

A related game, called Donkey Baseball, was popular in the 1930s, with all players, except the batter, pitcher and catcher, straddled on donkeys. The batter would mount a donkey when running bases too.[7] A fielder could dismount a donkey to pick up a ball, but must continue to hold the reins, and must remount before throwing. If he did not, the opposing team would be awarded the base.[8] The game was created in 1934 by Ray L. Doan, and was the subject of a 1935 short film.[9]

References

  1. ^ Press, Associated (2015-03-25). "'Donkey Basketball' Alive and Well in Rural America". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  2. ^ On 6, News. "Donkey basketball game to raise money for Hominy High School". www.newson6.com. Retrieved 2025-10-04. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (2024-12-17). "Donkey ball lives on after 90 years of tossing small-town celebrities". Agweek. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  4. ^ a b Thomas, Katie (2009-04-17). "Donkey Ball Holds On Despite Criticism". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  5. ^ a b Pulley, Mary (2010-03-04). "PETA Calls for Valley School to Cancel Donkey Basketball Game". WHSV. Archived from the original on 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  6. ^ a b Roth, Anna (2014-12-09). "The Dark Side of Donkey Basketball". Modern Farmer. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  7. ^ Kelly, John (2021-08-14). "Baseball played astride donkeys once entertained crowds around the D.C. area". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  8. ^ "History: Donkey Baseball was the sports fad of the 1930s | Bossier Press-Tribune".
  9. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.


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