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]
