The Story Of Highlander

A gentle giant Jack

Highlander 

In about 2003 Marcia and I began a search for a Mammoth Jack. We responded to advertisements in several states and drove from Texas to Wyoming to Indiana and Missouri looking at medium sized burros that folks were representing as Mammoth. Having seen the halter class (3 jacks) at Houston Fair and rodeo, I knew what I was looking for. The problem was that there seemed to be no real-life donkeys that fit the bill.

Someone suggested I visit Dr. Tex Taylor in Bryan, Texas. At the time we were living in Katy, Texas, so it was a short trip. Finally, here was a man who knew Mammoth Jackstock. Thankfully he wasn’t selling!  He did, however, tell me about a donkey that caught his fancy in LaGrand, Oregon. For him a long trip wasn’t possible just then (I don’t think he had convinced his wife that they needed another big donkey).  Well, Marcia and I happen to have a home in Missoula Montana, and Oregon is just a few hours away. We found Jeanine Rachau’s Blue Mountain website and invited ourselves to look at this young jack. Blue Mountain Highlander is the first and only registered Mammoth that we found for sale in six months of searching.  

I should probably mention that at this time I had no desire to raise big donkeys. My need was to produce a pack string of mules to use in the wilderness of Montana and to charge my neighbors for the same. Actually, this is the true plight of the Mammoth donkey – that they make mules. The world’s largest ass was not developed to ride, pack or drive. Their sole purpose was to produce mules. While the European farmer produced large draft horses, the American farmer developed large draft mule.

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After our purchase of Highlander Jeanine liquidated her herd of jennies and offered us the opportunity to buy a jennet. We bought two. Glad we did. So is Highlander!

It can be a long drive to see them, but everyone is welcome!

God bless.

Bob Doxey – Lazy BD Donkey Farm