I get a lot of questions about putting blankets on donkeys in the winter. Although there are exceptions, I don't make it a practice of using blankets. I prefer to allow the donkey to build up a natural tolerance to the cold and grow a proper winter coat. Placing a blanket on a donkey when it's not needed may interrupt the donkey's ability to acclimate to the cold. There are times when a donkey might need a blanket: if the donkey is sick or elderly or if the donkey is very young. I also use light weight, nylon turnouts in the early fall to keep the donkey dry when I'm in the backcountry. To keep a donkey warm, it's important to provide adequate shelter and protection from the wind and moisture. Also, donkeys need good forage when the weather gets cold to maintain their internal body temperature. Finally, a donkey that is not free of parasites and worms may not be able grow or shed their coats.