Donkey basketball

Photograph of a donkey basketball player.

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. "'Donkey Basketball' Alive and Well in Rural America". Fox News. Associated Press. March 25, 2015. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
2. "Donkey basketball game to raise money for Hominy High School". KOTV News. March 11, 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
3. Johnson, Michael (December 17, 2024). "Donkey ball lives on after 90 years of tossing small-town celebrities". Agriculture Week. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
4. Thomas, Katie (April 17, 2009). "Donkey Ball Holds On Despite Criticism". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
5. Pulley, Mary (2010-03-04). "PETA Calls for Valley School to Cancel Donkey Basketball Game". WHSV News. Archived from the original on 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
6. Roth, Anna (2014-12-09). "The Dark Side of Donkey Basketball". Modern Farmer. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
7. Kelly, John (August 14, 2021). "Baseball played astride donkeys once entertained crowds around the D.C. area". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
8. "History: Donkey Baseball was the sports fad of the 1930s". Bossier Press-Tribune.^{[dead link]}
9. "Donkey Baseball — 1935". YouTube.