BRAE ACRE’s LITTLE DUMPLING

Kimberly and Dumpling in a Trail class at HLS&R, 1988.

Winning the pleasure class at their first HLS&R Donkey & Mule Show in 1985.(above).

Dumpling could be temperamental at times as well as comical, especially when she was with Knee Hi, a miniature donkey gelding and her partner in crime. Once they deposited all the training pylons in the pond. Do you think they were trying to tell us something? Most of all, she had a big heart and a lot of “try.” The epitome of donkey nature: kind, humble, gentle heart (though misunderstood by many), Dumpling became a donkey ambassador and was referred to often as such. She taught us all a lot. Take time and pay attention and learn a thing or two from a donkey or mule. Stubborn? No! Intelligent? Yes! When Dumpling avoided man-hole covers during parades, and horse people giggled, you could almost hear Dumpling snickering, “Only a dumb horse would step on that thing with nothing but vacant space beneath it.”
 

Kimberly & Dumpling executing a 360 degree turn in the Showmanship class at the Fort Bend County Fair Donkey & Mule Show, Rosenberg, Texas,  1984.  This was their first show together and they won High Point Junior Donkey.

Goofing off before class.

Kimberly and Dumpling won High Point Junior Donkey at their very first show shortly after they teamed up. This began a partnership of which few can boast. There was no stopping them after that and soon Kimberly had drawers full of trophy buckles still in their wrappers. Their High-Point awards are too numerous to mention, but the highlights were always the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s Donkey & Mule Show. This is one of the biggest longears show you will see and is spread over four days. Of the eight years that Kimberly and Dumpling showed there, they won four High Point saddles in the Junior Donkey division, and Reserve High Point Junior Donkey three times. They also won a two horse trailer for Most Versatile Junior Exhibitor. Kimberly is also very proud that she and Dumpling attended the National Donkey & Mule Show when it was held at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. They won Reserve National Champion Junior Donkey.
 

Kimberly & Dumpling dispel the myth that donkeys can't gallop or perform speed events.  Here they are polebending at the Pasadena, Texas Donkey & Mule Show. (left)  Grand entry at a Little Britches Rodeo.  They held their own against the horses in all the speed events and gave them a run for their money. (above)

Kimberly showed Dumpling in every Junior class including Halter, Showmanship (they excelled here), Driving, Pleasure, Trail and Speed Events. Not only that, but my husband, Arturo, showed her in the Adult classes and little Kenny showed her in Sub-Junior. There were many times that Dumpling won High Point Awards for all three riders in a single show!! She won numerous Year End High Point Awards in different divisions as well.