Dumpling was the Queen of El Cascabel. She put us on the map and her fans were from far and wide. Visitors from the United Kingdom even hunted us up at a show so they could see Dumpling, touch her, and tell her hello.
 
 

Kimberly and Dumpling are gypsies in the Costume class at the HLS&R, (above). Kenny and Dumpling in the winner's circle after a win in a Sub-Junior Donkey class,(right).

Sadly, Dumpling was recovering from a virus picked up at a show when she suddenly took a turn for the worse. When drugs failed and she was posturing with seizures, she died while our veterinarian was giving her chest compressions in a last ditch effort to bring her back. What killed her in the end was hyperlipemia, an insidious condition especially deadly to donkeys, miniature horses, and draft horses that have gone off feed.
 
 

Kimberly and Dumpling in the winner's circle, 1990, (above). Kimberly and Dumpling in the winner's circle, 1987, (left).

We were in shock and mourning for a very long time after Dumpling’s passing. Her little buddy, Knee Hi, searched everywhere for Dumpling. He tried his best to peek over the stall dividers to see where Dumpling could be. If her stall was left open, he entered and snuffled and called for her, which is the nearest thing to a donkey crying that I have ever heard. It was heartbreaking. Do animals mourn for each other? Yes, they do.
 
 

Dumpling amid her fans at the end of a show in Pasadena, Texas where she won a saddle for High Point Donkey, (above). Kimberly and Dumpling - all smiles in an early winner's circle photo, (left).

In those eight short years, Dumpling won a total of eight trophy saddles, none of which she could wear because they were meant for a horse (she kept the tack room well stocked for the rest of the barn), a two horse trailer, and more than $10,000 in prize money and other items such as stable blankets, and more tack than can be imagined. Trophies and ribbons took over the living room and spread into most all the other rooms in the house. Dumpling earned her ADMS Versatility Hall of Fame Award and thirty-two Honor Roll Awards. This came to over 6,400 points in all and is an astounding record. Shortly before Dumpling’s death, Betsy Hutchins of the American Donkey & Mule Society said that Dumpling was the “winningest donkey in ADMS history.” Dumpling’s record may be surpassed someday, but there will never be another quite like her. We will always be grateful for the time she spent with us. She was truly one in a million.
 

Kimberly and Dumpling with the two-horse trailer they won for "Most Versatile Junior Exhibitor" at the HLS&R in 1993.  Show scores were combined with scores from written and oral tests to determine the winner, (above). Kimberly and Dumpling with the eighth and last saddle won by Dumpling, (right).

Knee Hi was a miniature donkey gelding who was Dumpling's shadow throughout her years at El Cascabel.  Knee Hi was a winner as well, competing in halter, leadline trail, and driving.  He was also a winner of the American Donkey & Mule Society's Versatility Hall of Fame Award, and  won many Honor Roll Awards.  He was runner-up in the Beautiful Burro Contest many times, usually to Dumpling.