At the beginning of August, donkeys, but also llamas and alpacas compete against each other in Malbun. The challenge is to master an obstacle course – but it is often not so easy for the companions to guide the unconventional animals. It’s a lot of fun for the spectators!
The Donkey Festival also features a “Donkey Grand Prix”. The winner is the first donkey to complete the course before the watchful eyes and encouraging cries of the many spectators lining the route leading from the Alpine Hotel Vögeli to the Valley Station Sareis, and back.
Once again, this extremely entertaining race demonstrates that donkeys prefer being encouraged, rather than being drilled, and that practically nothing unsettles them.
And because taking part in the Donkey Festival is more important than winning, some riders go on to complete a round of honor – not always voluntarily, but neverth
eless.
Whatever appears to be the result at the end of the day, all are the same and all have good reason to be happy: the donkeys who can graze to their heart’s content on the green meadows. And the visitors who can spend the end of a c
onvivial day in or around the festival marquee, at the heart of Malbun.
