THIS rare donkey and Shetland pony cross is already wowing visitors at her Purbeck adventure park home.
Mary, named after her donkey father, Cookie, and the park owners’ daughter’s love of chocolate chip biscuits, is just one week old.
She was born at Putlake Adventure Farm last week, to Shetland pony mum Flame.
Speaking from the Langton Matravers attraction, park proprietor Alfie O’Connell said: “My daughter likes Maryland cookies, so we settled on Mary for her name.
“I’ve been in this game for years and I’ve never heard of this cross before. I suppose it must happen though.
“She is a week old now and all the locals have heard about her and have been coming up to see.”
Mary is already proving she’s quite a headstrong girl – she’s running around her pen bucking everything like a donkey.
Alfie said: “Cookie is about the same size as the Shetland, but we don’t know how big Mary is going to get.
“I reckon we will end up with a miniature mule.
“Cookie, the dad, has a hell of a lot of character and people come from miles around just to see him.
“A lot of people have fallen in love with Cookie, because he talks to you – he comes up and brays.
“We’re hoping Mary will also be a big star.”
The farm boasts a range of attractions, including a big indoor play zone, a number of alpacas and crazy golf.
Alfie said: “People are gradually coming through, but we are not as busy as we’ve been in past years.
“I think this may be because of the recession.
“However, as soon as the youngsters come in, they go up to Mary and stroke her.
“She loves it, she just stands there and lets them pat her.”
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