For thousands of years donkeys were an integral part of human life.  Modern life has taken most of the burden off burros backs but what does the future hold for our equine companions? Shane takes a deep dive into ungulate evolution and contemplates how hooves ambled their way along various branches on the tree of life to figure out how donkeys even came to exist in the first place. This week’s guest is Colorado State University, Dr. Sarah King joins the show.  In collaboration with USGS, Dr. King leads research on the behavior, ecology, and demography of feral horses and burros in the American west. Through her position as co-chair of the IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group, Dr. King works with researchers to conserve endangered equids around the world. Additionally Dr. King is a professional animal trainer, offering training and behavior support for dogs and horses. If you are in need of dog, horse, or donkey training, check out Sarah’s Brenin Behavior https://breninbehavior.com/ for a free zoom consultation and if you happen to be in Colorado, there are in person opportunities. InShane Deal of the week: The clothes in this episode were by Threyda .  Save 10% (and support this show) with offer code ‘InShane’.