Egyptian Teen and Donkey Defy All Odds

Egyptians are talented and this morning we are learning that so too are this nation’s donkeys. Spreading through social media today is a young teen and his magnificent ass that has overcome the species' stubbornness and is jumping hurdles on command.

In the village of El-Arid, north of the Nile delta of Cairo, is a 14-year old farmer, Ahmed Ayman, who has proven that a donkey can learn new tricks. One day the young teen and his beloved companion encountered a canal blocking their way. Instead of turning back or looking for a bridge, the gravity defying donkey decided to leap over the canal, instantly inspiring his owner to train the extraordinary donkey to reach new heights. Talking to AP, Ayman states "We got a very small barrier, and would make it higher and higher each day."

The training immediately paid off as the pair began performing for the children in the village, using a wooden baton to motivate his donkey to do his best impression of a jumping equestrian. Capturing this unusual behaviour was Ayman's cousin, who posted the photo online where it spread quickly on social media.

"I have never seen a jumping donkey before. We even tried it with another donkey and when it reached the barrier it stopped," said Abdel-Moneim Sayed, Ayman's uncle. "A donkey is very stubborn. If he knows that he cannot pass a barrier he will not even try, no matter what you do," he tells AP.

For some they will say that this story re-enforces stereotypes of a poor Egypt, however at such young age, Ahmed Ayman has proven that donkeys are able to make the leap and that he himself is a talented trainer and jumper. This is exactly the kind of talent that the sporting federation should be looking for, because if he can train a donkey to jump like horse, then there is no telling what he could train a horse to do.

Photography by: Associated Press Photographer Amr Nabil.