Norman donkey — large, massive breed of donkeys of French origin. One of the largest in Europe. Adult males: height at withers 1350–1550 mm (avg. 1450–1480 mm), weight 350000–450000 g; females: 1300–1480 mm (avg. 1380–1420 mm), weight 300000–400000 g. Body length 1400–1650 mm, chest girth 1400–1700 mm. Build strong, bony, with well-developed musculature. Head large, massive, proportional, with a broad and relatively short muzzle, broad flat forehead, powerful lower jaw. Ears very large, long (240–310 mm), wide at the base, slightly rounded, set vertically. Eyes large, dark brown or almost black, widely spaced. Nose straight or slightly convex, nostrils large, oval. Neck short, powerful, muscular, with a crest in males and often with a dewlap. Body deep, wide, barrel-shaped; withers broad, back straight or slightly soft, croup rounded, wide, slightly sloping. Limbs strong, with short strong metacarpals and metatarsals; hooves very large (height at toe 75–95 mm), wide, rounded, gray-black or black. Tail low-set, short (shaft 400–550 mm), with hair brush 250–400 mm. Coat short, dense, coarse in summer, with thick undercoat in winter. Skin thick, well pigmented. Main color: gray (gris souris) of various shades with obligatory clear Saint Andrew's cross (dark stripe along the back and on the shoulders), dark edging of the ears, light mirror around the eyes and on the muzzle, light belly. Dark gray, ash gray, bay (rare), black (undesirable) are allowed. Differs from the basic species and other breeds by significantly greater mass, width and depth of the body, power of the limbs, shorter coat compared to Poitou.