Desert Donkey Experiences

10/15/2026

Look at little Marvin! This little mule is just the sweetest boy. He is letting me touch both sides down to his rump, and starting down his front legs. He is now officially easy to halter, and approach (usually- he does still have his moments but they seem to be few and far between.) I am so thrilled with this guy's progress!

10/14/2026

Festie is settling right in! She is enjoying her daily soaked teff pellets with Vermont Blend Balancer, seems to like spending time with Marvin and Teddy the most, and is becoming quite curious of my interactions with my herd.

She is approaching to within about six feet of me, and her interest is very obvious, but overridden by her apprehension, currently. She understands the marker word "yes" means that a treat is going to be tossed her way, and seems to know that when I call out "Festie my bestie" I am talking to her! I am so excited to eventually be able to touch and pet her- I think she is going to turn into a lovebug, in time.

10/12/2026

Meet Festus, aka Festie

I spent my birthday yesterday doing what I love best, helping donkeys. Thanks to the incredible donkey farrier Cynthia, four donkeys were given a new lease on life yesterday. Many who have been in Queen Creek longer than 4 years or so may recognize these donkeys, and I am so incredibly relieved and happy to say that better days are ahead for them. I am housing and will be training this sweet, 20ish year old BLM burro, Festus, over the next few weeks.

Under the matted coat is a donkey who is incredibly intelligent, watchful, and curious.I am so excited to see her personality emerge. I will be posting her training journey and transformation here, as well as uploading videos to my YouTube channel.

I would say having the opportunity to help this sweet girl realize just how great domestic life can be is a pretty wonderful birthday gift!

10/11/2026

Donkey experiences are starting to ramp up now that the weather is starting to cool off! My two most recent experiences were both great, first introducing a family from Canada to my sweet herd for Caitlyn's 21st birthday, then sharing the donkeys with a local family! Both groups had so much fun meeting the donkeys, walking them around the obstacle course and through the neighborhood, petting and brushing them, and just enjoying their social and gentle personalities.

If you would like to book an experience, just message me or contact me at 480-372-3290.

10/06/2026

Yesterday, the boys and I went to visit sweet Gracie, and boy, was my heart about to explode! She seems SO happy, content, and relaxed, and is bonding so well with her donkey companion, Diane, as well as with her incredible foster mom, Julie!

Julie has been spending lots of time just hanging out with Gracie, loving on her, giving butt scratches, and practicing picking up her feet. Gracie is her little shadow and follows her around whenever she is doing chores, demanding attention. She has learned the routine of daily time out in the arena, and knows the drill of coming in and out of her massive, shady stall with Diane. She seems to really trust Julie, and is easily allowing her to handle her, put her flymask on and off, and even is offering her her hind feet to pick up and inspect.

She is also teaching Diane to be much more social, and Diane was right with her yesterday, saying hello to me and the boys, and seeking attention, and of course, animal crackers. It was so much fun visiting them yesterday and getting lots of Gracie kisses and hugs, and observing the love between Julie and her two wonderful jennies! My heart is so happy!

10/03/2026

A Marvin update

Marvin, the pony mule I have in for training, has been a challenge, but a very fun and rewarding one. This little mule would run if I got within 30 feet of him when I first met him, now, he comfortably stands right next to me, engaged and asking for face rubs.

It is definitely slow going with him, much slower than most donkeys I typically work with, but he is allowing me to touch him down his left side to his shoulder, and starting to allow me on his right side as well. He eagerly sticks his nose in the halter, and will touch the fly mask, but goes into fight or flight mode if he feels trapped. He is letting me wipe his face with baby wipes, and I am starting to be able to briefly touch his ears, which were an absolute "no go" initially. He discovered he really enjoys having his forelock and between his ears scratched, and his cheeks rubbed, and will ask for more.

We just got back from five days out of town, and Marvin picked up right where we left off, without any hesitation at all! He is still very apprehensive of new people, but easily allows me to approach and pet him. I am so proud of him, and the way his entire demeanor and attitude are slowly starting to change. Where there was once just suspicion and fear, there is now curiousity and engagement.

There have been many times where I definitely could have cornered him and wrestled a halter or flymask on him, but my big question to myself is, "will this make it easier for the next time?" And I truly believe that if I do that, it will not, but will instead reinforce his belief that people are just going to trap and force him. I have worked with way too many donkeys who have been trained in that way, and undoing that damage and intense distrust of humans is hard and can take a very long time. I would rather take more time, and make it so that when he does allow me to halter him, it is a fear free and easily repeatable process. So many donkeys, and mules, are shut down by high pressure training techniques, and it is something that I personally find heartbreaking.

My biggest goal in training is to create an animal that truly enjoys human company, and doesn't just submit and tolerate it because they know they have no other option. My clients want their donkeys or mules to be pets, first and foremost, although many go on to have jobs such as packing, burro racing, or being a saddle donkey. I feel that most donkeys who truly trusts and enjoy being with their humans will happily do anything asked of them, and can easily transition from "pet" to "working animal."

If you have a donkey in the East Valley area that you need help with, please reach out! I offer training on site, as well as training board on a very limited basis. Donkeys are my passion, and I truly will do everything I can to help donkeys, and owners who want a better relationship with them, thrive.

09/29/2026

I apologize for the lack of posts this week- we have been in Myrtle Beach enjoying sone much-needed time with family! I have tried to actually take some time time to disconnect from social media and working and have enjoyed relaxing, sleeping in a bit, and soaking up every minute with the boys and my in-laws.

I do want to post a very exciting update, however! Before we left town, we moved Gracie to her foster home! Her foster owner has a trailer with a ramp, so we practiced with that on Tuesday, and within twenty minutes Gracie was loading like a pro! I figured she might have an easier time with a ramp than a step-up, due to her cataracts. After a bit of loading practice, we planned to transport her on Thursday, which gave me a few more days to soak up all the Gracie snuggles I could!

Thursday arrived, and I spent time grooming Gracie and just loving on her before her foster mom, Julie, arrived. Once again, she loaded beautifully, and was secured in the trailer within just a few minutes! I was SO proud of brave Gracie! I met her at her new house, and Julie informed me she rode great. Sure enough, she was standing facing backwards in the trailer, and appeared curious but calm. I unloaded her and she led so bravely and politely all the way through her new barn, past two horses, and into her HUGE stall next to Julie's other jenny, Diane. (You can read about Diane and her journey at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HNeuycnXA/)

She settled right in, and immediately began exploring her stall, eating hay, and trying to engage with Diane, who was a bit more suspicious of her new neighbor. I stayed for a while, and was so incredibly pleased with how comfortable Gracie immediately seemed. Julie texted me updates throughout the day, and Friday I stopped by to visit and check in, and we decided to turn Gracie and Diane out in the MASSIVE one-acre arena together. Gracie immediately rolled in the soft footing, and Diane quickly followed her lead. They then spent an hour or so exploring, eating weeds, and calmly hanging out close by each other. When they were ready to return to the barn, they both came and stood by the gate. They then moseyed back into the barn, and chose to go into the same huge stall together.

Donkeys typically enjoy close company with other donkeys, and have much smaller personal space bubbles than horses, so I suggested to keep them together. This stall is also massive, probably 50' x 20' or so, so plenty of room for them to have their own space. Once they were back in I spent some time petting Gracie, cleaning her face, and putting her flymask on, while Julie did the same for Diane. I think that this partnership is going to be wonderful for both jennies, and I am so excited to see the bond that forms between them, as well as between Gracie and Julie!

Of course I checked in on Gracie over the next few days while we have been in South Carolina, and the updates have been phenomenal! Gracie is greeting Julie with her loud bray, allowing her to pet, cuddle, flymask, and interact with her, of course on Gracie's terms. And she is learning her daily routine, eating her Cushing's supplement, and enjoying her life of luxury! I cannot wait to visit her again once we are back in Arizona!

09/27/2026

100% agree. And sadly we have several of these in the area. They also wave all of the red warning flags I mentioned in my previous rescue posts.

🤔 🤔 🤔
Comment of a Reddit user

09/25/2026

Polly, Adam, and I had such a wonderful time at the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce 's Business Awards Dinner last night! Polly entertained attendees with smiles, kisses, and tricks during cocktail hour, and truly seemed to enjoy every minute! The smiles on peoples' faces were so incredible to see, and I just adore seeing how much joy one little formerly wild burro can spread! Thank you so much to the Chamber for inviting us!

All but the first three pictures were taken by the phenomenal Dana Gibbons Photography.