Our donkeys are used to strollers, wheelchairs, and other assistance devices. We are happy to modify our donkey experience to suit your group’s ability and/or activity level.

We do not allow visitors to feed our donkeys. This is for the safety of visitors and for the health of our donkeys. Furthermore, donkeys are extremely smart and we don’t want them to learn bad manners or to “mug” our guests for food. We prefer you show your affection through ear rubs and butt-scratches.

No riding of donkeys is allowed for liability reasons. Also, our donkeys are either miniature donkeys or smaller standard-size donkeys that generally shouldn’t carry the weight beyond that of a small child.

While we offer a donkey kissing booth for many events and parties, we do not provide donkeys for weddings, or beverage burros for any occasion. There are several wonderful beverage burro providers in the greater Phoenix area that we can happily recommend.

Technically, there is no difference between a donkey and a burro. They are both the same species; Equus asinus. However, in the Southwestern United States the term “burro” is often used to refer to wild donkeys, while the term “donkey” is often used for domestic ones. “Burro” is also the Spanish word for “donkey”. At Desert Donkey Experiences, we often use both terms interchangeably.

Donkeys/burros are a distinctly separate species from horses. Mules, however, are a cross between a donkey dad (jack) and a horse mom (mare). If the mother is a donkey (jenny/jennet) and the father is a horse (stallion), the offspring is called a hinny.

While many donkeys can indeed be stubborn, most of what is attributed to stubbornness is actually self-preservation. For example, donkeys cannot be easily pressured into situations that they find suspicious or potentially dangerous. We find that once they trust their handler, they are very willing and cooperative animals.

No, we are not a donkey rescue. If you are looking for a donkey-specific rescue to support, adopt from, or surrender a donkey to, we would love to help educate you on what to look for in a quality rescue and also red flags to be aware of. Please contact us if you have specific questions.

Donkeys are incredibly smart and fun animals, but they do require educated and committed owners. If you are considering owning donkeys, we regularly offer “Introduction to Donkey Ownership” classes that cover everything potential owners need to know before obtaining donkeys.

Absolutely! Contact us for specifics on private consultations, upcoming educational classes, and training options.