Kinedale Donkeys is the descendant of generations of donkey-loving, situated on my parents' old dairy farm outside Ballynahinch, when the Jersey cows left I began filling the space with donkeys.

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Denis the donkey and I visited our first nursing home when we were about 10 years old, simply invited in to provide some enrichment to the residents. Slowly this became a more regular occurrence and thus Denis was seen as a therapy donkey. In my mid-teens I was training our younger donkeys to follow in Denis' hoof-steps learning how to enter a building, walk on slippy floors, get used to oxygen tanks and even travel in elevators. Whenever I opened the farm for customers it became an official part of the business, therapy visits.

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I opened the farm in the Summer of 2020 during Lockdown, as a respite for others as I realised how lucky I was to have the farm, the space and donkey-cuddles at my fingertips. Whenever cafés were offering take-away meals and coffee I would walk my donkeys the two miles into Ballynahinch town to collect treats. This brought many smiles to passers-by and our own road was busy with pedestrians all stopping to chat to the donkeys at the gate. 

Inviting visitors to the farm was a means of providing income to feed the donkeys as I was let go from my hotel job, the goal was always to make the donkeys self-sufficient. I started with cuddle sessions and donkey treks which we still offer today, as well as goat meditation, private group bookings and date nights.

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Further to therapy work and farm visits we provide donkeys for weddings, film-work and more! See our services.