What is
Kinedale Donkeys?
In short, an Activity Farm & Therapy Animals
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.
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.
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.
Further to therapy work and farm visits we provide donkeys for weddings, film-work and more! See our services.
