The Donkey Shop

09/12/2024

It is with deep regret and sadness, and overwhelming disappointment, that I need to announce the cancellation of the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival.
Some things have happened not the way they should have, and I am not prepared to compromise the event, by trying to patch it back together. The event that I organised on my own in 2015 was a great success, without any drama, and that is the type of event that I want to present.
The event is about the celebration of donkeys, and teaching people about them. That is our focus, and I don’t want to lose sight of that.
I was looking at trying to postpone to another date, but I think it will be better if I stop, reset, and look for a date in 2026.
If you are a stall holder, please reach out, as I do not have your contact details, neither of the phone numbers on the flyer are mine.
Please call me on 0409664074. I am aware that many of you have already paid, and I want to make sure that is sorted.
I am deeply sorry for all of the people this affects, and all of the people who have helped me so far. Your assistance is very much appreciated. I do hope that you will come together to create something amazing with me for 2026, which is better presented, with less complications.
Much love. Linda Jay

06/12/2024

Being the Christmas season, the donkeys have been very busy out and about, spreading Christmas Joy all over suburban Melbourne.
Ruby has been doing lots of Nativity shows… with one more to do tomorrow.
A teacher took these photos of us resting under the trees together, between shows on Thursday. 🙂❤️🫏🌿
Spice has also really stepped up to the plate with donkey rides. She did a wonderful job at Merry Monbulk yesterday. I am sooo proud of her, The funny thing is, she was so keen to work, that whenever Ruby was giving a ride, Spice would paw the ground and toss her head in impatience, because she thought she was missing out !! She was very keen to be the one doing the action… and it helps that she knows that she gets one slice of carrot per ride. 🙂
I think she was worried, at first, that Ruby was getting all the carrots 🥕 🤣
She eventually worked out, there was plenty to go around 🥕🥕🥕🥕❤️🫏🫏

03/12/2024

Hello, some people are getting mixed up between the link to last year’s festival and this year’s festival. (and the old link has been accidentally inserted a few times, as Facebook keeps selecting it when I type)
Please look for 2025
Here is the link to the event page for Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival 2025
Please click on interested or going, which helps us promote the event, as well as keeping you in touch with any updates. ❤️

https://facebook.com/events/s/yarra-ranges-donkey-festival-2/537348642081009/

26/11/2024

Hello Entrants,
The below link is the entry form for competing with your donkeys at the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival.
Please complete the form and pay the registration fee, and email the completed form to [email protected]
Or send it back via messenger.
It is really important that we receive the forms as it enables us to determine how many donkeys and mules we will have, and of what type, and then we can add to, alter or omit classes accordingly, which makes it soooo much easier to have an accurate schedule and smooth running of the day. ❤️🫏

21/11/2024

Spice and I have been wandering around Warburton again, including up and down stairs , and along the river, We met some lovely people and did some window shopping. Spice particularly liked this shop, but perhaps it was just her reflection 🙂❤️🫏
We handed out some more flyers for the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival, and people seem excited about the new venue. 🙂

20/11/2024

Spice and I went for a walk on the rail trail today, partly to promote the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival, and also to prepare her from some very important work that she has got coming up.
It was hard to take a photo of her in front of the sign, because she kept trying to follow me… which isn’t all bad.
She seems to love her outings, and walks fluently on and off the float. Such a pleasure to be out and about with ❤️🫏🌿
We might even do it again tomorrow 🙂

17/11/2024

Tonight I sat at Site 3, while I was filling the donkey’s water trough. It really is a beautiful spot to watch the donkeys and the sunset.
Site 3 is a smaller campsite, tucked in behind the chicken yard… and so not suitable for large caravans or big set ups, but it really is a sweet, private spot…. and now, is such a beautiful time to camp… especially with three baby miniature donkeys to cuddle.
Book via HipCamp Iron Brook Donkey Farm.
🌅🫏🌿

https://www.hipcamp.com/en-AU/land/victoria-iron-brook-donkey-farm-6p0hrmn2?share_id=28znz67s7ul&utm_medium=share&utm_source=share_content

16/11/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18C2RATvmj/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Send a message to learn more

16/11/2024

Last week we introduced two new girls to the herd. Meet Lightning and Brontë (Brontë means Thunder in Ancient Greek. They are Australian Teamster Jennies.
I often speak passionately about Australian Teamsters. Those are the ones that were used in large driving teams carrying incredible loads across this broad country… before being released into the wild when they were no longer of purpose… and then evolved over generations in our desert, to become their own breed, which is listed in the rare breeds trust, while also being a feral animal.
My mission is to pick the best of the best Australian Teamsters, and breed them in a domestic environment and train them for riding and packing, which will help open people’s eyes to how fabulous they are.
Helen Robertson and Ruth Walker have been on a similar mission for many years. As a part of my program, I used Ruth Walker’s Jack, Mulga, with Spice.
Last Wednesday I drove to Laura in South Australia, and had a fabulous catch up with Helen and met all of her beautiful donkeys… and selected two beautiful Jennys to come home with me.
These are young girls, handled but untrained. They should grow as tall as Spice.
As you can see, they are setting in well to life at Iron Brook Donkey Farm

15/11/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Eewo2Z25M/?mibextid=WC7FNe

12/11/2024

In case you haven’t seen this advert.
Some months ago, there was an enquiry for a donkey who would bray on command near Sydney.
‘Em Parott got the job with her donkey Tess, and this is the result. Great job guys
A great advert ❤️🫏

A singing donkey finds fame then realises he misses his family at Christmas.

10/11/2024

🌺 11.00 11/11

03/11/2024

My heart absolutely glows with love and pride for this beautiful mule girl….
My very sweet Pumpkin.❤️
How is it, that she has gone from beaten, flighty and untouchable, to this in such a short time? She totally amazes me. ❤️
When I took her on, in the state she was in, I was aware that she may never be able to be more than a paddock ornament, but now she is showing me that she is a young girl with a world of potential ❤️🙏

03/11/2024

I thought this little boy was chocolate, but as he has dried out, he is actually dark grey with just a hint of chocolate, and some darker stripes on his legs. He is a chunky, fluffy little thing.
I was going to call him Milo (Melanie Cole’s suggestion) but now with the grey colour, it needs to change. The guests who are staying here have been calling him Smokey… so I guess that might be his name. 🤔

01/11/2024

Our last foal for the season arrived at the sociable time of 13.15.
He is a little chocolate boy, out of Lola.
He wasn’t quite a textbook birth, coming out slightly on the angle, but with a little assistance to pass the shoulders out, I could leave the rest to occur naturally. He is now walking and drinking well

30/10/2024

Our second foal for the season was born early yesterday morning (about 5/5.30am)
She is fit and strong. and sucks her milk loudly.
She is VERY confident and cuddly, and a very pale colour, with some interesting markings.
She is a part bred Jenny, so not tiny like my other foals, but a great size for pulling a cart, or bush walking with a pack saddle. I can see in her bright personality that this little donkey will need to get out and about and engage with the world.

27/10/2024

Today, my sister Susan and I went to Gulf Station in Yarra Glen, for the open day of their historical homestead.
We took my miniature Jack, Banjo, and walked him among the crowd, handing out flyers, promoting the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival. He received lots of cuddles and was his typical calm self among the activities. Many people commented on his nature, and really, that is the most important thing I look for in a Jack, and most certainly the reason my babies are so consistently placid and affectionate.
It was a fabulous day at Gulf Station, with Blacksmiths, Rope making, Butter making, Blade shearing, miniature goats, baby doll sheep, alpacas, Clydesdales, rocking horses and even a horse works…. All within beautiful historical timber buildings and yards. A really lovely day to be a part of. 🙂❤️🫏🌿

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2hk7SHiGvAN1e3UG/?mibextid=WC7FNe

21/10/2024

My sister Susan, took these lovely photos of Rosie being born yesterday afternoon ❤️