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Benson Ranch Miniature Donkeys LLC

Benson Ranch was established in 1992

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CLIENTS

 We represent our donkeys honestly and guarantee them. We will assist you in finding the donkey of your dreams and network with other breeders as needed. We will provide endless coaching and information. We look forward to a long term relationship with our buyers and their satisfaction is of the utmost importance.

Benson Ranch is 360 acres of serenity - at least most of the time!

My husband, Mitch, is an equine veterinarian and provides his expertise and guidance as needed, and I, Cindy, run the ranch. We usually have 80-100 Miniature Donkeys here who are my passion. Mitch raises miniature cows and loves them as much as I do my donkeys. We are both horsemen and are avid packers with our draft mules. The ranch is a secluded haven for us and our large animal family. 

Mitch has been an equine veterinarian for 30 years and specializes in reproduction, lameness, and dentistry. He was the United States Equestrian Team's Endurance veterinarian for several years and traveled with the US team's horses to the World Games in Holland and Spain.

I have been riding and training equines since I was 10 years old. I have studied genetics and equine conformation extensively, and have many years of animal husbandry behind me.

Because of Mitch's business he and I both see equine practices that bother us, such as animals in pain, neglected, misunderstood in terms of training, and the list goes on. We have seen stallions abound that would have been good geldings and I particularly remember a client he had that bred club footed Quarter Horses year after year with her full knowledge and understanding. Mitch and I are dedicated to reproducing our animals responsibly and love each of them as family - because they are!

Mitch holding BR Touch of Mink

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR DONKEYS

AND THE

MINIATURE DONKEY GENE POOL

We provide optimal care for our donkey's mental and physical well being including high quality feed, correct vaccination protocol, and appropriate farrier care. Our donkeys get lots of training, gentle handling, and room to run and play with each other.

OUR BREEDING PROGRAM

Miniature Donkeys were originally bred with heartiness in mind and an expectation of years of service as draft and pack animals. Our breeding practices adhere to these principles. We like donkeys with substantial bone and large well-shaped hips because they are strong. We like donkeys with correct leg conformation because they are less likely to have soundness issues and because of movement. Correct movement is a result of correct conformation. This is especially important in our performance donkeys where we also value quality of movement and length of stride but we expect it in our smaller type donkeys as well. Beautiful heads are important to us because they show a donkey's character and are pleasing to look at.

The disposition of our donkeys is important to us as well. Miniature Donkeys were selectively bred for their kind, gentle manner and willingness to please. It is one of their most endearing traits. Here at Benson Ranch a jack will be gelded if his disposition is not what it should be even if his conformation is excellent. We want it all!    

Dr Mitch and Cindy Benson with BR Lotta Chrome