Meet Bruce Dunbar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bruce Dunbar.

Hi Bruce, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
I was working with recuse horses and donkeys and fell in love with the interaction and feeling of joy that I experienced while being in the presence of these wonderful creatures. We started to bring our donkeys to different public events and community centers and found others were getting the same sense of calm, peacefulness, and joy as we were. It just grew from that and blossomed into a business.

We started to take people out on hikes in the desert, allowing them to just spend time getting back to a simple, quieter time, away from the electronics, constant media barrage, and sensory overload of day-to-day life.

The donkeys have ears big enough to hear and hearts big enough to listen; they make great therapists. Bringing the donkeys to weddings seemed like a great way to spread joy on what is arguably the best day of people’s lives.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been easy. Getting people on board, and getting them out of their comfort zone can be challenging. People often say, “It sounds like so much fun, I’d love to do that,” yet finding the time and inspiration to get out and do it is sometimes a different matter. It’s something new and different and that always makes people skeptical, but everyone who has taken the leap has always been thrilled with the process and results.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am proud that, unlike some companies, we let our animals be themselves and try to nurture interaction with our guests. We provide a safe and fun environment for people to get close and learn about themselves from the donkeys. We enjoy coming up with different ways for people to open up.

From hiking in the desert to leading the donkeys through obstacle courses, private and corporate parties, or just sitting peacefully in the pens, we help bring out the inner child in all of us. Our donkeys are gentle and inquisitive and love to interact with children and adults.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My advice to anyone new to this is to get to know your own animals first, spend as much time with them as possible, and learn their unique personalities so you are best suited to pick activities that they will enjoy and thrive doing.

The only thing I wish I knew when I started is how much I would enjoy doing this, I would have started when I was younger! Taking care of 5 donkeys and 3 horses is a full-time job.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @beverageburro
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysweetasspip?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• TikTok: @beverageburro