Whether guests are looking for a personal donkey experience, hiking companion, training or having some party donkeys at their latest event, Desert Donkey Experiences in Queen Creek has it all.
Alyssa Berlew, founder and owner of Desert Donkey Experiences, and her husband, Adam Berlew, part-time donkey wrangler and trailer driver, moved to Queen Creek in 2021. Since she was 8, Alyssa started riding and owning horses until Adam was stationed in Florida for the U.S. Army. It was there, she started training Dobermans.
It wasn’t until her sister brought her along to Forever Home Donkey Sanctuary in Benson, Ariz., that everything changed.
“After interacting with their donkeys for about three hours I knew I needed donkeys in my life,” Alyssa said. “Donkeys tend to be very underappreciated animals. They often receive subpar care and are often labeled as stupid or difficult to work with, neither of which is true.”
Polly, Punky, Daffodil and Cannoli are the Berlew's four donkeys.
“The donkeys I take in for training have often been traumatized by unfair handling, and I love seeing them blossom and realize that domestic life can be wonderful,” said Alyssa.
By using both positive (clicker training) and negative reinforcement (pressure and release), she works with both the donkey and owner to get them on track for a successful and happy domestic life.
The goal is to become well-known as something to do in Queen Creek while sharing their love for these animals. Personal donkey experiences take place on their farm located off Cloud and Signal Butte roads.
Guests can lead a donkey through their obstacle course, go on a walk through their neighborhood, take pictures, brush, pet and cuddle with the donkeys. Experiences are $40 per hour or $25 per half hour. Donkey hikes are also available from October through May with prices starting at $45 per donkey. Ranging from two to two and a half miles, the hikes can be booked at multiple locations throughout the Valley.
Looking to be accompanied by donkeys during your next event? They can be booked for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc. They’ll get all dressed up and can be the official servers of the night with their saddlebags.
“I absolutely adore seeing the joy that my donkeys bring to people every day. It is impossible to be sad/mad/anxious/upset once you interact with them. A kiss from Polly is guaranteed to make people smile, and so is watching Punky open the door to the hay barn, seeing Daffodil pout when it’s not her turn to walk around the obstacle course or just seeing Cannoli cuddling her. Donkeys are very therapeutic and just their presence can be very soothing,” Alyssa said.
Her favorite part of working with donkeys is seeing their “lightbulb moment,” where they realize that training can be fun.
“They are such naturally intelligent, inquisitive and gentle creatures and I love seeing their personalities develop as they gain confidence,” said Alyssa. “They are honestly so much more like dogs than horses. They are loyal, affectionate, and crave attention. Each of my donkeys, and the donkeys I train, have their own unique personalities… Daffodil loves adventure, Polly loves cuddles and kisses, Cannoli is sweet and Punky is a punk.”
It’s about educating the public about these animals. With hopes to grow her training business, Alyssa has seen donkeys go from being terrified of humans to learning to trust again.
“I greatly enjoy figuring out what makes each donkey tick and equipping their owners with the tools needed to give them all the best life possible. I hope to continue to take in donkeys for short-term boarding and training situations and eventually help people adopt wild burros from the Bureau of Land Management,” Alyssa said. “I want to give them a great start and foundation in my care before going home to their owners as a well-started, willing, kind and enthusiastic donkey.”
Desert Donkey Experiences provides a unique opportunity to get up close with these beautiful animals that have become an icon in the American Southwest.
Join the Berlews as they “spread joy, one donkey encounter at a time.”
For more information, visit desertdonkeyexperiences.com. Reach out on their website, Facebook or Instagram to book a donkey experience of your own.
