SITUATED just outside Ballynahinch, in the centre of Co Down, Kinedale Donkeys is an activity farm and home to 25 therapy donkeys. These donkeys are frequent visitors of nursing homes and schools, helping children and adults with emotional regulation programmes.

The farm welcomes visitors for Donkey Treks, Nuzzle a Muzzle sessions and seasonal events like Deck the Stables and Easter Egg Hunts. At the helm of this operation is Robert Wallace, with the aid of his parents, Amanda and Richard, plus brother Tristan and fiancée, Becky.

At a year old, Robert received his first donkey Muffin and her great-great grandson Kinedale Lunar Dynes, ‘Connlá’ was born this year.

1. How does the Kinedale team spend Christmas Day?

Christmas Day allows for a break for both family and the donkeys, after a busy few weeks beforehand. Christmas Eve is a hub of activity: Mum preparing dinner and Dad sorting out the fireplace and ensuring enough coal and chopped wood is in stock. Tristan picks up any last-minute shopping and I settle the animals, with donkeys up to their bellies in straw and a fresh bale of hay rolled in for them.

The aim is to be finished by 6pm, watch a Christmas film before heading to church for midnight service, then a final check on the donkeys, wish them a Happy Christmas with carrots and off to bed.

A slight lie-in on Christmas morning, before checking the animals, making sure the automatic drinkers aren’t frozen and a scoopful of feed to those who need the extra energy.

It’s always a lovely feeling with the day so crisp, usually some frost or snow on the ground and the birds twittering away with the morning sun. We tend to have dinner in the early afternoon, take a break after the main course, then enjoy some drinks while watching Christmas specials, before heading to my aunt’s for dessert and board games with the extended family.

2. Proudest moment as a breeder?

The donkeys make me proud every time we go out. Aside from Denis, the majority of my donkeys that work in therapy programmes and events are home-bred, like Peanut and Hobnob. I receive compliments all the time about my donkeys’ cute faces and relaxed nature.

My proudest moment is this year at Balmoral Show when my third generation broodmare, Kinedale Silver Solstice or ‘Luna’ was champion mare and reserve supreme champion donkey, along with her first foal, Connlá.

I couldn’t stop smiling, she even made the papers in a wonderful photo. Having the effort put into selective breeding of donkeys be as appreciated as it is in any other section was truly great. It felt like the donkey was finally getting the respect I believe they deserve and not seen as a subspecies of the horse.

3. Favourite broodmare?

Choosing a favourite broodmare is awfully hard. Muffin was my first and the beginning of Kinedale’s breeding stock, Luna is my newest broodmare but Hobnob is probably my favourite. She has the perfect balance of a solid build and kind temperament.

Hobnob is used for therapy work, carriage driving and is a great mother, the full package! Her filly foal Kinedale Frost or ‘Perdita’ is absolutely stunning.

4. Template for a good donkey?

I think temperament is the most important. I know there can be a Nature versus Nurture debate but I want a donkey that you can handle.

Conformation of course is important, so nice and square, a leg in each corner with a short back and neck. Donkeys have been used as draught animals, so they need to be able to do a day’s work.

Just my own personal preferences, I like a donkey with big ears (of course!); large, expressive eyes and I love donkeys with unusual colouring or markings. I have a donkey called Pongo because he looks like a Dalmatian.

5. Describe your regime for keeping donkeys?

Generally, I keep the donkeys in the barn at night, and outside during the day (weather dependent). Donkeys do not have waterproof coats so they don’t cope well with large amounts of rain. Any field I put the donkeys in will have some shelter so that if it rains, they can keep dry.

I keep my 25 donkeys in two herds, in separate parts of the barn which has automatic drinkers installed. The “Therapy Group’ includes all the females and some geldings. The ‘Bachelor Herd’ contains the stallions, colts and some unruly geldings!

In the summer, they are fed on grass; in the winter they are fed on haylage, or good quality hay and have access to a mineral lick, my personal favourite is Nutri-bio.

Any in-foal mares are in separate stables with another mare for companionship. These ladies receive Bailey’s Stud Balancer and Dengie’s Alfa-A Original.

6. If you could have bred any famous equine?

Readers may roll their eyes at this one but I have to say, Denis! I know that he may not be ‘famous’ by some standards, but many people will recognise Denis before they recognise me.

Denis is 26, the same age as me and I’ve had him for 20 years. He started all this donkey business and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Denis is our most sought-after donkey, requested by 11 churches this year for Palm Sunday events. He had to recruit some of the other donkeys to help him fulfil his quota.

7. It takes a team - who’s on yours?

My mum keeps us all in check. She’s in charge of event management, food and keeps us all going when things seem impossibly hard. Dad is Head of Maintenance, parking attendant, biscuit connoisseur and general handyman.

Tristan is the dogsbody and Recruitment Officer (during events he brings his uni. friends to volunteer!)

Becky Figueira, my fiancée, is my emotional support and Social Media officer for Kinedale Donkeys.

My late grandfather Leslie Millar didn’t particularly like donkeys but he came to every event he was able to, restored and mended all my carriages and gave unwavering support to myself and the family.

And we have so much support from friends, the Ringland and Trusdale families especially.

8. Breeding donkeys – would you do it all over again?

Despite the heartache it sometimes is…yes, I would. It has been really tough, particularly if a foal doesn’t make it but seeing where I am now, with four generations of the Kinedale line on the farm, I’m so proud of what my family have achieved for the donkey in Ireland.

9. Best advice you ever got?

‘Donkeys are like pancakes’ - My mum. The first one you make is always a bit weird, the second a bit better but not quite perfect. Now, the third pancake…you’ve had practice, you know the mistakes you made last time. Hurrah, you have a perfect pancake!

10. Why do you breed donkeys?

Donkeys became very popular during Celtic Tiger times. People were breeding any mare to any stallion to sell for some easy money, but when people could no longer afford them, or once the novelty wore off, the donkeys were sent to rescues.

Donkeys can be seen as useless, apart from as a cute pet. Before I even had Kinedale Donkeys as a business, myself and my family wanted to prove that donkeys were worth something, that they have purpose in today’s society.