ABOUT US
The M5 Ranch is located in Sulphur Springs, Texas, approximately 70 miles east of Dallas.  We race, breed, and own some of the finest racehorses in the U.S. and abroad!  In our horse business, it is extremely important to know great foundation lines, understand genetics, and crucial to have an “eye” for conformation.  My husband, Noe, has one of the best “eyes” in the business and has proven this through the many champion racehorses he has either bred or selected.  It is this expertise in recognizing structure that we bring to our miniature donkey breeding program.
 
When we bought our previous 105-acre ranch in Cumby, Texas, I was still working at NASA/Johnson Space Center and commuting back and forth.  I had always wanted a donkey, and Noe surprised me with Sam, a small standard 14-month old grey dun gelding.  Sam was the beginning of my “love affair” with donkeys.  I always thought Sam was a very special donkey because he was so personable and loving.  I had no idea that was just the nature of a donkey.  Sam was worth his weight in gold, as he babysat our weanlings, calmed down the mares we retired from racing and just protected all from any intruders in their paddocks, including a herd of goats that got out of a neighbor’s fence one day and decided they liked our green pastures instead of their own.  Sam immediately let them know they were unwanted and not welcome!
 
A couple years later, I found out that “Sam’s” came in a smaller size, the miniature donkey.  I started looking for miniature donkeys in our area; and when I finally met my first one, who happened to be a jenny with a new baby, I was hooked!!  I decided at that time that I had to have these little darlings.  We started looking at several ranches and farms to look for miniature donkeys.  I realized it was not only miniature donkeys I wanted, but longed to have the babies, as donkey foals are absolutely precious.  After spending months visiting farms and learning about the prospect of not only owning and breeding, but also of showing the donkeys, I knew this was the direction I wanted to take.
 
After three years of research and visiting numerous miniature donkey farms (not to mention the time spent searching online), we found the Cobra donkeys, which had the sweet-temperament, outstanding conformation, and clean genetics for our own breeding program.
 
One more thing I have to mention that also persuaded me to not only get involved with the miniature donkeys, but also get involved with breeding and showing them were the wonderful owners and breeders we met while searching for the “right” donkeys.  We encountered nothing but friendly, helpful people who, like us, just love donkeys!