Adding a Dash of Fun and Miniature Donkeys to Peace Region Celebrations
The Tipsy Burro | Warrensville
After accumulating a small herd of miniature donkeys, Lisa Robinson turned her love for these four-legged animals into a fun, one-of-a-kind service that has taken the Peace Region by storm.
“My daughter Courtney bought a donkey named Ernie for her fiancé as a gag birthday gift. He ended up at my house and never left,” said Lisa. “Shortly after, we bought a second donkey to keep Ernie company, and I quickly became known as ‘the donkey lady.’”
Lisa now owns five adorable, long-eared animals, who serve as charming faces in her new company, The Tipsy Burro, which provides an entertaining addition to events throughout the area.
Operating alongside Robinson, Courtney has become an official “donkey handler,” and helps at each event they attend.
“We dress them up in cute outfits with flowers or cowboy hats and bring them to a wide variety of events,” said Lisa.
The Tipsy Burro has been hired for weddings, company picnics, golf tournaments, festivals, rodeos, breweries and more. Lisa explains the donkeys can be traditional beer burros that pack beer, or they can fill their packs with candy, snacks and flowers.
“We’ve had different companies, organizations, events, families and individuals book with us,” said Lisa. “We’ve been to potlucks, picnics and family reunions—we can take them almost anywhere.”
Lisa often tailors their outfits to the event they are attending and has found they provide a beneficial and unique twist not seen in most other places.
“People take selfies with them and post them online, which has been a great marketing tool for events and organizations to utilize,” said Lisa. “They provide great advertising and add an extra layer of fun wherever they go.”
Entertaining people of all ages, Lisa says the donkeys love the experience just as much as the people attending do.
“Donkeys are often stoic animals. Our donkeys have a quiet temperament and take everything in stride. They are quite brave,” said Lisa. “Plus, they really love all the affection they receive when we take them out.”
The Tipsy Burro has been well received throughout Northern Alberta since officially opening this year on May 12 at the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast in Weberville.
Lisa has been grateful to try something new.
“Beer burros are quite popular in Arizona and Texas, and I always thought it was an interesting concept,” said Lisa. “We went to Texas and visited a beer burro company that gave us tips, tricks and training advice, and that motivated us to pursue it further.”
Donkeys are known to live long, often 25 to 30 years, and despite being similar to horses, they have special needs of their own. As natural foragers, Lisa ensures they are fed specific hay to keep them at a healthy weight. It’s also important they stay warm in the colder months in the North.
“They don’t handle the cold well since they are desert animals. During the winter we keep blankets on them and bring them into the barn each night,” said Lisa. “We ensure they get special treatment year-round.”
Each donkey has their own name and personality, and Lisa loves how different they are from one another. Peach, a 12-year-old jenny, is known to be confident and a little saucy. She had her first foal on May 31, which they fondly named Dolly.
“Peach is now on maternity leave and is an excellent mom,” said Lisa. “She’s getting some much-needed time off and is taking a break from her gigs.”
Lisa’s other donkeys include 15-year-old Ernie, known as “The Golden Child;” Matilda, a quiet eight-year-old; and the newest addition is nine-year-old Bert, who is learning to pull a cart and is in training for Tipsy Burro appearances.
“I spend a lot of time with my crew of donkeys. I’m usually out with them two or three times a day,” said Lisa. “They are very well taken care and receive daily walks, consistent farrier work [for their hooves] and regular small feedings as well as baths before every event.”
Lisa says booking the burros for an event is easy. Simply call, email or message her online with ample time before the event and, if applicable, ensure to receive permission to have animals at the venue.
Equipped with donkey diapers to minimize messes and soft boots to avoid scratching floors, The Tipsy Burro team can entertain indoors and out.
“Being cute is hard work, so the donkeys will work for an hour, take a 15-minute break, then get back into it,” said Lisa. “You can have up to four donkeys at an event with four handlers, and we require a 50 percent deposit at the time of booking and the rest two weeks before your event.”
Lisa’s goal is to bring joy to others, and so she is eager to attend more events with her team of burros.
“Doing this brings light to my life,” said Lisa. “Thank you to everyone who has booked with us so far as well as to all our future customers. We love putting smiles on faces.”
780-618-6966 | heehawtipsyburro@gmail.com | heehawtipsyburro.com
Facebook: The Tipsy Burro – Alberta | Instagram: tipsyburro_alberta
Words by Dani Wearden | Photography by Tyrell Parenteau
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