Donations and Sponsorship

If you would like to support the donkeys and ponies, donations of money or feedstuffs (including carrots and ginger biscuits) are always appreciated.

Should you wish to sponsor one of the donkeys, or ponies, on the Sponsor-a-Donkey/Pony Scheme, we have had to increase our minimum payment to €30 in the first year, for which you will receive a Welcome Pack, a Sponsorship Certificate and two Newsletters within the Year of Sponsorship.

As a special gift for a relative or friend we will gladly include your personal greetings card, if you send it to us with a sponsorship application.

Our Sponsor-a-Donkey/Pony Scheme

Changes to the Sponsor a Donkey/Pony Scheme 2026

We are revamping our Sponsor a Donkey/Pony Scheme (formerly known as the Adopt a Donkey/Pony Scheme) from the start of 2026. The cost of a new sponsorship is €30 for the first year, which includes a small Welcome Pack and Sponsorship Certificate.

Current sponsors who wish to continue their sponsorship can renew for €25 if they do not require a Welcome Pack.

With the costs of postage and stationery going up, we have made the decision to ‘go digital’ and move towards e-newsletters for sponsors. If you provide an email address with your sponsorship you will automatically be enrolled to receive your newsletters by email. However, we will be retaining the option of paper newsletters for those sponsors that would prefer that, or those who do not have email.

For the donkeys and ponies available for sponsorship under our Sponsor a Donkey/Pony Scheme, please remember that older animals have a predictably shorter life span and young healthy animals may be placed into foster homes without notice.

The following animals are available for sponsorship under our Sponsor-a-Donkey/Pony Scheme:

Danny - Danny is a wonderfully kind old man who loves attention, and biscuits, and is a permanent fixture in the sheds. He is nearly impossible to move outside when the volunteers are mucking out and appears to delight in standing right in front of them looking for back rubs.

Humphrey - Humphrey is probably in his 30's and spent his life as a working donkey. He needs to be fed throughout the winter as his teeth are too short to allow him to graze. He is the most affectionate little man and is straight to the gate when he hears the rustle of a biscuit packet.

Oisin - Oisin was relinquished to us in 2011 and was pretty wild and unhandled. He currently lives with the oldies near the sheds and is quite inseparable from Mia and Mini Mo. He is quite shy but occasionally wanders up to the yard looking for extra food.

Rosie - When Rosie arrived she was shy and lonely. But, she blossomed into a peaceful and quietly assertive donkey. Rosie is now an independent older lady, who can be possessive of her feed bucket, but still loves scratches and hugs.

Violet - Violet is a tall mare who was very shy and afraid but is now the biggest cuddle monkey you could want. She tends to lose weight over the winter, so she gets extra feed and is always around the sheds hoping for extra treats and attention.

Tommi - Tommi is one of our oldest donkeys. He's gloriously fluffy and will appear 'as if by magic' if there are treats on offer. He also has a habit of presenting his backside just to get his rump and rear legs scratched!

Mr Jinks - Mr Jinks was found abandoned in Co Sligo and, despite being tiny, he was very noisy, strong willed, and almost impossible to handle. SBut, over the years he has turned into a lovable cuddly old man. (still strong willed and quite noisy!) Definitely has an eye for the girls!

Shanti - Shanti is a thoroughbred mare who came to us in December 2018 after she was abandoned in Co. Sligo. She was in such poor condition it didn't cross our minds that she could be pregnant. (We named her foal Saracen) She is an intelligent, friendly, mare who loves polo mints and apples.

Nellie - Nellie is an elderly grey mare with a twisted front leg from being tied to a fence by one front foot. This does not stop her! She’s a constant presence in the sheds, waiting for someone to feed her treats.

Kylie - Kylie came to us with a chronic sacral injury that made getting up unaided difficult but she has received treatment and is getting stronger. She is always around the sheds looking for back scratches and treats.

Mr Jinks - Mr Jinks was found abandoned in Co Sligo and, despite being tiny, he was very noisy, strong willed, and almost impossible to handle. But, over the years he has turned into a lovable cuddly old man. (still strong willed and quite noisy!) Definitely has an eye for the girls!

Most of the donkeys who come to the Sathya Sai Sanctuary are elderly. Many are ex-working donkeys who have laboured for years bringing in the hay and the turf, carrying the milk churns to the creamery and even ploughing and harrowing the fields. Nowadays this work is done by tractors and other farm machinery.

They come to us from many sources: voluntary relinquishment when their owners can no longer care for them or have died; abandonment, when they are usually found loose on the road; or in cases of severe neglect or cruelty. The most common problems involve neglect of their hooves due to insufficient, inadequate and unprofessional trimming, plus keeping the animals in unsuitable conditions such as on wet, acid land with no recourse to somewhere dry.

Other common problems include skin disorders such as mud fever and rain scald due to living out, without shelter, in Ireland's wet climate. Whilst native ponies have waterproof coats, donkeys are indigenous to the hot, dry climates of Africa and Asia and have no waterproofing in their coats. They unquestionably require a dry shed for shelter.

Harness sores are rarely found these days but it is not uncommon to find a donkey or pony with rope burns or wounds on the face from having too tight a halter or headcollar left on permanently. On a young animal that is still growing this can prove disastrous.