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CRATES Colorado logo: a cartoon donkey peeking out of a wooden crate with mountains and a Colorado-flag sunburst

Staff Directory

Meet the Donkeys

Every hike, every race, every coaching session — these five are the real stars of CRATES Colorado.

Poppie (AKA “Poppie the Queen”), miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoPoppie (AKA “Poppie the Queen”), miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoPoppie (AKA “Poppie the Queen”), miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Poppie (AKA “Poppie the Queen”)

Official Team Captain

9 years young (turns 10 on October 13th)

Poppie is a “red donkey” — a genetic rarity found in only about 1 in 10 brown donkeys — and she's as loving as she is adorable. As a burro racer, she's one of the most consistently high-performing racing burros of all time.

Greatest achievements

  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Inaugural Sierra Blanca Burro Bonanza, Ruidoso, NM
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 South Fork 11 Mile Standard Course, South Fork, CO
  • 2nd Place Overall — 2026 Silver City 6 Mile, Silver City, NM
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Frederick Miners Day Pack Burro Race, Frederick, CO
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Greenland Open Space Pack Burro Race, Larkspur, CO
  • 2nd Place Overall — 2026 “Strike it Rich” Pack Burro Racing Series, New Mexico
  • 2nd Place Overall — 2026 Fairplay 30 Mile World Championship Race
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Buena Vista 13.1 Mile Pack Burro Race
  • 2nd Place Overall — 2026 Leadville BOOM Days 18.5 Mile Long Course
  • 1st Place Overall (new course record!) — 2026 Cripple Creek Donkey Derby Days 10k Professional Pack Burro Race
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Creede Donkey Dash 10 Mile Race
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Idaho Springs Pack Burro Race, Idaho Springs, CO
  • 1st Place Overall — 2026 Black Canyon Donkey Derby, Black Canyon City, AZ
  • 1st Place Overall (new course record!) — 2025 South Fork Alder Ass Race
  • 3rd Place Overall — 2025 Fairplay Burro Days World Championship 30 Mile Race
Denver The Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoDenver The Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoDenver The Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Denver The Donkey

The Herd Boss

14 years young (turns 15 on December 1st)

If you haven't figured it out already — Denver is a HUGE Denver Broncos fan! She's Poppie's sister and Jazzy's mama, speaks fluent world-class Spanish, and is a pro at underwater basket weaving. A wonderful racing donkey with a bright future ahead.

Greatest achievements

  • Top 5 Finisher Award (5th Place) — 2026 Leadville BOOM Days 18.5 Mile Long Course (Women's Division)
  • 5th Place Overall — 2026 Magdalena Burro Stampede (Men's) Long Course
  • “Toughest Day” Award — 2026 Black Canyon Donkey Derby, Black Canyon City, AZ
  • 4th Place Overall — 2025 South Fork Alder Ass 3 Mile Race
Applejack, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoApplejack, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoApplejack, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoApplejack, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoApplejack, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoApplejack, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Applejack

Official Show Stealer

6 years old (Gotcha Day: December 24, 2025)

Applejack is a bit bigger for a mini, but we like to think that's just the size of his heart! In his very first race, he won 1st place in the Women's Long Course at the Black Canyon Donkey Derby — in pack burro racing, divisions are named for the human runner, not the donkey, so yes, Applejack races (and wins) in the Women's division.

Greatest achievements

  • 4th Place, Men's Division 6 Mile Long Course — 2026 Silver City 6 Mile, Silver City, NM
  • 2nd Place Overall & 1st Place Women's Division — 2026 Black Canyon Donkey Derby, Black Canyon City, AZ
  • 1st Place Women's 3 Mile Division — 2026 Los Cerrillos Pack Burro Race, Los Cerrillos, NM
Geodude, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoGeodude, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Geodude

The People Pleaser

5 years old (Gotcha Day: December 24, 2025)

Geodude came to us a bit of a shy guy and has really come out of his shell since arriving. His favorite colors are light blue and brown. In his first-ever race, he took 3rd place in the Men's 6 Mile Course.

Greatest achievements

  • 2nd Place, Women's Division 3 Mile Short Course — 2026 Los Cerrillos Pack Burro Race, Los Cerrillos, NM
  • 3rd Place Overall, Men's 6 Mile Division — 2026 Black Canyon Donkey Derby, Black Canyon City, AZ
Jasmine (“Princess Jazzy”), miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Jasmine (“Princess Jazzy”)

The Spicy One

9 years young

Folks, this is Jazzy's world — we're just living in it! She's got a mind of her own, favorite colors pink and purple, and typically runs alongside her 9-year-old human race partner, “Tinkerbell.” Keep an eye on this pair — we think there's a world championship in their future.

Greatest achievements

  • Top 5 Finisher Award (4th Place) — 2026 Leadville BOOM Days 18.5 Mile Long Course (Women's Division)
  • 3rd Place Overall, Women's 3 Mile Division — 2025 South Fork Alder Ass Race
  • 1st Place, Women's Long Course 9 Mile Division — 2026 Magdalena Burro Stampede, Magdalena, NM
Maple (AKA “Little Miss Maple”), miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoMaple (AKA “Little Miss Maple”), miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoMaple (AKA “Little Miss Maple”), miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoMaple (AKA “Little Miss Maple”), miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Maple (AKA “Little Miss Maple”)

Team's Newest Official Cutie Patootie

3 years young

Ready for your heart to melt? You better be, because Little Miss Maple waits for no one! This adorable micro mini jenny is one of the cutest, sweetest little pints of maple syrup that you will ever meet. When she gets older, she dreams of playing goalie for the women's Canadian hockey team, but for now, she will settle for daily hikes in the Colorado wilderness, kicking booty in pack burro races and breaking hearts from coast to coast. Think you can hang with Little Miss Maple?! She can't wait!

(Look It's) Bigfoot, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado(Look It's) Bigfoot, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado(Look It's) Bigfoot, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado(Look It's) Bigfoot, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

(Look It's) Bigfoot

Little Feet. Big Attitude. Local Legend.

3.5 years young

This just in! Confirmed sighting of one of Park County's local celebrities has been confirmed — the donk, the myth, the legend — IT'S BIGFOOT! This little dude is guaranteed to find a place to hide in your heart forever! He is sweet, cuddly, and full of that adventure loving energy that makes him so fun to hike with. Some people think Bigfoot is a scary creature — not true in the slightest. In his free time, Bigfoot has been known to volunteer at the local animal shelter, walking the dogs and playing with the cats. Don't let the name fool you folks — he is a bit tiny — just don't tell that to him!

Boots the Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoBoots the Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoBoots the Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoBoots the Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES ColoradoBoots the Donkey, miniature donkey at CRATES Colorado

Boots the Donkey

Mr. Reliable. Dr. Independent. Captain Boots-merica.

3.5 years young

Some boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do — but one of these days, THIS Boots is gunna' hike a bunch of miles with you! This young man is truly a special little guy, and he is always up for a fun mountain adventure — whether that means he has to put his ski boots on, his work boots on, or his dancin' boots on! In his free time, Boots is a ghost DJ for several famous DJs that play at major music festivals all over the world... but due to several non-disclosure agreements, those musical artists are only known by Boots and a few others.