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 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

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 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 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

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

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

3rd Place Overall, Men's 6 Mile Division — 2026 Black Canyon Donkey Derby, Black Canyon City, AZ

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