North Gate Farm is located in north central Texas, 35 miles SW of Fort Worth. Mike & Loydene have enjoyed the 160 acre farm for 15 years & have set their donkey operation up to house their two herd sires & carefully chosen jennets. They welcome having visitors at all times. They have hosted groups of children and folks from rest homes who have come to visit. Loydene enjoys educating the groups about the wonderful world of miniature donkeys. Some of the folks from the rest homes cannot get out to actually see the donkeys up close so Loydene joins them in their vehicle & answers their questions there. Mike enjoys giving donkey cart rides with some of the children.

Loydene & Mike’s story about getting "hooked" on miniature donkeys is similar to many- the first time Loydene saw one she had to have one. Their story, however, has a little romantic twist. Loydene saw her first donkey at her sister’s home where she fell in love with a darling jennet named Scarlet. Unfortunately, the donkeys did not have the same effect on Mike. She began to read every thing she could get her hands on, all the while sharing it with Mike. She was concerned, however, that she was not making progress convincing Mike that they needed miniature donkeys. Then he surprised her with the anniversary gift of her life. He brought home two weanlings, a jennet & a jack, and that’s when it all began.

Top Dollar was born at Quarter Moon Ranch in Franklin, Texas. His story, as told by Loydene Brown, is that by 5 months old, Pete & Carolyn Christian, of Quarter Moon Ranch, were already looking at him as their possible newest junior herd sire.

Loydene & Mike dropped by to visit their friends, Pete & Carolyn, & Mike took one look at Top Dollar and saw a jack who was full of personality as well as outstanding stature. Mike immediately fell in love with him. Carolyn said he was really not for sale because they were trying to decide whether to keep Top Dollar or another young jack they had named Blockbuster. Well, Mike made that decision for them because he wasn’t leaving without Top Dollar. By the end of the day, Top Dollar was theirs.

 HIS FIRST OUTING AS A SHOW DONKEY

Top Dollar did not stay at his new owners’ very long, even though Loydene would have preferred to have him home a little longer to enjoy his sweet personality. He went to Kathy Loudamy of K&K Ranch for training. Before his first birthday, he won NMDA "Grand Champion Junior Miniature Donkey" at the 2006 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, where he was shown by Wayne Lyon.

 HIS SIRE & DAM

Top Dollar is by QM Fistful of Dollars, the 2003 NMDA National Champion Jack and Best of Breed. Top Dollar’s grand sire is Circle C Red Tape, NMDA National Champion Sire. His Dam, QM Elsie is an NMDA Champion Halter Jennet.

 MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

To date, Top Dollar has won 4 separate Grand Champion titles, two Best of Breed titles, but most notably, he is the 2007 NMDA National Champion Jack and Best of Breed. (See his page for all his awards). All of these titles were won by the time he was 2 years old!

The way Loydene & Mike see it, everything this little jack does is memorable (doesn’t that sound like proud parents?) Mike loves to watch him show. Top Dollar seems to know when he is in the show ring. His striking chocolate brown color and his self assurance & confidence make him irresistible. But Loydene loves to have him at home, where she can watch him play with his toys and enjoy this gentle & sweet little jack. When she goes out to see him, he always comes running as fast as he can to greet her. Even after he has spent time away at the trainer’s, he still knows who his "mom" is.

Top Dollar has just begun his breeding career. His first offspring is due in October of 2008. Mike & Loydene are very excited about his first babies. They anticipate seeing foals with his endearing personality, gentleness, intelligence, good nature, and of course, his incredible conformation. He is certainly the perfect junior herd sire to support North Gate Farm’s objective to produce quality miniature donkeys.

Top Dollar has begun his breeding career after an extremely successful show career. With his outstanding pedigree, his national recognition, and his good looks and conformation, this little jack is destined to continue to further Northgate Farm’s reputation as a quality breeder of the miniature donkey.

Thank you to Loydene Brown of North Gate Farm for sharing Top Dollar’s story. You can contact Loydene or Mike at loydene@alltel.net.

www.northgatefarm.com