Owners:  Pete and Carolyn Christian

 Pete and Carolyn Christian married in 1978 and built their careers in Houston. TX.  Carolyn was in commercial real estate and retired from the position of Senior Development Director for Homart Development Co., the commercial real estate arm of Sears.  Carolyn was responsible for the acquisition, development and disposition of office and retail properties in Houston, the most notable of which was the 34 story high-rise Phoenix Tower.  Pete is still in commercial construction.  His resume includes the oversight of the construction of hospitals, office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, and churches.  Both Pete and Carolyn were raised in large cities in Texas, but always knew they would someday achieve their goal of living in the country and enjoying rural life.

The Christians bought their ranch in south central Texas in 1988. The ranch was a weekend hideaway and a place to escape the hectic life of the big city for the serenity and beauty of ranch life.  In 1992, they both decided that they had enough stress of big city living so they packed up and moved to their ranch.  They couldn’t have been happier or so they thought.  Enter Miniature Donkeys.

Carolyn and Pete knew nothing about Miniature Donkeys until someone showed them a photo of a jennet and her baby.  That did it.  In 1992, it was hard to find breeders in Texas.  There was only a handful.  When they finally saw Miniature Donkeys in person, they were hooked and thus began their journey to becoming one of the longest and most successful breeders in the U.S. 

Quarter Moon Ranch donkeys can be found in the show ring, in breeding programs and as wonderful pets throughout the U.S. and Europe.  QMR is a top breeder of NMDA, ADMS, and ACOSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.   Their motto is “The Proof is in the Progeny.” 

In addition to a very successful breeding program, Quarter Moon Ranch has been recognized for its contribution to the Miniature Donkey community.  Carolyn has authored many articles that have been published in the BRAYER, ASSET, and other trade publications.  Many of Carolyn's funny and heartwarming stories, articles on health care and marketing, foaling, grooming, getting started in the show ring, as well as wonderful photos and much more can be found on the The Donkey Show Site and the Quarter Moon Ranch website.

 In 1997, Carolyn decided that the donkey community needed an educational forum to attract new owners and breeders and educate those who already owned Miniature Donkeys.  Toward that end, Carolyn began the Rio Brazos Miniature Donkey Expos which were held in Texas in 1998, 2000 and 2006.  It is the only Miniature Donkey event of its kind and has attracted owners and breeders from all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, and New Zealand.  If you ask anyone who has attended one of these expos, you will find that it is highly regarded and much anticipated.  The 2 ½ day event includes seminars on health, management, breeding, and related issues given by top professionals, researchers, and veterinarians in the industry, as well as demonstrations, socials, and the largest Miniature Donkey trade show that exists.

Pete and Carolyn have always believed that breeding quality Miniature Donkey should be the goal of every breeder in order to improve and protect the breed.  Year after year, they are continually seeking to improve their breeding stock thus improving the quality of the foals they produce.  And quality refers to both herd sires and breeding jennets.  Quarter Moon Ranch looks more at the progeny from their breeding stock than the titles they may hold although much of their herd holds local and national titles.  Quarter Moon Ranch breeds for a more drafty donkey with width in the front and rear legs, a nice wide chest, fullness in the hindquarter, straight legs, and proportion. A beautiful head with a soft eye is also important.

Quarter Moon Blockbuster was born in 2004. Within hours of his birth, Pete and Carolyn knew that this was
an exceptional jack and the culmination of their breeding program.  Blockbuster possesses the qualities they like to see which is a more heavy boned donkey with width in the front and rear legs, a nice wide chest, fullness in the hindquarter, straight legs, proportion, and a short wide head with an expressive eye.  Blockbuster is a dark brown jack and measures 31 ¼”.  He has excelled in the show ring by winning many National and Grand Champion titles.  But more importantly, he is Pete’s buddy and a pleasure to have on the ranch. 

King of Bling is a heavy boned, 32”, dark brown and white spot with the most affable personality Pete and Carolyn have ever encountered in a jack.  Bling was named Reserve Grand Champion at the first ACOSA show in which he was exhibited.  He meets all the requirements Pete and Carolyn like to see in a herd sire.  So does After Dark. 

After Dark (aka Scooter) is a 31” black jack with presence.  He won Junior Grand Champion in his first show and ADMS National Junior Champion in his second.  He is a young jack but what a future he has in the show ring and as a herd sire.

It is just as important if not more so to breed quality jennets as well as quality herd sires. The Christians believe that the maternal influence is very strong as it relates to genotype, phenotype and socialization. Therefore, they carefully choose their brood jennets for those qualities.  Below are some Quarter Moon brood jennets.

Breeders should always breed the very best to the very best to be better able to produce a quality foal. Carolyn also believes in socializing the newborn from birth to 5 days in order to insure a foal that is not only well bred but is an emotionally balanced happy donkey and a joy to be around. Those first few days will stay with the foal long into adulthood and forever. 

Finally, Pete and Carolyn have always looked at breeding Miniature Donkeys as a responsibility to be good caretakers of these wonderful animals God gave us. The show ring and marketing can lose the focus from the donkeys themselves.  It’s the breeders who put the jack and jennet together to make a foal.  It should be the breeder who makes sure that foal is healthy, happy and ready for the wonderful world he or she will face for the next 30 plus years.  Pete and Carolyn take their responsibility seriously. That’s why after years and years of breeding Miniature Donkeys, to Pete and Carolyn, every birth is still a miracle and every donkey is a gift. To the Christians, breeding Miniature Donkeys isn’t just a business….it’s a love affair!

Thank you Carolyn Christian for sharing your personal story with Eeebray viewers! More information about Quarter Moon Ranch can be found at