Welcome to

Cyder Bay Farm

Specializing in Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys & Irish Dexter Cattle

David & Robin both have been raised on farms and have practical animal husbandry knowledge.
David was crop farming with his family and a semi driver. His family bought the feed mill in WI, (my home town) and that is where we met. We eventually married and soon after we both attended Cleveland Tech.
David for Power Engineering, where he was immediately hired by The Kewaunee Nuclear Plant/later Dominion Power.
He worked his way up through the ranks eventually working as a shift manager before retiring in 2018.
In High School Robin took Equine correspondent courses from The University of Madison, WI and attended Nicolet Collage after high school for general classes then later completed the Equine Management Program at Cleveland Tech with focus on genetics and nutrition.

My dream was to Breed Morgan show horses which we eventually did on a very small scale due to the lack of funds just starting out. We selected and purchased a 3 year old mare named HVK Rare Vintage from the Kohler Stables (fancy) Farm Sale. We did all AI breeding selecting a sire from across the US and our first foal did very well winning futurity’s and becoming Reserve World Champion as a 3 year old.
Cyder Bay Chantilly Lace (below), Lacy was gorgeous and after the Nationals she was then sold to a farm in Alabama.

We later leased a little spicy chestnut mare who we also bred and she had an outstanding foal that we named Cyder Bay Sassafras and she lived up to her name by winning World Champion titles in Woman’s and youth Pleaser harness and saddle classes, she just kept going and winning. She was a bit smaller mare which kept her out of the men’s division. Cyder Bay Sassafras (below center).

Above: HVK Rare Vintage puchased from Kohler Stables. She had great old bloodlines.

Right: Another foal out of Vintage.
Cyder Bay Chicago Flame we called him Baby he had some dressage talent and went to a farm out East.
We had another filly born named Cyder Bay Eclipse or (Eeky) and she was a lovely western type mare who later went to a breeding farm near Saint Louis, MO (Not Pictured).
We stopped showing due to the cost and the extreme show politics you have to muster though. We never sold Vintage and I kept her here as my riding horse along with “Cyder” my first ever horse until they both passed in their own time.

So let’s back up a bit in time to inform you how our farm got it’s name.
At age 14 Robin acquired her her first Morgan a 5 month old colt named Pittridge Cyclopes (due to having a big star) I called him ”Cyder” and his color was Bay...Hint!
 
Our farm started in 1985 after David & I finished Cleveland Tech and David was hired by the Kewaunee Nuclear Plant. We had a location and purchased a plot of land which we had to build from the ground up and we named it Cyder Bay Farm after that first horse. Although our breeding operation with small scale we had a high success rate, which I accredit to the extensive study that went into every breeding and in the horse world there is a great amount of history you can study along with use of AI (artificial insemination). Our goal was always to breed and sell the best! 

Our land was actually kind of a small sand/gravel pit so we had to level the land build a temporary barn and moved a mobile home on the property. When we could we built a nice insulated barn first then later we started on our house which we personally built 80% of it ourselves only hiring out a few steps. We later added a nice shed for hay and equipment, woven wire fences started going up year by year we kept making improvements.
As our kids were growing up we wanted to get involved in a breed that would be “kid” friendly and while attending a horse fair we accidentally discovered the “miniature donkey”. 
We were immediately impressed by their wonderful personality and cuteness!

In 1995 we began a new adventure raising quality miniature donkeys. Again starting with careful research into the history of the breed and I began the search to select our first donkeys. Research is always on going as we seek out new lines to maintain diversity within our herd.
With years of experience in the field of breeding and management practices of Equines in general, we were dedicated to buying the best we could find, producing healthy quality animals with pleasing eye appeal, correct conformation, and workable personalities all within the realm of preserving the true Mediterranean/Sardinian heritage within the American Miniature donkey breed.
 
Our donkeys have been quality additions to herds across the USA along as in many other countries, and we are proud of our donkeys who are winning national honors at shows here in the US and across the world. We pride ourselves on producing quality donkeys for your breeding programs, your back yard & and the show ring. Our donkeys can do it all!

Above is a group of yearling jennets with two mature jennets to the far right, this was earlier into our breeding program!

Our goal is to produce a quality animal first, and although color and size are always secondary in our thoughts we have achieved a variety of sizes and lots of interesting colors to choose from.
Maintaining a healthy safe spacious environment is also a priority, along with feeding our animals properly. We feel that maintaining proper vitamin/mineral supplements along with grain (when needed) and quality hay types, as well as fresh water daily, pasture to run, good vet care, and gelding is all part of owning animals and being a responsible owner.

Individual care like that of proper hoof trimming, grooming, and training helps our donkeys become well mannered and well adjusted individuals.
If you are in our area and interested in Miniature Donkeys for pets or a possible “Fun” new business adventure. Feel free to call for an appointment to visit our operation first hand and best of all meet some wonderful donkeys! 

~ Hee Haw ~
We’re sure to have the perfect donkey for you! 
Thanks for stopping in!
Visitors Welcome by Appointment!

Cyder Bay Farm

David & Robin Irlbeck
1550 E. Assman Rd.   Mishicot, WI 54228
Cell Phone 920.362.4523

Email Us: donk@cyderbayfarm.com

(c) 2001-2025 Cyder Bay Farm ~ All Rights Reserved ~ Website by Robin Irlbeck