
Welcome to Famous Shamus Farm
Famous Shamus Farm is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to thoughtful, ethical work with donkeys and horses - especially wild burros and mustangs.
Our focus is building trust, understanding behavior, and helping animals and people move forward together.
We specialize in gentling, training, and helping place wild donkeys and mustangs through trusted programs. Whether you want to learn hands-on, adopt a wild animal, or support rescue and rehabilitation, you’re in the right place.
What We Do
Donkey
Gentling Camps
Donkey gentling and training experiences are offered through Training Wild Burros with MaryJo Enfield, focusing on real, hands-on learning with untouched
and gentled wild burros.
Famous Shamus Farm plays an important role in this process by providing donkeys through adoption, connecting people with animals who are ready for
their next step.
These experiences are designed for those who want to better understand donkeys.
These 3-day donkey gentling camps focus on:
-
Reading donkey behavior and body language
-
Building trust through calm, fair handling
-
Gentling and early groundwork
-
Helping donkeys move forward without pressure
Spots are limited to ensure quality and individual attention. Click one the images to view gentling camp details (front and back pages)

Forever Branded
Adoption Center & Partner
Famous Shamus Farm is an approved Forever Branded Adoption Center working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where individuals with an approved BLM application can come to adopt wild burros and mustangs.
Mary Jo Enfield is a Forever Branded Partner, specializing in gentling and basic training to help adopters and animals transition smoothly.
This means adopters may choose to adopt either:
-
A completely untouched wild burro or mustang
-
Or one that has been gently started through basic groundwork
Clinics, Adoptions &
Rehabilitation
In addition to gentling camps, Famous Shamus Farm is involved in:
-
Independent donkey clinics offered by Mary Jo Enfield
-
Wild burro and mustang adoptions through Forever Branded / BLM programs
-
Rescue and rehabilitation for donkeys and horses from difficult situations
Each of these programs has its own structure and purpose.


Adoption Events
At Famous Shamus Farm, we host adoption events a couple times a year.
You can also schedule a visit by appointment to meet and adopt a wild burro with an approved BLM application.
At an adoption event or by appointment come and
-
Visit the farm
-
Meet the donkeys
-
Learn about gentling, adoption, and rehabilitation
-
Ask questions and connect
Why Famous
Shamus Farm?
With years of hands-on experience working with wild burros, mustangs, and domestic donkeys, mules, and horses Famous Shamus Farm is grounded in patience, observation, and respect.
We believe:
-
Every animal has a story
-
Trust is earned, not forced
-
Progress looks different for every donkey




