Hello... I have a three year old gelded donkey - not a miniature- but the size of a pony. I would love to be able to lead the donkey on hikes to help carry the picnic or perhaps my 2 year old or 5 year old when they get tired. This donkey (his name is Elijah) is very friendly, but extremely stubborn - refuses to be led 6 inches. I also would like him to pull a cart. How do I get started? Are there any good books on the subject? Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.

-- Debbie Arendt (serendip@rocler.qc.ca), May 24, 2000

Answers

Your probably going to start at square one with this guy. First put the halter on then run a butt rope[long rope with a loop at the end which goes over the butt and the rest of rope goes to halter and into your hand] when you pull halter[rope halters work best as there more uncomfortable if he resits] if he doesnt move pull on the butt rope and he will move forward[dont stand directly in front]then praise him, you could also get a stud chian and put it through side of halter under chin and through other side of halter[when he resites it tightens and hurts so eventualy he learns not to pull back]the first couple times of stud chain you will have a piched battle so be prepared.Try the butt rope first as it is easyer on both of you and builds better communication built on trust, as for training for pulling you start by having them learn to pull two poles[pvc works good]which means they have to get used to things around there legs [start with draging ropes to start]try to find some one who knows about mules or horses to work with you for awhile.Good luck and be careful they are srong animals.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), May 25, 2000.

I also have a donkey I'd like to train to carry a basket or pull a cart/ I suspect lots of time and patience are the best tools here. One thing I have learned with ours, he will wear the halter, no problem. When we try to lead him, he balks and refuses to go unless we let him hold the end of the lead rope in his mouth. As long as we let him hold a part of the rope, he will lead just fine! I don't know why it works, maybe he likes being in control!

-- Mons (jascamp@ipa.net), May 25, 2000.

Sorry, the name is Mona......not Mons!

-- Mona (jascamp@ipa.net), May 25, 2000.

Mona, We used to have a dog like that. HE walked US or he didn't go.

Debbie, I'm sure there is a donkey training book out there somewhere, I just don't know what it is. Try your library for horse training books. You might not be planning on riding him, but the instructions for getting a horse used to a saddle and girth would be just as useful for getting a donkey used to a pack and cinch.

Just remember to treat him as a small child-don't expect to accomplish everything at once, keep lessons short and to the point, realize that there are going to be "bad" days, and also days where he seems to have forgotten everything. Stay kind, and you'll get him trained. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.

We currently have a donkey, she is a large standard, which is like a pony in size. She is a challenge in herself! We all love her to death but she loves my husband!! At first she didn't want to have anything to do with me, so Ernie had to lead her if we were to take her anywhere. I use a stud chain on her. I use it everytime I take her anywhere, seldom do I have to really let her know who is in charge but it is ready if she decides to misbehave. My husband on the other hand can actually get on her and ride her without any halter, bridle, or saddle on. She LOVES him. We are members of the American Donkey and Mule Society and receive the Brayer which is their (more like a magazine) newsletter. We receive it every other month and find it most informative. It costs $20.00/year. We also have a copy of The Definitive Donkey by Betsy and Paul Hutchins they are the people who run the Donkey and Mule society that is mentioned above. If you want further information please e-mail me directly. Take Care!

-- Emily Nouvertne (bellyacresfarm@kyk.net), May 28, 2000.

You may want to try reading some of the John Lyons books. He has some great raining techniques. I have found them very helpful with my horses, and I think they would probably work on donkeys too.

-- Chris Dehne (ndehne@ccpl.carr.org), May 31, 2000.

Thanks- all of you for the advice - I will be starting this weekend. I'll do it slowly and let you know how it goes. I do have horses - but have figured out the mental state of my donkey is Very Different than my horses. you know, that stubborn element!

-- Debbie (serendip@rocler.qc.ca), May 31, 2000.

Don't tug, that automatically triggers little signals in his mind telling him to pull back. Gently pull and quickly release. If he can feel a fly landing on him, I asure you, he can feel you putting even the slightest amount of pressure on the lead. This way, you are giving him the option, but if he moves away, don't follow him, keep the rope fairly tight, until he steps your way.

Don't forget to praise, but don't spoil him after every good thing he does. (He will get into bad habits if you do.)

-- kw (Thoroughbred101@aol.com), January 25, 2001.

Emily I could have wrote your post! My girls aren't even halter broke yet, but already though I have spent hours in their pen, feeding carrot pieces, (of course I am the one who feeds, hays, waters, and makes sure their stall is spotless) I am lucky if they let me touch their noses, both the girls love my husband, letting him pet and love on them all over! I am actually jealous about this!! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 25, 2001.

We have a big gelded Jack, Rosco. He is sweet and kind and we can ride him, but he loves Steve the best. And I'm the one who feeds him too! Well, Steve feeds him in the evening. If he dosen't want me to lead him, he won't move one inch. I can pull and pull and he won't move. He's too smart, he knows I'll go get the grain bucket, and then he comes right along. Every evening he does his talking out loud for his supper, just talks and talks untill we feed him.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 25, 2001.

I have had the pleasure of having the company of all 3 sizes of donkeys ~ miniature, standard, and Mammoth. The miniature drove a cart and wagon ~ sometimes hitched with my Dexter steer ~ gave 'pony' rides at different functions, visited nursing homes, hospitals, and was in nativity scenes.

The standards were BLM adopted and rode/drove.

My trail riding partner is a Mammoth donkey. He sired many mules from my broodmare band and also bred outside mares. When he was an entire jack, we led the American Donkey and Mule Society in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. He was 4 years old. Ten mules were behind us, each outfitted to show the versatility of the mule. I.E. jockey, packer, sidesaddle, english, western, etc. (I gelded the jack when I got out of the breeding business.)

None of my longears were/are 'stubborn.' Folks confuse stubborn with smart, and many times the donk is smarter than their owner!! -LOL- The longears won't hurt themselves, which is one reason I feel safer riding them. They also know if you're the 'alpha,' the lead mare!

Before a donk will work with you, you have to gain his trust. Without that trust, you can't move forward. The donk can't be forced like the mule and horse. Using harsh equipment won't get you where you want to be. And if you're gonna beat on the donk, you might as well quit 'cause he'll never work for you. The training has to take place. There has to be communication between the two of you.

If you don't know how to work with the critter, you can unknowingly train bad habits, which are hard ~ no, extremely difficult ~ to turn around. Find yourself someone you feel you can trust not to ruin the donk, who knows what they're doing, and who knows the type of critter. They can train the donk and then train YOU to work with the critter.

I know of a cowboy who has used only donks for the last 30 years on his ranch. Whether dragging calves to the fire for branding, mending fences, or many of the other things he does, such as taking dudes out on the trail or groups hunting.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 28, 2001.