Donkeys

[mickey]

Anyone have any expereince of working donkeys?
I am working with 2 mares and 1 male. They are fine to groom. The male has been long-reined in the past. I find him difficult to LR though. He is really nappy and quite often just stops and wont move even when reprimanded with a stick. Any advice?

The mares I free school of over jumps in the arena and they are fine.
Any tips for handling/working donkeys welcome! I think I am too used to horses!!!!

 

[carys220]

I had a donkey on loan once, found that he was very very stubborn and didn't listen to a stick in the slightest.....acted as if everything he did was a favour to us and he didn't have to do it if he didn't want to......

 

[Donkeymad]

I have three driving donkeys that I earn my income with.
Some donkeys are very willing while some just don't want to move!
Where do you long rein them? Donkeys get bored very quickly and if you are using the same area, maybe the field, then you may get a better response if you take them out somewhere different. With some donkeys you do need to be quite forceful, the most important thing is not to let them win. Once they have won a battle, it is difficult to win the same battle, as they know they have got away with it.

Could I recommend you join the Donkey Breed Society Forum board where there are quite a few people who work their donkeys, and could give you some ideas of what has worked for them in the past.

DBS Forum Board

 

[ladyt25]

My feeling is donkeys do what they want generally so you have to convince them they want to do what you're asking!

You can't beat having a donkey - never a dull moment!

 

[mickey]

Thanks for the DBS forum link, that would be great for me to learn a bit I think!!!

I have a horse that is renound for being quite a difficult character in the stable. He is like taking a summer holiday compared to these donks!!

One of them (the one everyone else finds difficult) I get along great with, have done since day one. The male is quite an amusing character, likes to play games. He doesn't seem to like the LR game though! He is OK to LR in the field or school for about 5 mins and then he starts napping towards the gate. I don't really want to get after him coz he is not my donkey!!! (I am helping a friend who does not exercise them TMK).
The other mare is very timid.
Really I need to know more about how they operate and their minds! Then I can adjust my tac accordingly! Thanks for your help.

 

[hussar]

I'm a novice donkey owner, having had my 2.5yo donk for less than a year. One thing I found out pretty quickly is that he doesn't respond AT ALL to threats of any kind! He likes to stand and think about what he's being asked to do, and once he's worked out that there might be a carrot if he's good, he usually decides to do what I'm asking. Luckily he's small enough to overpower if his decision is the wrong one!

The DBS forum has been really helpful for me too.