Donkey Training 101

We have the pleasure of enjoying the company of Lucky, our cute rescue donkey and farm mascot, for just over two years. During that time I have worked with lucky on trusting people and allowing me to halter and lead him. This summer, with the help of my friend Laura and her horse Tucker I was even able to lead lucky along on a few trail rides. (This required significant patience, so I give Laura extra props for agreeing to go with me, especially the second time).

During the past two years I have certainly concluded that Lucky thinks and reacts differently than horses. However, because I know how to interact with horses,and knew basically nothing about donkeys, I kept trying to work with Lucky more or less the same way I would with a horse. Needless to say our progress has been slow.

Recently I have been very excited to find a website with some good donkey interaction and training advice. http://calkinsart.net/donkeyinfo/vldonkclinic.html In the last week, Lucky and I have been developing a new and more trusting relationship. Lucky seems to be telling me that Vicki,the women who wrote the training lessons on the website, knows what is up with donkeys. I am starting to have new found optimism that Lucky may be able to fulfill my dreams of giving rides to small children, pulling a little cart or transporting our human picnic on a long day hike. In the meantime I feel lucky to enjoy the company of an amazing and cute donkey.