Step By Step Donkey Training Checklist

           *Steps 1 through 10 establish communication with the donkey.

               #1 - getting the donkey to look at me.
               #2 - getting the donkey to turn his head and watch me.
               #3 - getting the donkey to take a step toward me.
               #4 - getting the donkey to let me touch him.
               #5 - getting the donkey to let me rub him all over.
               #6 - getting the donkey to let me pick up his feet.
               #7 - getting the donkey to let me push him left and right.
               #8 - getting the donkey to follow me.
               #9 - getting the donkey to stop when I want him to.
               #10 - getting the donkey to stand quietly.

             *Steps 11 through 20 establish a pattern where I ask the donkey
               for a movement and he complies with my request.

               #11 - getting the donkey to let me put on and take off a halter.
               #12 - getting the donkey to quietly stand tied.
               #13 - getting the donkey to take a few steps when lead (from the
               left side).
               #14 - getting the donkey to take a step backwards (when lead from
               the left side).
               #15 - getting the donkey to turn left (when lead from the left
               side).
               #16 - getting the donkey to turn right (when lead from the left
               side).
               #17 - getting the donkey to take a few steps when lead (from the
               right side)
               #18 - getting the donkey to take a step backwards (when lead from
               the right side).
               #19 - getting the donkey to turn left (when lead from the right
               side).
               #20 - getting the donkey to turn right (when lead from the
               right).

           *Steps 21 through 31 establish trust.

               #21 - getting the donkey to stand quietly and allow me to spray
               him with fly spray.
               #22 - getting the donkey to stand quietly and allow me to give
               him a bath.
               #23 - getting the donkey to stand quietly and allow me clip him
               with electric clippers.
               #24 - getting the donkey to allow me to cover his head with a
               blanket.
               #25 - getting the donkey to allow me to drape a blanket over his
               back (that dangles around his legs).
               #26 - getting the donkey to walk over a plastic sheet.
               #27 - getting the donkey to step over a log.
               #28 - getting the donkey to step on a sheet of plywood.
               #29 - getting the donkey to step in and out of the horse trailer.
               #30 - getting the donkey to walk around me in a circle to the
               left (lunge line).
               #31 - getting the donkey to walk around me to the right (lunge
               line).

               *Steps 32 through 41 teach the donkey how to balance his body at
               different speeds when moving under my guidance as to the
               direction and what part of his body I want him to move.

               #32 - getting the donkey to trot left on the lunge line.
               #33 - getting the donkey to trot right on the lunge line.
               #34 - getting the donkey to canter left on the lunge line.
               #35 - getting the donkey to canter right on the lunge line.
               #36 - in hand sidepass to the left.
               #37 - in hand sidepass to the right.
               #38 - in hand left turn on forequarters (left fore pivot point).
               #39 - in hand right turn on forequarters (right fore pivot
               point).
               #40 - in hand left turn on haunches (left rear pivot point).
               #41 - in hand right turn on haunches (right rear pivot point).

               *Steps 42 through 57 prepare the donkey mentally, emotionally,
               and physically for pulling the cart.
 

               #42 - putting a harness on the donkey and letting him walk on the
               lunge line (both directions).
               #43 - trotting (both directions) on the lunge line wearing the
               harness.
               #44 - attaching reins to his halter and asking him to walk
               forward.
               #45 - mastering left turn (ground driving).
               #46 - mastering right turn (ground driving).
               #47 - mastering back (ground driving).
               #48 - letting donkey carry a snaffle bit.
               #49 - hitching to the cart and walking forward (driver walking
               behind cart - reins to halter, carrying snaffle bit).
               #50 - practicing a balanced stop (driver walking behind cart).
               #51 - practice backing (driver walking behind cart).
               #52 - stiff-side arcing turn to the left (hitched to cart -
               driver walking behind cart).
               #53 - stiff-side arcing turn to the right (hitched to cart -
               driver walking behind cart).
               #54 - snapping reins to snaffle bit.
               #55 - practicing left turn with bit (driver walking behind cart).
               #56 - practicing right turn with bit (driver walking behind
               cart).
               #57 - practicing stops with bit (driver walking behind cart).

               *Steps 58 through 63 begin conditioning and building muscle
               strength and agility.

               #58 - putting weight (a passenger) in the cart (driver walking
               behind cart).
               #59 - practice going up and down slopes (driver walking behind
               cart).
               #60 - driver gets in cart.
               #61 - practice manuevering around obstacles.
               #62 - practice harness and cart failure (emergency stop and
               standing quietly).
               #63 - trotting (hitched to cart).

               *Steps 64 through 71 help the donkey master his balance with the
               added weight of a saddle and rider.

               #64 - putting saddle on donkey and stopping, walking, trotting,
               and cantering left on lunge line.
               #65 - stopping, walking, trotting, and cantering right on lunge
               line (wearing saddle).
               #66 - rider mounting.
               #67 - rider dismounting.
               #68 - practice rider falling off.
               #69 - practice saddle and bridle failure (emergency stop and
               standing quietly).
               #70 - riding over and around obstacles at a walk.
               #71 - riding around obstacles at a trot.

               *Steps 72 through 80 complete his basic training.

               #72 - riding at a canter - left lead.
               #73 - riding at a canter - right lead.
               #74 - taking donkey to an unfamiliar crowded, noisy place and
               riding and driving.
               #75 - practicing safe hill climbing and descending.
               #76 - trail riding.
               #77 - practicing gait transitions (slow walk, fast walk, jog,
               trot, extended trot, canter, and hand gallop).
               #78 - rollbacks.
               #79 - flying changes.
               #80 - sliding stop.
 
 

             He should master each step before going to the next step.
               If I encounter difficulties I back up a couple of steps to where the
               donkey was confident and comfortable and move forward more
               slowly. Each donkey has a very distinct personality. They do
               not all think alike or learn at the same speed.

               During the first 20 steps short 5 to 10 minutes sessions once or
               twice a day will keep the donkey from getting fretful and it is
               easier for him to absorb what I am teaching him. After Step 20 I
               increase the training time to 20 to 30 minutes. By Step 58, I
               can increase the training time even more as long as I am careful
               the donkey doesn't get overly tired or sore.

               A consistent routine is important. Skipping a day or two causes
               confusion for the donkey. Learning is part physical, part
               mental, and very much emotional. He looks forward to his daily
               one-on-one training time. After Step 5 each training session
               begins and ends with a thorough grooming.

               Vicki/ladywife