On 12/21/07, Virginia Tupper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Can donkeys be ridden? I saw these sweeties for sale on Atlantic > Rider -- they look like bunnies.
oh yes. jesus and mary rode donkeys remember ... they have to be trained really really young or they will never do anything if left to pasture for years and then brought out for training. I know a man who raises donkeys and he says he has them as soon as they are weaned pulling a tiny cart with a halter on and wearing a saddle and loading in a trailer, having their feet picked up etc, then he said after all that he just puts them out to pasture. Then when they are old enough to be broke they are fine with it. I know what he says is true. Because my curly ray will not get in a trailer. You have to pick him up like a recliner chair. Thank goodness he doesnt kick or fight it. also I know a woman who has to blindfold her jenny to move her from one paddock to the next because she hit a hot wire ONE time and from that day on will not leave her paddock without a huge fight. they will just rather die than do something if they are afraid. I would try and drag curly to take a bath and then one day I heard a funny noise and looked and he was actually choking on the rope halter. Gosh I felt awful. now he is just nasty all the time but he hates baths and he wont get in a trailer. he was 6 years old when he was given to me and had always been in a pasture and never asked to do anything, thank goodness he is ok with getting his feet done. My farrier won't do a kicking horse or mule or donkey unless you have a vet out to sedate them first. i personally believe the way you train a donkey is a good way to do a young horse, to get them to wear a saddle and sidepull around as a yearling etc so they think nothing of it when you get ready to really train them. its so stressful to be started under saddle, is good I think to have them thinking a saddle is no big deal by that time. When I put nasi's saddle on he always turns and gazes at it real long like "oh there is that thing again." haha Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
