Training the Jumping Donkey

(Page 45) Donkeys have been labeled stubborn for centuries, but with the right approach, they are every bit as trainable and tractable as horses, mules and ponies. Donkeys just demand more consideration and respect to really want to perform for you. If you want to jump any equine, it is not advisable to just go out and start jumping. As with any equine athlete, the animal first needs to have gone through extensive ground work that addresses core muscle strength in good equine posture using intensive leading lessons on flat ground and through obstacles, lunging, ground-driving and basic under saddle work. This takes a lot of patience, time and symmetrical body-building through postural core exercises that address core strength in the elements around the bones.

When he is finally able to sustain his own balance with adequate core strength, he should be worked over 6-inch ground rails and cavalletti to develop bulk muscle and strength in the hind quarters that will be used to propel him over the jumps. Working over raised cavalletti will increase the power from behind and will begin to add much more suspension to his gaits. Once the four raised cavalletti are easy for him, he can move to jumping single cavalletti with ground rails on both sides to help him sustain good posture throughout the jump.

Finally, he can begin gymnastics through a line of simple ground rails, cross rails, vertical jumps and an oxer appropriately spaced with all rails first just lying on the ground. Raise the jumps in 3-inch increments on each jump as the line becomes easy for him beginning with the first rail. It won’t be long before he can jump the whole gymnastic line and all jumps that have been gradually raised appropriately to more formidable heights.

To learn more details about jumping, look in the various sections under TRAINING on my website at www.luckythreeranch.com. Particular videos about jumping can be found under TRAINING/TRAINING TIPS (#98 through #108).