I've started Nick under saddle. I invite you to follow along with his progress. Please like and subscribe. And, as always, feel free to ask questions or add a comment below.

My goal is to establish trust while also instilling in Nick that he needs to respect me because I am the heard leader. It takes a year or so under normal circumstances for a donkey to be considered "finished". There are several variables of course. Nick was 3 years and 8 months old when we started his training. His mental maturity is a major factor in his training. He won't be considered mentally mature until the age of 57 years old. That effects how long we train and how he reacts to stress. Patience is key. That's why I like to take a slow, easy pace.

Positive/negative reinforcement: I've watched and learned from lots of trainers throughout my life. When it comes to using positive and negative reinforcement I feel there needs to be a balance. If a trainer relies on only one or the other there can be negative consequences. That's not to say a person attempting to use only positive reinforcement won't achieve their training goals. They can, but in some cases, it can take much longer. Donkeys that have had too much positive reinforcement can act like spoiled children especially if they've grown accustom to getting treats. The relationship between the wrangler and the donkey can sometimes resemble that of a dog and it's owner.

Using only negative reinforcement can create a flighty donkey with aggressive tendencies. They develop trust issues and can be dangerous. I adopted a donkey once that was roped in an arena and it will probably have issues with a lead rope for the rest of it's life. I also had a donkey that someone must have hit in the head. It took me two years to get her to understand I wasn't going to hit her.

Donkeys have an amazing memory so it's important to keep in mind what you are imprinting.