Riding a donkey is not easy, but it’s definitely possible for most people! Donkeys are charismatic animals that love to be loved and admired. They thrive in human environments so they can easily be trained as companions or even working farm partners.
There are several different styles of riding a donkey. Some are more gentle and steady, while others are more thrilling (but may need some extra motivation). No matter which one you choose, however, you should always start with a short ride first to get the basics down.
Once you feel comfortable, you can work up to longer rides and faster speeds. However, make sure your horse has been properly trained before trying this with another animal.
Riding a donkey is a fun way to spend time outdoors, especially if you do it right.
You need to find a reputable donkey sanctuary
Many people assume that don’t you can ride a horse, or even a pony, but you cannot! This is not true for many reasons. First of all, horses and ponies are large animals who require more space and time to train than most people give them. Secondly, they are very expensive!
Thirdly, although there are some places where riding as a pastime is popular, few if any offer one-on-one lessons unless you already know how to ride.
At a minimum you will have to take care of the animal yourself (feeding, grooming, etc.) and come at least twice per week to get help with training. If you want to learn how to become a professional rider then it gets much more expensive than just spending money on a horse.
Donkey rides are different!
You do not need to spend a lot of money or go to frequent classes to experience the joys of donkey riding.
Make sure the donkey is healthy
Don’t buy a used or rented donkey that looks sick or poorly fed. If you see the animal eating grass, try to give it some more food so that it can eat before taking it somewhere.
Donkeys are large animals which require lots of space to walk around. They need at least 30 feet per don in any direction for exercise. Since they only stand up about two hours each day, this takes quite a bit of time!
If your don will not get enough exercise, you could end up with a stressed out donkey. This could lead to health problems like colic, breathing issues, or even death.
Breathing becomes difficult when a horse is very nervous or excited. A donkey will be no different! Because donkeys are smaller than horses, they do not have these muscles to keep their nose from getting clogged up.
This could cause them to breathe harder and faster, making them feel worse. For helping your donkey relax, look into ways to reduce stress.
Bring your own helmet
Don’t expect to ride a donkey in Peru with no helmets! There are several types of helmets you can bring along while traveling in South America. Most importantly, make sure they fit well so that it does not slip off or get lost!
There are also some kind of covers for the mouth which is very helpful if the horse gets hungry or needs to drink because its mouth is covered up. This helps prevent dirt from getting into his mouth as he chews and drinks!
Many people use this type of cover when riding horses at resorts or farms where there are automatic water bowls.
Know the location of the nearest veterinary clinic
While riding donkeys is not for everyone, there are ways to enjoy this unique experience if you have the right preparation. First, you will need to know where your nearest veterinary hospital or animal shelter is so that you can consider whether or not it’s necessary to bring your donkey in for help with health or behavior issues.
Donkey owners usually take their animals to local clinics for checkups because they want professional care. If you aren’t sure what to look for when checking for symptoms of illness in donkeys, you should do some research before bringing them into the office. There may be some signs about don’t show up until the disease reaches an advanced stage, but most illnesses can be identified early.
Bring first aid supplies
Don’t expect to ride a donkey for hours at a time without getting sick or hurt, but knowing how to handle minor medical issues is important. While some people may think that don’s ears look funny, they can actually cause serious health problems.
Donkeys are mammals like bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, and domestic horses. Just as these animals have hair, ears, and other protective features, don’t forget about theirs!
Their ears play an integral part in their survival by helping them sense changes in air pressure, sound, and movement. When riding a donkey, make sure your hands are up where you can easily access both ear lobes at all times!
If you happen to pull down on one of the ears, it will drag across your hand, causing skin to get stuck or broken. This could lead to infection or bleeding. Make sure your hands are always prepared for this!
Never force an animal’s head away from its body when it tries to avoid you. The animal could choke or even be seriously injured if it has trouble breathing due to being pushed onto its side.
Experts say that almost every donkey owner out there has experienced something weird with their ears at least once. However, few know what to do about it unless they’re trained in veterinary medicine.
Tell your friends
There are many ways to enjoy donkey rides in the United States, with some places even having organized donny tours that have clearly marked routes and times. Some people enjoy riding donkeys for their beauty or because they’re passionate about horses, but not many people know how to ride one!
Many trained donkeys can be ridden every day, making it possible for anyone to give this experience a try. If you would like to learn how to ride a donkey, there are several different courses available, both online and through local horse farms or donkey rescue organizations.
There is no formal requirement to take these classes, but most students are required to practice at home for at least six months before taking the test. After passing the test, riders are usually able to work as paid professionals within two years.
Tell your family
Don’t assume that just because someone says they don’t like horses, or riding bikes doesn’t mean that they can’t do it. There are many times when people say things about themselves that aren’t true. For example, some people claim to not be able to ride a motorcycle, but you may have seen them take one for a few minutes in a parking lot.
The same thing happens with donkeys. Some people claim that they cannot ride a donkey, but they certainly must be able to if there are so many pictures and videos of people doing it all the time.
There is no reason why most people can’t learn how to ride a donkey, even though there are very few of them around today. In fact, learning how to ride a donkey is probably more difficult than teaching yourself to ride a horse due to the animal’s size, weight, and strength.
Plan Ahead
Don’t expect to be able to ride a donkey immediately after buying it or even at the same place every time you go out. Depending on the breed, age, and rider experience, riding a donkey can take some time.
There are several things that can influence if you are able to ride your new donkey easily. It will depend on whether this has been done before and how well it was mastered.
Making sure your saddle is high quality (not cheap) as well as padded properly helps ensure comfortable rides for your animal and yourself.
Your horse may need some lessons before you get to donkeys!
If all of these fail, then unfortunately you will have to say goodbye to your equine-donkey friendship. 🙁 But don’t give up just because they aren’t quite ready yet!
Don’t feel like you should abandon hope though, there are many ways to help you teach your donkey to accept riders more readily.