Howdy, Welcome to the Donkey Corral!

At Queen Valley Mule Ranch,
we work with Donkeys too! 

• Training

• Saddles & tack to fit your donkey

• Clinics
  
   

Here is a picture of the 

martingale as I'm training on Max.

My name is Steve Edwards and this is
Windy Ridge Maxamillian owned by Jehnet Carlson
of DJ Bar Ranch in Belgrade, Montana.

When training your donkey you will need the right
tools to help you communicate with your donkey.

Use a Mule Rider's Martingale
to build a foundation for the donkey .

Here we will help you learn how to use you hands to teach a rein.
Now to begin I need you to understand my guide lines...

1. Your donkey must be as calm when we end each lesson as when we began.   Make the lessons enjoyable for you and your donkey!

2. Use the right tool.  A smooth snaffle bit will teach the donkey to brace and gap the mouth. This is why you should use the Mule Rider's Martingale with a double twisted wire snaffle. With the Mule Rider's Martingale, you are guiding your donkey on a string not on a rein.  The only time you have to use the reins is when he isn't following your previous instruction or you want him to do something new.

3. Use the technique of ask, tell, demand.  Most of the time you are trying to hurry the donkey and pull on the donkey when he does not respond as fast as you think he should. However, you'll get much better results if you first ask, then tell, and demand only when necessary.  As an example, if you want your donkey to back up, you should first ask him by using a light wrist rolling motion with your right hand to communicate to the right side of the brain.  If he refuses, then tell him what you want him to do by using more pressure, pulling with your forearm.  If he he still refuses, you should use your whole arm to bump, bump, bump him, rather than steadily pull him. This is a demand.  When he has done this correctly three times in a row or at least he tries and you can tell he is thinking of backing up then repeat the same procedure on the left side to communicate with the left side of the brain.

4. Keep the lessons short and set a goal. Consider that you have reached your lesson's goal when the donkey tries to respond correctly three times in a row to what you ask of him.  Don't expect that your donkey will respond exactly the way you want right from the start.  Give him time to figure out what you are asking of him and reward him when he gives you even a small try towards what you ask.