Been There, Tried That: Training Tips for Wild Burros

Tips to Tame Your Wild Burro

We picked out our BLM burros in October 2021. They were both older–approximately 8 & 10 years old–when we selected them. By May 2022 (over six! months later), even getting these guys haltered was pretty iffy. We’d have our good days and our bad days; there would be a lot of progress followed by massive regression.

We’ll discuss some things that have worked with these two particular burros, along with some helpful techniques I have learned along the way. This has been an extremely hands-on experience for me–there are a lot of things I wish I knew before I started!

Disclaimers:

• When I got my two BLM burros, I was brand new to donkeys. While I had >20 years experience with domestic horses, donkeys are different. Especially a wild donkey! Some days, it felt like I was on a completely different planet.
• I started my relationship with my donkeys playing “good cop.” I was also terrified of being kicked–it only happened once, and that instance was preventable, but still a bit scary. As I got more comfortable around my boys, I got better at challenging their comfort zones and setting more concrete boundaries.
• You’ll notice I use the term “training,” not “breaking.” This is 99% on their terms! I can’t force them to do anything they don’t actually want to do.

Basic training, like haltering, grooming, and loading in a trailer, are key skills that these burros need to learn. It’s critical for safe handling—both for me and them.

We need to be able to reliably halter & handle them for grooming, veterinary, and farrier care.

I’ll share what worked (and didn’t).

Because our donkeys have two different personalities, I had to adapt my methods a bit to the individual. The basics, however, remain the same.

It helped to break down our training sessions into several steps, which made things less intimidating, and allowed us to set goals based on that date & individual–celebrating small wins vs. putting pressure on the situation for bigger achievements.

We would practice the pieces separately, depending on the mood each day. (Some days we are more cooperative and willing than others!)

For Moon, I quickly learned that a rope halter was going to be an easier starting point than a nylon one. The rope variety was less intimidating than a nylon halter, which is heavier and has hardware that can make extra noises. 

Focusing on smaller steps makes it easier to celebrate moments of success, no matter how small.

We also like to celebrate with carrots…and maybe a beer!

Training Hacks Specific for Wild Burros 

1.Introduce new things slowly.

Depending on the item, I like to first introduce it on their own terms, unrelated to me.

You could hang the new thing on the fence, position it in/near their feed pan, or even leave it on the ground where they will have to step over it.

Our Arizona burros initially thought anything rope-like was a snake, and were terrified of both halters and lead ropes. It took months to desensitize them to these objects! We had many “sleepovers” with a collection of rope/rope-like objects.

It’s best to allow the burro to approach you, with the new object, versus chasing them with it.

Full disclosure, this could take days/weeks/months!

2.Make it a game!

My donkeys are more comfortable approaching me head-first and are also very motivated by carrots. So, we created the different games for various tasks. Our favorite? Playing “Nose for Carrot” and getting rewarded for putting their nose through objects like halters and fly masks in order to get a food reward.

3.Practice makes perfect.

Repetition is key. Your demeanor and approach should be consistent, so the animal knows what to expect. As you build trust, introducing new items will get easier!

4.Expose them to the objects from different angles, like each side.

Equines have eyes on the sides of their heads, so they need to look at things twice–once through each eyeball. An object that may be fine on the right side could look different (and scarier) when viewed going the other direction, through the left eye. 

Additionally, lighting and weather can change their view. A non-scary item in the daylight could turn into a terrifying monster in the dark. Wind generally makes the donkeys extra uneasy, and can cause unexpected movements.

5.Break it down into small steps.

Getting used to a new item from a safe distance is one thing; allowing it to touch you is a whole different story! I found it was good to desensitize the donkeys to a variety of items. This also helped prepare them for future events like wearing a pack saddle, or a winter blanket. 

Start slow, and build up. 

For example, here’s how I approached putting a saddle pad on Moon for the first time.

• Day 1. Sleepover with saddle pad on the fence next to the hay feeder
• Day 2. Human carried saddle pad around while doing chores; returned it to a different spot on the gate
• Day 3. Human shook saddle pad around in the air like a crazy person. Replaced it to the fence. Fed carrot
• Day 4. Put saddle pad on trained donkey & let him wear it around for awhile; no one died. In fact, trained donkey had no reaction.
• Day 5. Human held saddle pad and asked wild burro to approach for carrots. Ate treats. Again, no one died.
• Day 6: Human held saddle pad and asked burro to approach for carrots. Touched saddle pad to shoulder; quickly removed. Ate carrots.
• Day 7: Human touched burro with a smaller towel. Fed carrots. Put towel over neck. Fed carrots. Put towel over back. Fed carrots. All was well.
• Day 8: Human held saddle pad and asked burro to approach for carrots. Touched saddle pad to shoulder; quickly removed. Ate carrots. Touched saddle pad to back; quickly removed. Ate carrots. Set saddle pad on back. Fed carrots. Removed pad. No one died.
• Day 9: Repeat.

6.Positive reinforcement is key!

Reward good behavior with positive reinforcement. This does NOT always have to be food!

Remember, physical proximity is also pressure. This could be touching, or just being close to the wild burro. Reward them by stepping away and giving them space.

Donkeys are incredibly smart and can learn words and phrases. Talk to them and tell them when they are doing a good job. Vocal cues are also important!

7.Put it all together!

Once you can successfully perform many small steps, put things together and practice. If you experience regression, go back to easier, smaller steps to allow for a quick “win” (and a reward!).

A few additional considerations:

• Patience! Don’t start a training session you can’t finish on a positive step
• Never leave a halter on an unattended donkey
• Avoid touching the ears at this step. Some burros are very sensitive to ear-touches
• Move slowly and deliberately; avoid sudden movements or loud noises
• I talk to my donkeys most of the time. They are very smart and can learn words and phrases!

Additional Tips

Focus on positive reinforcement only. Treats, vocal praise, and pressure release by stepping away are all encouraged.

If your donkey decides to leave mid-training, it is generally best to let him go and then try again.

Choose your battles; training shouldn’t have to be difficult.

Ensure you have enough time to finish what you start. You may need to scale down your training plans for the day to ensure you can at least accomplish a small step, therefore continuing to make progress.

For example, if it is windy out, I know my donkeys will be extra spooky. Based on the weather alone, I’ll likely scale back my expectations and focus on activities the donkeys are more comfortable with rather than pushing something new that day.

Regression is normal. One step forward, ten steps back seems to be the norm for us.

For example, I was able to halter both Blue and Moon within two weeks of them moving in. Then, I wasn’t able to halter Blue again for over a month. Eventually, I brought a trainer in to help, because I was stuck. Which brings me to…

There is nothing wrong with asking for help! Training wild animals is challenging–if you get stuck, there’s no shame in getting some extra help. It just makes you a better donkey owner.

Start simple before adding complexity.

I’ve found that patience, consistency, and carrots are all key to training my boys!

If you’re getting frustrated, it may be time to quit and call it a day. I’ve cut many sessions short because I wasn’t in the right mindset to give the situation the patience that it required. Know your limits!

And, remember—the donkey is smarter than you.

Want to learn more? Trot on over to these articles!

• Donkey Care in Extremely Cold Conditions
• Burro Body Language Basics
• Barn Management Best Practices for Burros
• Do Senior Donkeys Need Joint Supplements?
• Burro Bonded Pairs: Fact & Fiction
• Hammocks & HeeHaws: How to Camp with your Donkey
• Donkey vs Horse Nutrition: What’s the Difference?