MULE CROSSING: Suitability of Donkeys and Mules For Children

By Meredith Hodges

Many have inquired as to the suitability of Longears for children. As with any equine, choosing the right individual for your child is of primary importance. However, as a general rule, we find that donkeys make excellent mounts for beginning riders because of their patient, quiet nature and good common sense. They can be the best possible babysitter. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a donkey for your child.

The first rule to observe is to never get a donkey jack for your child. Though he may be sweet and docile by nature, he is still governed by strong natural instincts so his character is inconsistent. He is a breeding stud and must be treated as such.

Donkey jennets are good prospects for children except when they are pregnant or nursing offspring, or when they are in heat. When a jennet is in heat, she may become cross and if she is in foal, or has one by her side, she is governed by her natural instincts to be protective and attentive to the welfare of her offspring.

The best possible mount for a child is a donkey gelding. He possesses all the positive traits of the donkey without being subject to primitive instincts (unless he was gelded late in life). Since most donkeys are small in stature and possess an affectionate attitude, they make excellent companions as well as mounts for children.

Since a donkey can become quite stubborn when treated poorly, it is important that you take the time to help your child and donkey get started properly. Even an untried donkey, with proper help, can be a wonderful mount for a child. In the first few weeks together, the child and donkey should simply spend quality time getting to know each other. Teach your child the correct way to handle and groom the donkey. The personal bond between them will develop on its own. This is also a good way to start with mules.

When your child and donkey have developed confidence in each other, you can begin to teach them the fundamentals of riding. Tack up the donkey in a small saddle suitable for his size and a snaffle bridle and then take him to a small pen to work on the lunge line. Allow your child to sit astride the donkey as he walks around you. Explain to you child the basics of turning and stopping with the direct snaffle rein contact, commonly called “plow-reining.” be sure to instruct the child not to pull hard, or jerk the reins. Donkeys have very sensitive mouths and do not respond well when they are in pain.

Teach your child to use verbal commands in conjunction with the reins and leg cues. When he wants to go forward, for instance, tell your child to ask the donkey to “Walk on.” Tell the child to squeeze with his legs and don’t just kick. He should get the desired response. If the child wishes to turn, tell him to ask the donkey to “Haw” (left or “Gee” (right). Instruct the child to pull gently on the direct rein and “push” the donkey into the turn with the opposite rein. When stopping, tell the child to say, “Whoa” and then pull back gently on the reins with a “squeeze-release” action and not a steady pull. The child will need to sit deeper in the saddle to initiate the stop. When the donkey complies with the commands that are given, do not be afraid to reward him with a pat on the neck or a handful of crimped oats (not whole oats!). He will be more willing to perform the next time you ask when he is reward.

Love and caresses are an excellent reward and the reward of crimped oats certainly does no harm, but tell the child to keep his hands flat so the donkey doesn’t accidently get his fingers! Donkeys are very appreciative animals. If the child and donkey are supervised correctly, it can greatly enhance the entire riding experience. The donkey will protect your child with his excellent judgment and the child will learn to be a patient and understanding person through the interaction with his donkey. The reason is simple: donkeys will not respond unless treated fairly. Many an equestrian in Great Britain has spent his early years astride a donkey and have become better riders because of it! So, if your child expresses an interest in riding, consider starting him with a donkey gelding, or maybe even a jennet. Besides being patient with children, his size is more suitable, he has ample strength to carry children and is an easy keeper, so feed and vet bills can usually be kept to a minimum.

What of the suitability of a mule for children?  Because the mule is half donkey, he possesses many of the fine donkey characteristics that will make him suitable for children. But at this point, I must caution you that he is also part horse and will generally get his disposition from the mare. So, if you wish to get a mule for your child, make sure it is an individual with a quiet disposition. Then you can consider such things as size, color and other traits. Be advised that mini mules can be very strong and hyperactive with alpha personalities. IN some cases it might be better to get a larger, quieter mule for your child. The right mule can be just as good a babysitter as the right donkey, and usually more reliable than any horse!

Equines seem to have a natural curiosity when it comes to children and when they are afraid of adults, they are not always afraid of children. It is the adults who do not trust equines with young children, mostly because we know their capabilities and how they can hurt us. When a child naively goes up to an equine, the equine will usually just stand still and let them wander wherever they want to go, around their bodies and even underneath their barrel and between their legs. The equine will watch them and even sniff them as they walk around them. They are delicate about taking things from a child’s hands. Horses are reactionary while mules and donkeys are intelligent, thinking equines. If a horse takes flight from a spook, or bolts, he is more likely to accidently step on the child where a mule or donkey will not. If you are in front of a horse when he bolts, he is more likely to run you over than the mule or donkey that will try to go around you if he can. They don’t like stepping on squishy things…LOL! Mini mules can be a little flighty but are still curious about children. Ponies are notorious for bad behaviors with children. Saddle mules and donkeys make excellent babysitters!

For safety’s sake, it is important with all equines to teach your child how to be safe around these large animals. Remember that children do not necessarily pay attention to what you say, but they WILL watch what you do! Always pay attention to what you do and how you do it as if the child is watching. For instance, for the sake of safety, arrange your feeding program so you always feed from outside of the pen or stall. Space piles of hay and oats at least 16 feet apart in the pens with multiple animals, and make these spots accessible from the outside, so you won’t have to be in the pen and put yourself at risk of getting in between equines that might start messing around with each other. Spacing the feed this much keeps the equines from going after each other’s feed and makes feeding time calmer and less stressful for them. If they are used to being fed along a fence, they will come to a child more easily at the fence to receive a reward.

When you are tacking up your equine, stay in close to put on the saddle and bridle, but when walking around and behind them, give them a wide berth out of kicking range. Give the child detailed lessons on how to bridle and saddle the equine without hurting him, around the ears, eyes, etc. and never use the ears to hold his head still! Teach the child to WALK around equines and not run, or be abrupt, in their movements. Get your child a saddle that they can feel secure in, that has stirrups that will adjust to their short legs, or an alternate set of stirrups that will fit onto an adult saddle for them.

Children and donkeys, or mules, have not been together much in this country in the recent past. Perhaps it is because we have not given children a chance to show their Longears publicly. Realizing this need, as in horse shows, youth classes have been included in the Longears shows of today to encourage our youth to take an active interest in the promotion of Longears. The jobs these “kids” are dong with their mules and donkeys are wonderful and their contributions are extensive. The values learned by children when dealing with donkeys and mules will stand them in good stead throughout their lives, not to mention the joy they will discover in having such an interactive and affectionate companion.

So, in the spirit of generosity and to give children a healthy pursuit as they grow, consider making Longears a part of your life and give a homeless donkey, burro or mule a chance.  Just make sure that the Longears you choose is not an animal that has been irretrievably abused. Donkeys tend to have less issues and to be more sedate rescue animals than mules. Your child will welcome such an affectionate and sensible companion. If you adhere to the guidelines I have described, you should not be disappointed.

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com, MEREDITH HODGES PUBLIC FIGURE Facebook page, or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe, YouTube and Twitter.

Covered in TRAINING MULES & DONKEY: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAINING, TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE and EQUUS REVISITED at www.luckythreeranchstore.com.

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