01/06/2026
“Check Your Resume ”
Maple was a perfect example of why we like to say that donkeys need to “check a person’s resume” before deciding if they’re willing to cooperate for the person in-hand.
For someone who doesn’t know what Maple is capable of, or her advanced level of training over the past year, or that she’s previously taken 1st place in an obstacle course challenge, they would have seen her in this particular situation and said, “donkeys are stubborn” “they can’t be trained” “they are ornery and not willing” “they are strong and pushy” “they require a heavy handed person” “they need someone strong enough to out muscle them or hang on to them” etc. etc. etc.
This past weekend, we had a very kind, sweet and lovely human who last minute asked if there was a donkey available to use for the obstacle course challenge. Because I was a judge and not personally competing, I immediately offered Maple to use. She’s done all kinds of obstacles with me, both out on trail and in competition. She’s become very soft, light & responsive (most of the time 😜)
As the competition was beginning, I could see Maple and her handler standing together and I immediately noticed that Maple was, in my opinion, “taking advantage” of a less experienced handler. She wasn’t being horrible, but for my expectations of good manners, she was being rude. When it was their turn to compete, Maple basically refused at most obstacles. She was heavy on the lead rope, was refusing to move her feet, was bracing and flat out defiant. I was shocked! She shut down and basically said, “no way.” I was almost embarrassed, but then had to remind myself of the “check your resume” mindset. Just because I as a trainer, or any other trainer, can get a donkey to do something, it doesn’t mean they will do it for another person. Donkeys truly check the person’s ability, confidence, leadership, expectations, follow through, their timing of their ask vs. their releases, and so on and so on. I would almost even say that the more advanced level of handling they learn, the more they will shut down and refuse with a lesser handler. It’s almost as if they now “know better” and expect a different level of finesse. And even saying that, there are days a donkey just flat out refuses something they think is dangerous, or not worth their time & energy. This is a donkey’s intelligence that is often mistaken for stubbornness.
A lot of trainers get complaints from clients because they’ll get their animal back from training, and people will say their animal wasn’t “trained” properly. We tell people all the time, just because we as trainers can get them to do something, doesn’t mean you’ll get the same response. You’ll need learn how to become a leader, how to read body language, understand that donkeys are not dogs, and they’re definitely not humans who work off human emotions, they only speak donkey. You need to understand predator vs. prey body language, how to communicate in a clear way just as they would amongst each other in a herd. Maple was a perfect example that donkeys truly like to “check a person’s resume” before deciding how they’ll behave. It is one of the reasons I love them so much. They keep us constantly aware of our own communication. Their behavior is a direct reflection of how we as humans are communicating. If I’m not getting something that I want from them, it’s not my dobkey’s fault. They are only responding to my ask. I need to change my communication to be more clear in my ask.
Again, Donkeys will “check your resume” at every opportunity they can. Don’t take it personal, they surely don’t 😉use it as an opportunity to learn and grow in your communication.
** These photos were taken at Sandam B***o Jam Obstacle Course Competition.
Notice my lead rope. She is always on a soft, loose lead. The tighter and harder we pull, the more they shut down and brace. Energy comes from the hindquarters. Free up their feet to get soft, light & responsive forward motion. Pulling only teaches them to brace harder. It’s not about muscle 💪 it’s about freeing up their feet feet
