Can mini donks be saddle broke for small children? How does one go about training a mini donk (or mini horse) under saddle?? Obviously I would assume that many of the early steps are similar to a full size horse or pony but in terms of actually getting them used to the weight and having someone on their back- how do you do that?
Mini Donks and mini horses are not built to carry weight for even little riders. Better to get a small Shetland!
Well, my little mini donkey is so sweet and gentle that we occasionally just put a tiny child on him. Mostly they’re content to sit there for a minute and pose for pictures. Sometimes we lead him a bit. But as to real training, well, I suppose an adult could train him by ground driving. Mine is so little though, I just can’t imagine a child small enough to ride him actually being skillful enough to do it.
Mini donkeys…and horses for that matter are made to look at, cuddle, love, spoil and at the most - drive. Their purpose is not as a riding “beast”!! They are just too small.
Please no. They are not built for it, just pushing down on Evil Burrito’s back makes it give and his wee little legs? No. :no:
Meredith Hodges’ website has a lot of training info on all types of long-ears. She literally spends years building up the strength in the animals to hold a frame, and has lately been posting pics of a pair of minis learning to work in harness as a pair. While her site is primarily directed at mules, many things apply to the donks as well.
You have to do the bulk of your training in long lines, and if you follow her method to a T, the child will long since outgrow the beast before it’s ready for riding…but by golly, you’ll have a sweet little driver.
I’d say my mini can hold about 40/50 lbs based her her weight. I’ve had my nieces sit on her and she’s never flinched or acted like she doesn’t like it (and she does let us know when she doesn’t like something…). They don’t ride her around in a saddle or bridle or anything though.
Thanks for the feedback. Right now this is just a hypothetical idea for the future- we don’t even have a kid yet 
Will take all feedback into consideration. By riding I meant mostly lead line at the walk, maybe a few steps of trot- nothing serious. Otherwise will just need to get a pony 
interesting. i work at a place that gives pony rides. they have several minis for small children, and ive always wondered how they broke them. (they arent the kindest creatures either)
i agree that they probably shouldnt be ridden… not that my workplace cares :lol:
(ive also heard my coworkers tell the parents that the minis are “Shetlands” ugh)
In minis, at least, there is a huge difference in body type. My AMHA mini is (apparently) the “old style” that is more like a Shetland, but others that are registerable are very slight and fine-boned.
I can’t imagine a child being able to ride my mini with any skill, because she is SO small (34") that we would be talking 3-4 year olds before they were too big. But, I think my mini could hold their weight easily (I’ve been tempted to sit on her myself, except I think she’d buck me into the rafters).
However, my trainer had one of the fine-boned kind - she was like a baby deer. I don’t think she could hold any weight at all.
That being said, you’d still be way better off getting a small pony that could actually be ridden properly, even if you only want to do lead line. A retired small pony would be the perfect leadline pony for any small child.
