Pack burro racing donkeys are athletes and thus are kept in good condition. Just like sled dog athletes, they are conditioned and trained before they race. Donkeys are healthiest when they are fit and not overweight. Overweight donkeys are prone to health problems, such as hyperlipidemia and laminitis. A sick donkey should not be raced. Donkeys that get training year round tend to do the best in the races. If you can, get them out for other activities, such as parades, shows, trail rides throughout the year. There are different innate athletic abilities of donkeys, just as there are in people. Some donkeys are excellent racers and others would prefer to walk the course or stand in the shade under a tree.

The Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation has strict rules overseeing the treatment of donkeys at the races. There will be no cruel or inhumane treatment of the donkeys. Cruel or inhumane treatment involves any action or inaction, which causes preventable pain or suffering to a donkey. Any contestant mistreating their animal may be disqualified. No needles, electric prods, narcotics, clubs or whips, other than the halter rope may be used. If the halter rope is used to drive the donkey then a pressure release method should be used. A rule of thumb to follow is only apply the rope on the donkey as hard as you would on yourself. It is considered abusive to use the lead rope to hit them repeatedly or hit them with a stick. The rope is used to cue them as with a driving whip for carriage horses.

The burro must be outfitted with a strap- (leather or synthetic) or rope-style halter. Jack chains may be used only if used with a pressure-release technique. A jack chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle, under the chin, or through the mouth. Any racer coming across the finish line with nose and/or chin injuries on the animal resulting from the jack chain will be disqualified. The halter, pack saddle, britchen, and breast collar should be fitted correctly as not to cause rub sores or injuries. Shoes or correctly fitting boots are recommended for burros running the long courses.

All runners must keep their burros under control. This is especially true for runners with jacks. If you have spent adequate time training your burro then the jack chain is only for insurance purposes if your jack gets rambunctious. A rope used instead of a chain gives them a quicker release. The burro’s reward during training is the release of pressure.

You will often hear burro racers using the command “hup” as a cue to go forward. Yelling at them, instead of using commands tends to be unpleasant to those around you and to the spectators (be aware that the spectators may view what you are doing different from what you do). Yelling just desensitizes the burro to your voice. Every chance you get, educate the spectators about donkeys and racing. Try to always drive your donkey quietly. This conserves energy! Try to use the smallest cue possible. I am impressed by the racer and burro that run along quietly as a team stride for stride. It is a treat when you train frequently with consistent good techniques and your donkey bonds with you. Not everyone has the facilities or time to own a donkey. If you lease a donkey for a race, train with that donkey as much as possible and try to race the same donkey each time. Racing can be frustrating; however, it isn’t helpful if you lose your temper. The “burro is always right” per trainer Tom Mowery. Take a deep breath and see what you can do to help the donkey. What can you do differently to get the donkey to do what you are asking?

The drive line on a donkey is their shoulder. Get behind the drive line to cause them to go forward. Be in front of the drive line and turn their head towards you to get them to stop. Donkeys respond best to pressure and release. Donkeys naturally respond to pressure with pressure against you if they don’t get a release. Trying to drag a donkey will just create more resistance against your efforts. Treats can be used intermittently. I reserve them for special occasions, the end of the race and occasionally if I get into a spot where they are stalled. Curtis Imrie was an inspiration to us. He was good at getting a group of racers out to practicing creek crossings, obstacles, etc. prior to the race.

Practice, patience, pressure/release, and consistency are key factors for forming a bond with your burro. Lastly, have fun. Enjoy the beautiful scenery if you aren’t going as fast as you would like. Any kind of motion is good!

Sheri L. Thompson, DVM

Most people view donkeys as lazy stubborn creatures. If you observe donkeys in the wild, they aren’t sedentary creatures. They exercise all day long, as they move about grazing, usually at a walk. They trot while playing, if excited, and when approaching water holes. And yes, they do run. They gallop as part of courtship, run when playing, and chase each other. Donkeys, especially young ones, will trot or gallop away from their dam or another donkey then return. They will run from or toward an object, simply just to run. In the wild, donkeys are very trim athletic animals. Their hooves are kept trimmed by travel over rocks. So, is burro racing humane? Is it natural? Is it more humane than keeping a donkey confined in a small area all of its life and allowing it to get obese with overgrown hooves and a matted hair coat? It is the same argument as with other animals. What is better for your dog? Is it better to overfeed it and not exercise it or to take it running with you or hook it up to a sled to run as part of a team? Most dogs love to run and most donkeys enjoy an active life. There is an overpopulation of many wild animals, including donkeys. Wild donkeys are captured and adopted. They adapt to a domestic lifestyle amazingly well and excel at burro racing. There are many different viewpoints on the ethics of owning and working animals. I respect everyone’s individual opinion. I am an advocate for caring for an animal in such a way that the animal receives proper nutrition, has shelter, companionship, means of exercising, and is not abused in any way.

Whenever humans are caretakers for animals, there are always a few people who don’t act in an ethical manner and/or care for their animals properly. In general, burro racers take exceptional care of their donkeys. The human and the donkey are a team. In addition to racing their donkeys, they often provide other stimulating experiences for their donkeys, they ride, drive, and show them, etc. They keep their feet trimmed, groom them, and spend a lot of time with them, and thus are quickly aware of any health concerns. Donkeys seek human attention. Often when I am training one of my horses or mules, my donkey will approach and stand nearby or try to get my attention. This summer, she started coming over and standing close whenever I apply fly spray to one of the other equine. She accepts the fly spray without her halter on. They are very smart social creatures and form close bonds with humans. When they have a bond with humans, they appear to enjoy doing activities with people. They are willing participants. If they don’t want to go, you can’t make them do anything. If you doubt this, sign up for a burro race and see if you can make the donkey do something it doesn’t want to do! Try pushing a donkey. If they don’t want to move, they will freeze in place. Occasionally, they will lie down and refuse to get up if they are really concerned about something. Burro racers use a pressure and release method to train their donkeys. This is the same method used by a female donkey to train her foal. Often there is over breeding of animals. Burro racing donkeys are purpose bred. They are generally bred responsibly for conformation, health, viability, and athletic ability.

In all burro races, cruelty to the burro is prohibited. The Western Pack Burro Association states that “any contestant mistreating his animal may be disqualified. No needles, electric prods, narcotics, clubs or whips, other than the halter rope, may be used”. The halter rope can be used with a pressure-release technique. Jack chains may also be used with a pressure-release technique. A jack chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle, under the chin, or through the mouth. They are often used to control jacks or jennies that are much stronger than a human, to prevent them from getting loose where they might injure themselves, another donkey, or a person. The Western Pack Burro Association has a guideline encouraging veterinary checks before every race.

Sheri L. Thompson, DVM