Approach the donkey from the front, talk to him, and don't let sudden shouts or gestures take him by surprise. Check that his hooves are clean.
Brush him down, giving special attention to the parts where the pack, or the girth, touch his coat.

Lay the clean rug fairly high up towards the shoulder, then slide it down into the right place, taking great care not to rub the fur up the wrong way.

Place the pack-saddle the right way round, so that it rests on the hollow of the shoulder, to the rear of the withers. The girth which goes under the belly is all that holds the pack-saddle in place. This girth should be tightened behind the front legs, round the sternum, but not round the ribs (which would inhibit the donkey's breathing).

Tighten the girth gently at first (and check that it isn't twisted). Let the donkey get used to the feel of the pack-saddle, then tightenfirmly.

The other straps, to be adjusted as necessary, are there to prevent the saddle slipping backward or forward, as the path goes up or down. A belly-band can be used to give the pack-saddle a firmer set.

Be considerate with your donkey: hard or pointed objects should not be placed in contact with his flanks. Think of the centre of gravity of the load: heavy things should be at the bottom of the bags, lighter ones at the top.

Weight will vary according to the donkey and/or the terrain. The maximum advisable load is 40 kg. Be careful not to overload either yourself or the donkey. Put anything non-essential aside to await your return.