LOL! So glad you noticed dear 'pipe!
A very ancient insight states that man is a synergistic resolution of "body" (i.e., matter) and "soul" (i.e., spirit). As Plato put it, for instance, man is zoon noon echon, the "ensouled animal who thinks."
Your wonderful analogy says that the soul (spirit) component is the "rider"; and the body (material) component the "donkey." Yet in the general disposition of nature, the donkey is usually stronger than the rider.
Well chalk that up, I guess, to the second law of thermodynamics: Any body (or closed system) left to its own devices will eventually fulfill the expectations called for it according to the laws of physical nature, as if the crittur in question was only a body, a riderless donkey. Which begs the question in the first place.
For this analysis leaves out the "rider" component of the question entirely....
Well go figure dear brother in Christ!
May He ever bless you and your dear ones!
The Donkey Rodeo does indeed have its clowns...
Thank you so much for all of your insights, dearest sister in Christ!