Legs · Cable
Cable Donkey Kickback
How to do the cable donkey kickback, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Attach an ankle strap to a low cable and cuff it to one ankle. On all fours or hinged forward holding the frame, keep a slight knee bend and drive your foot back and up against the cable to extend the hip. Squeeze the glute at the top, then return with control.
- 1Feel your glute drive the leg back and up against the cable
- 2Squeeze the glute hard at the top of each rep
- 3Keep your core braced and hips square to the floor
Common mistakes
- Don't arch your lower back to swing the leg higher
- Avoid using momentum; control the cable on the way back
- Don't rotate your hips open as you kick
Muscles worked
The cable donkey kickback mainly works the glutes, with the hamstrings and lower back assisting.
- GlutesPrimary
- HamstringsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
Kovo programs the cable donkey kickback for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More glutes exercises
- How to do the agility ladder drill
- How to do the airdyne bike
- How to do the arc trainer
- How to do the assault bike
- How to do the medicine ball atlas stone lift
- How to do the b stance hip thrust
Last reviewed June 2026.