December 1998, brought home this mare mule, at 6 months old. Was not very creative, named her "Mollie". As a future saddle mule, training began, first getting her used to working on her feet, then some pen work (a square pen can readily be used for "round pen" training), first on a long lead rope, then just loose. Getting her to respond to visual cues, and where I placed myself, she developed the "you're the boss" attitude....sometimes.
The stubborness associated with mules IS (in my opinion) related to them being smart, plus the self-preservation instinct....but that contributed to some longer-than -anticipated training sessions. Such as crossing a measly 4-5 ft wide muddy water area, she acted as if I was condemning her to death....until she finally tried it, then we crossed, and re-crossed it, nothing to it.
Early on we needed to cross a wooden bridge, water flowing, so a dual "threat" to her. Fellow riders on horses went back and forth across the bridge (show and tell??), finally about the 10th approach, she tentatively started across, then finished at a trot. And crossed it w/o hesitation on the return.
Her hybrid vigor becam apparent on any riding of a few hours, many of the horses were winding, Mollie was still raring to go.
Trained her for roping, using goats, because that's what one neighbor had them for....quite the challenge, more for me, than her. Damn goats can do a 90 degree turn, in mid-air!
Have never put shoes on her, she did develop laminitis in one front hoof, about 7 years ago, thought she was done with riding, but it repaired itself.
One great plus early on, her occasional aloofness or being uncooperative, always disappeared under saddle, she has always been reliable in use.
Always have used just a tail crupper, never seemed to bother her, even on long days.
She was hell on dogs and coyotes, in her younger days, now much more tolerant at 26 years old...wife and I did watch her chase a wild hog, about a 30 second adventure, would have been a great video!
Granddaughter likes the ugly mule
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