Q/A Posted 2/5/03 Hello Ms. Fergason What a treat, a site that offers help, other than the "buy my video/book" for the answers. Loved the questions section and read through them just to see what was going on. Now on to the bad news. I have a big (17 h) handsome mule about 8 years old. I bought him for me, but he doesn't suit me very well, I'm an experienced driver/trainer, but an inexperienced rider. I like a plod along deadhead under me, while "Baxter" is a step out kind of guy. Nothing wrong with that, just not my style. My daughter on the other hand likes up on the bit, eager movers, is outgrowing her 4H pony, and is thinking she'd like to become a half-ass rider. She's 14 years old, rides an Arab cross in English,Western, Jumping, and Games, so she got some time in the saddle. My concern is that Baxter was "cowboy broke", jump on an go. We want to step back, and try to lay the foundation work, to turn him into the saddle mule he has the potential to become. Any suggestions on how to undo the hurry-up that was put in? Baxter also resents being taken away from his pasture buddies, which can cause some troubles also. What can we do to help him get over this? Thanks

There’s a lot of mules out there that didn’t get good basic training--rough handled and just enough “plow-reining” to be able to get by and ridden by the human. I think that its great that you want to work with your mule to get him a little better educated so that your daughter can enjoy him. I would pretty much do the same thing with your mule as I would with one that hadn’t been taught anything yet. You won’t exactly be “undoing” anything that was done with him...think of it as teaching him a lot of stuff that he hadn’t been taught before...he’s just been getting by all this time--luckily he seems to be good natured. Since you’re already comfortable with horses and their training, you can use what you know to get along with the mule. The difference is the mule is a more “thinking” animal than a horse...so you won’t be able to use intimidation or gimmicks to really get the mule solid. And sometimes if the mule doesn’t understand, you won’t be able to “force” him, so just step back and think of another way to go about teaching the mule that particular thing. A good foundation to get this mule better under saddle would be the same as good training for a horse. But here’s a few things I would do just to make sure all my bases were covered. I’d start with making sure that he was okay about being touched all over...I like to use a coiled up lariat rope. I’d want him good about it touching him even up in his flanks and between his legs...up around his ears and under his tail. You want to make sure that he is not too sensitive about being touched around his ears (so that being bridled won’t be a problem for him) and around his nose and lips (so that he doesn’t hate having the bit put in his mouth). Then I would start asking for him to “yield” to pressure. You can start by just putting a couple of fingers over the bridge of his nose and asking him to bend his head a little toward you. Or by putting just a little bit of pressure on the lead rope of the halter...when he “gives” his head (bends it just a little bit toward you), release the pressure and pet him. I also like to teach them to drop their head when I put a little bit of pressure on their poll and move their hindquarters away from me when I put some pressure against their barrel or hip. From there I’d go on to saddle him, asking him to give to the halter lead rope or snaffle bit rein to each side--working on getting the mule lighter about giving to the pressure. And I would ask him to “disengage” his hindquarters--ask for a slight tip of his nose to one side, then leg pressure on the barrel of the same side as he has his nose tipped--when he steps away from the leg pressure, release rein and leg pressure to reward him. For me, teaching this stepping over or “disengaging” is the most important thing I can do with my mules--from then on I have a built-in safety feature if they get scared and want to shy or run off. Most mules really like attention, so your mule will probably enjoy the “training” sessions. Just don’t overdo it and bore him to death. If he does something right a few times, you can probably move on to something else for a while. About Baxter resenting being taken away from his pasture buddies...is it taking him away or do you mean he doesn’t like it when you leave him in the pasture and take his buddies away--that is the usually where you see mules really having a problem. As I’ve written about in several other Muleschool replies, mules don’t like to go off by themselves very much and definitely don’t like it when they are left alone in a stall or pasture and their friends go off and leave them. There’s not a whole lot you can do about this muley behavior...I think they’re more careful and protective than the horses--that’s why they don’t like to be alone--but you might look at my suggestions to some of the other people who were having this problem. I hope this helps a little...pleaes don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any specific questions on making sure your daughter is able to enjoy Baxter as a safe and fun saddle mule.