Back to Basics: Mule tips work for horses, too

By Susan Dudasik, Ag Weekly correspondent
Friday, October 26, 2007 4:19 PM CDT

The weekend weather brought wind, rain and snow. It was too nasty to do anything outside, but it was the perfect time to catch up on some reading. Luckily, I had just received a new book in the mail. So gathering up a cup of hot chocolate and snuggling under the electric blanket, I was eager to get started.

Intrigued, I flipped through the book, “Answers to Your Mule Questions — A Common Sense Guide to Understanding the Mule’s Point of View,” by Cindy K. Roberts. Though it’s about mules, it is an excellent read for anyone, including youth, who want to learn more about understanding equines in general.

At first, I wasn’t sure about it because the first section of the book is basically a collection of advice-seeking letters written to the author and her responses. I was expecting a regular chapter by chapter how-to book. But, after reading the first few pages, I was hooked.

Roberts really has a handle on working with mules and offers a no-nonsense training approach based on mutual respect between mule and rider/handler instead of harsh bits and rough methods. She’s also a stickler for good basic ground manners for mules of all ages and is willing to point out handler-originated problems. For instance, in one letter, the mule wouldn’t stand still. After explaining how to correct the problem, she stated “Mules that walk off while being mounted do so because of the rider’s error in allowing the mule to walk off on his own.” This applies to horses, too.

As I flipped from page to page of this easy-to-read, well-organized book, I didn’t find one quick fix, gimmicky reply. All her answers came back to the basics of taking the time to look at the problem from the mule’s point of view, finding a way to psychologically work with him and then committing time to rectifying the problem.

She states, ” When behavior problems develop, stand back and find out why. Investigate.”

This is something riders often overlook. Instead of looking for the reason for the behavior change, they simply turn to stronger aids or bits.

In the second section of the book, titled “Mule Psychology 101 Training Articles,” Roberts first chapter is called, “The Rules — the safe approach to training your mule.” I really like her No. 1 rule: “No one gets hurt. Not you or the mule. Because of this rule, risks or shortcuts will not be taken. Weak or ineffective tack will not be used.” Again, this, too, applies to training horses.

Roberts also provides an excellent set of guidelines for handling mule babies.

Aside from the sensible easy-to-follow rules, this section focuses on understanding how the mule thinks and how to work with the mule’s natural instincts instead of against them. She also dispels many of the myths about mules and has a chapter on “Rating the Mule’s Intelligence — How Smart Is Your Mule?” complete with a simple IQ test you can do with your mule.

Though it’s about mules, there’s plenty of excellent information for horse owners, such as barn etiquette and what to do when you’re caught in a thunderstorm.

One chapter that really caught my attention was, “Meth Labs Threaten Safety of Horse Riders.” Wow, that took me back to my youth in Florida when we had to watch for marijuana growers and drug runners that set up camps in the swampy areas near the barn. With the rise in meth labs throughout the West, and especially in the more remote areas, this is an excellent chapter full of safety information. Roberts even discusses the various booby traps used to protect the lab areas. Though it’s frightening to think that this might be happening in your favorite riding area, with the growing interest in trail riding, it’s helpful to know what to look for and how to avoid a bad situation.

Though much of the book has a serious tone, Roberts does include some fun and nostalgic sections such as “How To Be Politically Correct With A Mule Person,” “Why Mules Are Better Than Husbands” and code of conduct advice from legendary silver screen heroes Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger.

I’ve read several books on mule training, but this is the first one that focuses on going back to the basics of learning to view things from your mule’s point of view and using that knowledge to build a trusting partnership between the two of you.

Susan Dudasik is an equine journalist, mule enthusiast and the Idaho representative for the American Trail Horse Association. She’s competed in numerous trail class events, holds clinics and teaches trail classes at various 4-H events. The advice given here is meant only as a guide. A professional trainer should handle any serious horse training problems.

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