Progress!

[Paulk]

I just wanted to share my excitement with others as my wife thinks I’m crazy.  I bought a 7yr old mule a few months back that was owned by a widow woman whose husband had died over a year ago.  This mule has not had any human contact since then untill i bought her and brought her home.  She was scared to death of everything and spooked easy, I couldn’t touch her feet and sure couldn’t catch her.  I was told that she was broke but I have heard that many times over to find my definition of broke was different than theirs.  Anyway I have been working with her for the last few week just trying to desensitize, get her to come to me, walk on a loose lead and whoa.  She has came a long good and the few set backs we have had I blame on my lack of experience and knowledge but have worked through them.  Last nite I decided it was time to introduce a set of pigeon wing blinders to her and as I expected she was nervous but I took it slow and she calmed down rather quickly.  I ended up getting the blinders on and immeadiatly started to lead her to try to get her attention off of them but I noticed that she was acting different.  She was not near as nervous and when I told her to whoa she locked up the brakes!  I told her to get up and to my amasement she was now in front of me and when I kissed a couple times we picked up speed where before it didn’t matter how fast I ran or how much pressure I put on her halter she would only walk. I was driving her instead of leading! I stopped her several times and even tried gee and haw and she seemed to understand.  I considered last night a great accompishment for me and her both.  I think she has come to trust me and she may turn out to be a great mule and help teach me along the way.  After last night I am at the point that I didn’t think I would see for a couple months yet.

There has been a few times I have wondered what I was thinking trying to train a mules when I really am the one that needs training. I have thought about giving up but then while I’m at work i find myself thinking what am I going to work on with my mule when I get home and can’t wait to get there. ( I think my wife is jealous some days).  Little moments like this make all of the bad ones worth it!

 

 

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