Ground Skidding

I don’t know much about mules but if they were horses I would teach them the comand “step in”. Then when they sprall off like that as you are backing them tell them to get in or step in and they’ll square up straighter. All in all looks like you are doing a good job. Might want to hold the grey mule wile the chestnut gets it’s feet where it wants them so it can start with the grey. I don’t think the chestnut likes starting so fast. Might help to lay your hand on the grey and pat it some just to settle it down some before you start them.

Cheers Tristan

Those are great looking mules and they are off to a good start. A butt rope is not a bad idea, and it might help. I tend to focus on how the animals are responding to the work. The white mule needs to relax; easier said than done I know. I would work a little slower. In other words a little pause between each phase. Make them stand well before you go. it will also make it safer for you. When I start animals backing, I make them stop every five or ten feet. That does three things. Helps them remember how to stop while backing; helps the teamster check where there are going; and helps keep the team together and relaxed. Make safety your top goal, relaxed animals your second, and the number and size of logs your third. My two cents.

Depending on wether you are working on a job, or working on training. If I were working on a job, I wouldn’t be asking them to back that far, it would take a bit too much time as you can see.

Rather, I would drive them until their noses were over top of the hitching point on the log, ask them to haw or gee around, hitch them and go. Understanding you are in the training point as well, there would be a pretty good pause between the hitching and going. My one mare loves working, I’ll drive her to the log, spin her around and we don’t go anywhere until she is calm and relaxed. She gets fired up and I’d way rather her stay in her head.

I also start my horses on ridiculously small logs, just to build their confidence, as well to understand how they are going to take larger loads. The logs in your video look like pretty good sized logs, probably bucked as short as you can without ruining them, maybe you could try hooking to different sized loads, so they get the idea that not every load is going to a heavy load.

Just a couple thoughts, be safe. Be overly generous with your praise as well.
Steve

Hi Dennis, I don’t think that mare will throw a color I don’t want for the next ten years! I do have two good looking Percherons that I think will foal early next year. I plan to sell those mules at weaning. Your mules look big and friendly. Enjoy the process of making them what you want them to be.