[HeeHawHaven]

Great Job! I love how willing she is! Can’t wait to see how she progresses.

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

We went to pick them Duke up today. We got to do everything from start to finish under the supreme supervision of the experienced previous owner who got him as a yearling and made him what he is. This old-timer has 60+ years of driving experience! He used to do hay with horse teams.

We videotaped the process so that we can review it if we forget. Then, Tracy and our son, Christian took turns driving while me and my daughter had a nice (cold!) ride.

Then, we loaded him up and hooked the cart to the other truck and headed home by the backroads (the cart is not set up for high speed towing – any ideas? I was thinking tow dolly?)

We got home and surprise gramma and papa and Tracy ground drove him back to the shafts (as was done by the owner) and we hooked him up and went down our road through snow drifts, some slick spots, and new territory. We stopped at our neighbors and picked up 3 kids and our friend.

He did all with no troubles other than kind of choosing his spots through the slick spots – which is totally allowed!

We are so excited to let Duke train us so that we’ll do a better job of training our young team. We also made some great contacts with our local driving club and think we’ve found a mentor willing to come out and be sure we are doing things correct and safe. He also knows of harnesses that we’ll need for our team!

Here’s some pics from today!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Most would have been sent to slaughter (if it was still allowed). But, they use this method on all the mules….They don’t want them ruined before they get to them.

It definitely is just another way and I wouldn’t subscribe to using any method exclusively! There are good things on this video which make it a worthwhile teaching tool.

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Brad Cameron is usually the highest rated mule trainer who makes books/dvd’s. I met his assistant who was riding a standard donkey and it did all she asked of it. It’s another natural horsemanship technique. I think it’s like anything else. Look at all and use what works for you and your mule.

I too would work on a relationship with my mule. I have one that is hard to catch at times, but she is not afraid of people, just avoiding work. But, once haltered, she knows her job. She is broke!

I don’t have Mylar bit, but from discussion on mule forums, they’ve gotten good reviews. Again, try some things and use what works. But, do not be heavy handed, especially with a mylar bit!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Hello from another muleskinner!

This is a great forum for learning about driving! I’ve been on here for about 2 weeks.

Dave (aka D’Leary Ass)

[HeeHawHaven]

Donn,

We always keep ours in a pipe corral for a week or two before letting them out with the herd. It helps make them know where their feed comes from and lets the others come by and sniff them and get to know them before they go out with them. We think it lessens the power struggle once let out in the herd.

I don’t think it’s funny that she’ll team with a mule. Any animal that knows its job would do. Suffolk mules sound awesome!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

I’m sure that Geoff, Robert and I will start to sway the stats higher out here in Idaho!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Robert, too funny – we’re from Chicago originally too and now in Idaho for keeps! Arlington Hts. for me and Des Plaines for my wife!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

There was a blm burro/mustang cross down the street from us a couple of years ago. Never got very big….maybe 13 H? But, he was stocky. It’s an option, but there are many donkeys and mules out there for you to look at. Check out Craigslist for Boise, you’ll often find donkeys for a very reasonable price. Also, Idaho prisons work with the mustangs from the BLM at the facility on Pleasant Valley Rd. in Boise. I think they only have sales every 2-4 years though….. Plus, if you breed to make your own mule, you’ll have to wait 2-3 years for it to be old enough to start!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

@Robert MoonShadow 4870 wrote:

Dave ~ I’ve got a copy of ‘The Work Horse Handbook’ by Lynn Miller = in it, there’s a basic set of dimensions for a forecart w/ a ‘crazy wheel’ up front (takes the weight off of the tongue)… I don’t know why the commercially-made jobs don’t have one, but it seems like a good idea to this beginner. My landlord & I are planning on building one of these for me, downsizing if need be, for my donkey(s). I want it small enough to be used by my single jack, and convert to using a team when I find another good donkey. It even has a height-adjustable seat, for seeing over larger (four-up) teams.
If you want, I can copy & mail you the plans.

Duh! I have that book, but haven’t gotten to that section yet! I guess I’ll give it a try!

D

[HeeHawHaven]

I wish you were anywhere west of the Mississippi! I need a forecart!

Anyone have one closer to the left coast? I’m in Idaho.

How much to ship to here??

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

In Iphoto, choose the picture then choose export….in export, you can change the size and export it to the desktop or elsewhere, then upload it from there….

Hope this helps!

dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Robert – http://iceryder.net/7games.html

There, you got them for free…donkeys do great with the games….as soon as they do what’s told the pressure is gone to reward them. It’s all games done in halter with a lead rope. It’s best to have a rope halter with the knots properly adjusted to put pressure in the right spots (don’t look at the pic of my new fjord mule with the blue halter – that was before adjusting!). They also recommend having a lead with a heavy marine type buckle so that when you need to go to level 4 of pressure you have something that annoys them. Parelli was(is) a mule man before he got rich off of his training methods. He’s the one who coined the phrase “you should train a horse the way you must train a mule”. Our blm burro caught on really quick to what was being asked of him. The games are a fun and fair way to train your equine to move away from pressure and accomplish what you’ll need to teach before riding or driving.

My favorite is the send off game where you send them off in a circle around you and they have to complete 3 circles without any extra pressure from you. You stand in one place and pass the lead rope around your body as they walk off. If they stop, you have them face you again and send them off again. I did it with my last Fjord mule and it took about 25 minutes to get, but he did get it and it’s way cool to see them walking circles around you and keep going without constant pressure on them. This is supposed to teach to continue a gait until you decide to change it or stop it instead of prodding them on continually.

I’m still new to the games. We need to be spending more time on these and all our training. We hope to accomplish more now that the weather is getting better again.

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

WoW! They’re working hard!

I’m impressed by the character of these horses – very willing workers! They also stand very still and are undisturbed by the unloading of the logs. The white team are impressive as well – that tree was big!

It’s cool to see also that they will drop the reins and let them find their way back to the tractor…..

Cool video!

Dave

[HeeHawHaven]

Welcome!

I’m new too! Love the Belgian/QH cross. She’s cool!

We’re into mules/donkeys out here. Going to get started driving with a young team of Fjord mules.

Sounds like a bunch of knowledgeable folks here!

Enjoy!

dave

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