logging mule training

[Farrier]

Howdy all, it’s been a while since I posted here. I’m fixing to start working with my green mare mule again. Its been quiet a while since i did anything with her over a year I think. I had her pulling a little back then. Problems I have noticed developing are:
1. She is very hard to catch. I have to “follow” her around for about an hour to catch her.
2. She seems to actually enjoy spooking and scaring herself.
What do I need to do to get her over this and any pointers on proceeding with her training. Shes about 3 years old and will ultimately be a logging mule.

[Farrier]

No suggestions at all?
PS Happy thanksgiving everyone!

[Brad Johnson]

Not sure how similar horses and mules are, but I like to have an established routine for bringing my horses in. The brushing, hoof picking, and a little grain with mineral mix is good reward for coming to me in the AM. They enjoy the time spent with them and are happy to be caught. Do you have any routine with the mule?
-Brad

[Farrier]

Getting her to come in is no problem. You can walk up and pet her empty handed but take one step towards her with a halter or rope and she turns and runs. If she is in a stall or small corral where she cant run at the sight of a halter, it gets ugly real quick. This was not a problem when I first got her. You could walk right up to her with no problem and put a halter on her. One day for no apparent reason she decided she wasn’t going to be caught and I think I have only got a halter on her twice since then and thats been over a year ago.

[Plowboy]

I’m not a mule guy but wouldn’t mind if the right deal came along. I do know some old timers that worked mules and they used to say that a mule needs to need you or they don’t care about you. Put her in a small pasture or round pen with no grass or water. Offer her water, hay and maybe a small amount of grain. preferably while you’re holding the feed pan. If she won’t eat it while you hold it at least put it near you. Stay there the whole time she eats. Don’t rush trying to catch her. Praise her and pet her for coming to you if you can. Repeat as necessary maybe taking the halter and rope with you. Maybe lay the rope over her neck or across her back as she becomes more comfortable. Do not give her anything unless it comes from you and soon she should be in your pocket!

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Farrier, I am like the mules and have two myself. I don’t belief the basic training is really different from a horse. The individual mule may be more cautious or independent, but this will be true of some horses as well. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I am trying to encourage folks to use the search at the top of the page. Try “catch a horse”. The only reason I suggest this is that there are already some excellent long posts on these basic questions. Try the second one down in the search. Don’t hesitate to bring back a post or thread with more questions or comments. Good luck, Donn

[back-forty]

I have a molly mule, my first. I agree that she seems to need a routine. If I handle her every day she is at the gate and a pleasure to have a round. If I get lazy and just toss the hay over the fence into the feeder with out going in the the pen to spend a few mintues with her her attitued becomes more indifferent. I guess I can not blame her, from her viewpoint if I did not have the time to go to her to say hi one day why should I excpet her to behave differntly to me the next.

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