Round pens for mules

[Donn Hewes]

A really good book for thinking about the differences between horses, mules, and donkeys is “Training Mules and Donkeys” by Meridith Hodges. Great photos too. Someone asked on another thread about the effectiveness of round pen training for donkeys and mules. I thought I would open a thread here about training mules. Rather than try and cover the whole subject and make an ass:) of myself, I will just throw out a couple of thoughts to get the ball rolling.

First, I really liked what Jennifer said about the round pen. It is just a location. Like other props or tools you might choose to use, it can provide assistance in your training goal, or it could slow you down. Mostly that will be decided by what the training goal is and the methods to be used. I don’t really think ’round pen’ is a method.

I have not worked with donkeys at all, but I am sure it would be fun and challenging. With mules, I have found that some have a short attention span, but so do some horses. This does not negate the need for some ground work. A short attention span requires a trainer that is patient, creative, and observant. Like a good school teacher.

Horses and mules have an interesting natural response to physical pressure. They naturally push against it. This is the trait we utilize to get them to pulling things! We have all seen this in the stall, and we have talked about how to train them to move away from the pressure. With mules this trait may be a little more ingrained than in a horse. Think of the picture of the person leaning on a lead rope and the mule leaning the other way. This instinct can lead to very serious problems if it is not dealt with early in their training. A bit is a classic example of a place where we don’t want an animal to pull away from pressure. I think ground work; whether in a round pen, or with a lead rope, or a lung whip, or a rope halter is the best way to prepare the mule for all the training to come. Teach them to yield to pressure of all types. You can do this calmly and they can do it calmly. Donn

[Hal]

Interesting post. In regards to your thought that the round pen is a location as opposed to a method, what would count as a “method”? Is it the attitude that the trainer takes towards the training or the techniques used or both? I am just curious to know what different kinds of methods might be and what they might consist of.

[Donn Hewes]

hi Hal, good questions. I am no expert on a wide range of training methods, but I will give you a few ideas and others may add more.

I think of “pressure and release” training as a method. It is utilized with a wide variety of tools in a wide variety of situations to teach different things. I guess pressure and release somewhat resembles how horses interact with each other. One thing I like about pressure and release training is it most resembles how I work. In work, I ask for something and they respond. The release is, me trying not to bother them while they are working.

“clicker training” is a method that relys on all animals basic tendency to learn more quickly from positive reinforcement than negative reinforcement. Try to ignore the unwanted behavior and just reward the one you want.

Round pens can be used in many different ways. It may be a safe place that insures your animal doesn’t walk off and leave you, or it may be a tool that is integral to the training. It can be used put pressure on or take it away, or you can work in the middle and ignore it.

In pressure and release training for example, you might work in a round pen, or a small paddock or out in the pasture. The tools that you would choose would depend on what you wanted to teach and specific techniques you want to use. The tools might include, your hands and hat, a lariat, a rope halter, a lung whip, and many other home made and improvised things that help you convey your message. The list of tools and preferences is as unlimited as the number of horses trainers. Donn

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