|
Happy New Year
Cindy,
I finally got
some photos downloaded of Rawhide the Wonder Mule and her new family. She
is doing so well. She has established herself as the dominant female and
has worked out a truce with
the bigger
mule "Wendell" and they only do pseudo-kicks at mealtime. She
has become a mother to Katie, and as a result Katie is behaving better and
maturing, so Rawhide is helping us train her! John and I have trailered
them three times for trail rides, which Rawhide seems to enjoy.
Rachel and Emma- John's
13yo twins
 were
speechless when they arrived on Christmas to find a red bow atop Rawhide and
learned that she was their Christmas present. It didn't take long for them
to form a bond as you can see in Rachel's face after her first ride on
Rawhide. We are regularly doing weekend trail rides with Emma and
Rachel-one problem we only have one Rawhide, so they are learning to take
turns. And as you can see Rawhide gets lots of attention as they spend
hours grooming her and giving her pedicures! We were able to find the apple
treats that she is accustomed to, so she is constantly checking my pockets
to find them.
We love her and she is doing well with Wendell and
Katie.
Hugs, Donna
I'm attaching one
additional photo of Rawhide and her Daddy (By the way, I don't refer to
myself as Mommy, you will forever be the only Mommy she will ever have,
since you deserve that special honor for having trained just a great mule.)
I took this photo on 12/29 at the Moss Foundation in
Southern Pines, NC. This was John and Rawhide's first official trail ride.
Just me and John and the mules. We had miles and miles of sandhill trails
all to ourselves on a beautiful 60 degree day for a 4 hour ride. Rawhide
has renewed John's sense of confidence and desire to ride following his
accident on Wendell. He trotted and loped that day.
 John
got a great buy on a used Australian Stock Saddle with horn that fits him
like a glove. And I bought him a matching crupper for Xmas. The saddle
fits Rawhide perfectly, the paddling distributes John's weight evenly over
her back and we were sure to check it after each ride to make sure there
were no rubbing or hot spots.
Cindy,
Thanks for the newsletter. I always learn something from it.
My 14yo stepdaughter Rachel and I rode on Sunday, despite being in the 40's
and a strong wind. Rawhide is wonderful for Rachel. Rachel is ADHD and
riding has given her much needed confidence that she doesn't get at school.
After galloping up a hill on Sunday's ride, Rachel said "Wow, riding
Rawhide is the most fun thing I've ever done!"
On the ride, we came to an old fence row, where my mule Wendell and I had
got tangled 1 month ago and this time Wendell refused to go through the
path. Of course Rawhide went right through. Finally after 10 minutes of
refusals, Rachel and Rawhide came to the rescue. Wendell walked through
with his head atop Rawhide's rump. Rachel was proud that she and her mule
lead and Rawhide continues to teach our younger mules.
She is still being a pill on catching her. I've come to the conclusion that
she would rather eat than ride, but once caught she is well behaved and a
joy to ride. We will continue to work on that by offering treats.
We look forward to Spring and new trails. Thanks so much for trusting us
with Rawhide. We enjoy her so much. ~Donna
Cindy,
We received your latest book, Thank you so
much. We feel famous, after reading your example about our interaction with
Rawhide! And as with your previous book, we are learning new things and
putting them into practice.
Just in the last month, Rawhide's true
personality is beginning to shine through. Prior to this we were seeing a
mule who was "on her guard", aloof, and maybe alittle ticked about the
changes she had experienced. In the last few weeks she has become very
affectionate and outgoing, and established herself as the alpha mule among
our three mules. I truly believe that she needed some time to trust us and
make the transition to our home. She trots up to us when we call to get
her manna treat. Sometimes we halter her and sometimes she just gets a rub
and a hug. Either way, she is standing still and not running away as
before.
I was basing my experience with dogs,
which have taken about 2 weeks to settle in and become your best friend.
Absolutely off the mark with mules, whom I'm realizing are far more
intelligent than dogs (actually pretty scary, when I realize that Rawhide
was actually out-thinking me on many occasions!)
Her mischievous side is coming through. On
the weekends I turn them into the yard to "cut the grass". Rawhide liked to
eat the black-eyed susans. So right away I disciplined her by yelling "attttt
attttt atttt" from the front porch. Both Rawhide and Wendell immediately
understood that flowers were off limits and went back to the grass. Wendell,
our other mule obeyed after the first correction and never bothered the
flowers again. However the other afternoon, I came outside and sat in the
chaise reading a book while they were eating. Rawhide had decided that she
wanted back in the pasture and walked up to the gate. I wanted to read my
book, so ignored her. She stood a few minutes at the gate and decided that
she wasn't going to get my attention, so she trotted across the yard and
with her ears back proceeded to eat my black-eyed susans and actually was
watching me while she was eating. This time when I yelled "attt, atttt,
attt"; she ignored me, until I got out of my comfortable chair and got
within arm's reach of her, then spun and ran to the gate. Smart girl!
She now brays from the paddock when I come
to let them in or out. And even showed her displeasure with my giving
Wendell too much attention the other evening by pushing him aside and
threatening with her alpha behavior. (this is usually reserved for when she
finishes her grain and then goes to pirate his from his feed box, and
consists of turning her hind quarters to him and jumping up and down while
squealing a couple of times.)
Should I try to regulate this pecking order
behavior among the mules in the herd? I assume it is natural and is
harmless as long as it is not occurring while she is under halter or saddle
and only directed at the mules in her herd.
I'll end with a couple of packing
questions-
1) Have you ever ponied her?
2) Has she ever had a pack saddle, britchen
and pannier on?
We are hoping to purchase pack equipment by
Xmas and want to work towards short pack trips.
Our current plans are to take John's twins
for 4 days of riding in VA. in August with the Carolina Mule Association.
We are trailer camping, but will be riding everyday. The girls are looking
forward to this family vacation. Now if we could only find another mule
like Rawhide. You were correct. She is absolutely bombproof. I never have
had a moment's worry about the girl's safety. They are truly beginning
riders, and Rawhide is taking care of them.
I enjoyed the photos of Chainsaw in your
book. He is a beautiful mule. I hope you are healing from your crashes
with him. A green mule is a whole nother world isn't is?
Thanks for taking a chance and trusting us
with Rawhide. We adore her.
Donna
P. S. John just called and he says hello
and to tell you that Rawhide has been elevated to her original pedestal.
|
Mule
Training