Mule Memo: Developing good habits. The median amount of time for humans to develop a good habit is 66 days. A mule? Let’s just say the mule has a head start when it comes to developing a habit, whether it is good or bad. That’s why you want to focus on good ground manners so your animal is safe to be around. One habit in particular is: when stepping up into the saddle, make sure your mule is ok with this and not feeling anxious. Sometimes it may take a few seconds to squeeze the crest of his mane to reassure him that everything is fine. The mule’s mother (the horse mare) did this very thing by massaging the young mule’s crest on top of his neck. In equine language, this means “I’m here, and everything’s OK.” Once you are in the saddle, sit back and relax. Don’t take off – or in a couple of weeks, your mule will take advantage of knowing what comes next, and he will charge out down the trail. Even though you didn’t encourage him to bolt out (or did you?), a level-headed mule waits for his handler’s signal or request. Some riders like to ride their mules as though they are on a NASCAR track, and others like to mozey along. I like for my mules to have good manners and still be able to giddyup when needed without developing anxiety. I hope this helps. If you need assistance, you know where to find me.