You Cut Cows – Not Corners

It’s proven, mules mature physically and mentally at a slower pace than horses do. Generally the mule’s height will be one to two inches taller than his dam, the horse mare. Being hybrids, it is also proven they are smarter than both their parents. Yes, that means they are smarter than the horse (a given, because horses never ask to see your resume) and they are smarter than the donkey, who is a thinking machine of their own species.

While some mule owners get impatient about the training process, that is when the roadblocks start showing up in their schooling efforts. New mule owners tend to get stuck, they made it past the sniff test, but reading their animal is a complex issue.

Building a solid foundation in your mule’s training is so important. You want an animal you can depend on; one that won’t blowup when the going gets rough on the trail. You want an animal that is confident and attentive to you, his handler. You want an animal that will respond to your cues and move forward when asked. Every time you step up into the saddle, you are taking a risk. Do yourself a favor, make sure your skill set matches with your mule’s. Build on your partnership, because whether you realize it or not, when owning a mule, you are in a relationship, and things can get personal when a disagreement comes along.

To make a point about reading your mule accurately, and definitively: The mule in the above photo, “Cabo” is walking towards me after I called her name. Cabo is very expressive, reading her body language has been very interesting, and a huge learning curve in my working with mules over the years. Horse people typically misread this expression as being unhappy or aggressive. This mule is showing a sign of submissiveness. Can you imagine if I misread this mule and “punished” her for merely wanting to come near me? Since this photo was taken, this mule has gained confidence and now walks up to me in a confident and relaxed state of mind.

Realizing the time and effort it takes to put into a mule’s training may cause some handlers to give up. Mules are thinking animals; they process It’s intimidating when you realize how quick a mule learns, And, you will make mistakes. You have to make mistakes, in order to learn.

Mules are amazing. They are individuals. They don’t take to bullying tactics. Mules comply to their own barnyard rules of conduct, known as the pecking order. In this scenario, size doesn’t matter. The 2,500 pound draft mule is generally easy-going and follows through with the herd boss. What matters is the herd will stick together; this makes the herd structure stronger and well protected from predators.

Now, this mule has more confidence and is relaxed.

Stick with me, there’s a lesson here: you can spend a lifetime with equines and still not know everything there is to know. That statement should humble you. Yes, God gave us dominion over animals. That dominion doesn’t include abuse or neglect. So take your time and do what is needed at the right time. Skipping steps in your training will show up later when you need your mule the most.

I will leave you with this thought; living in a push button world of convenience, mule handlers tend to cut corners. A trainer made a statement years ago that stuck with me, “You cut cows, not corners.” And now you know why.

Women Making History Past and Present Award – June 22, 2025

Receiving award: Women Making History Past and Present in Lees Summit today. Thank you, Roxanne Dickens for nominating me and recognizing my accomplishments with my mules; being an author, and for Mule Talk podcast. I am honored. This chapter is affiliated with The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This group is made up with amazing people.

The Soft/Smiley Face of the Mule

The Smiley Face of the Mule – is often mistaken for aggression when it’s not.

The mule in the photo, “Cabo” is walking towards me after I called her name. Cabo is very expressive and reading her body language has been very interesting and a huge learning curve in my working with mules over the years. Horse people typically misread this expression as being unhappy or aggressive and even as a sign of confusion. This mule has been heavy-handed by a trainer that broke her out several years ago. The mare mule is very smart and learning her body language has been fascinating to me.

Having figured out Cabo’s past handling has enabled me to realize that this facial expression is more of submission, saying I am coming to you. Her head is lowered, her lower lip is relaxed and her ears are gently laying down – not pinned back as you would expect in an angry mule or horse.

Of course, after Cabo walks up to me, I place the rope halter on her first, and then she gets a graham cracker as a reward. I then bring her through the gate to saddle up and go to work.

A recent blurb from Lea Lansade, PhD, at the French Horse and Riding Institute in The Horse newsletter, explains:

Much equine research has focused on the communication of negative emotions. It’s time to give thought to what constitutes the expression of positive emotions in horses, says Lansade. And that, she says, we can see in their “smiles.”

“Horses have relatively complex facial muscles that allow them to have a wide variety of facial expressions, almost what we’d see in most primates,” Lansade says. “As scientists, we can’t really use the words ‘smile’ or ‘happy’ referring to animals, but when you look at the facial expression of a horse with positive emotions, that’s essentially what we’re seeing.”

Happy horses create the “equine smile” by half-closing their eyes, stretching out their upper lips, and pointing their ears backward, almost in line with the nose, she says, based on a new study her team just released about desirable grooming techniques. Sometimes they keep the upper lip still; sometimes they twitch it a bit. In combination with that smile, they usually lift or tilt their necks slightly.

“It’s not enough to avoid negative emotions in our horses; we need to be actively seeking signs of positive emotions, as well,” Lansade says. “If we can read their body language, we can recognize what makes them happy.”

The Heart of a Mule Girl – Poems and Mule Tales of Whimsy

This is where the mule girl’s heart and soul begin and this is where it ends. The life-journey of a mule girl; heartfelt poetry about mules, donkeys, mule friends, cowgirls, trucks, camping, and family. Laughter and tears from the mule barn, written straight from the mule girl’s heart to paper. Available here: The Heart of a Mule Girl: Poems and Mule Tales of Whimsy: Roberts, Cindy K, Hodges, Meredith: 9798309850044: Amazon.com: Books

Retraining the Hard-Mouth Mule

Retraining the Hard-Mouth Mule

  • Achieve Communication With Your Mule
  • Training with the Whoa Mule Fast Stop Hackamore
  • Reinforce Whoa In Your Mule
  • Develop Lightness
  • Controlling the Hindquarters
  • Retraining For Mules With Hard Mouths

This book is free with
Whoa Mule Bridle purchase.

A runaway mule is a dangerous thing. Often, the (out of control) mule lacks foundation training, which enables the mule to easily become fearful in a situation he cannot handle. Once the mule has spooked from an object or from a buildup of stress (i.e. time bomb scenario) the end result is running away with a rider that no longer has control. To make matters worse, the rider usually decides to use a more controlling bit or a corrective type of bit that the animal has not been trained to carry in his mouth.  This actually adds fuel to the fire, because in a matter of time, the mule will learn to grab hold of the bit (that is causing him pain), raise his head and take off; once again you have a runaway mule.

Typically the non-responsive mule is sold to a new owner and the cycle continues.  By then, the mule has developed the habit of getting above the bit when he wants to, by ignoring/evading the rider’s seat, leg, and rein aids all to avoid completing a task.  During this process, the mule will often times develop anxiety or intense nervousness simply because he knows he will be punished and the end result is a confirmed runaway.

I wrote this book hoping to keep riders safe and in control while in the saddle.  Riders who are able to maintain a sense of control in their mule are much better handlers with confidence.  They also have the ability to develop that confidence within their own mule.  My book, Re-training The Hard Mouth Mule will enable you as the rider/handler to develop control and confidence.  You will also learn how to develop lightness in your mule as well.

Available at Amazon books and other participating outlets.

The Performance Bred Saddle Mule

Breeding of American Jackstock & Jennies

Introduction by Meredith Hodges, of the Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Colorado. Includes breeding contracts. Inaccuracies on breeding defined.

This book is dedicated to breeders, exhibitors, and the donkey and mule owners who strive for a better-performance breeding program that will favorably dominate the mule world.

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In conclusion: educating the equine breeding industry is our responsibility to ensure a better future for the all-around saddle mule. In short, mules with good minds make safer mounts and mules with excellent conformation will stay in service longer as compared to those that are weak or lacking. This means, the mule will have a much better future to be in service. It is also critical to document and register the jack sires in the industry.

Overbreeding is not desirable; those dedicated to the professional mule industry are careful about their breeding standards. Mules destined for the kill pen is not a pretty picture.

The future for the performance-bred saddle mule is in our hands; the overwhelming support coming from the mule world is phenomenal! Let’s work together and keep it going! ~Cindy K. Roberts

Available in full color 8 1/2 x 11 perfect bound and instant download from Amazon books: The Performance Bred Saddle Mule: Breeding of American Jackstock & Jennies (Color Copy): Roberts, Cindy K, Hodges, Meredith: 9781796601664: Amazon.com: Books

Answers To Your Mule Questions

Excellent source of information for new mule owners or want-to-be-mule-owners that want to gain knowledge about the mule, his mindset, and how to establish a connection or partnership. Valuable tips on addressing issues, wonderful insight on the abused mule; and how to approach training the abused/neglected mule.

Available at Amazon books are other participating outlets.

Training the Hard To Catch Mule

Details on a logical approach to connect, form an equine partnership, and bond with your mule. The book covers how a mule sees, hears, smells, and feels sensations in his world; learn what drives him to be the cautious animal that he is. Learn how to read your mule, proper approach, gentling; discover the mindset of the mule to strengthen your partnership. Excellent training book for mule handlers wanting to learn the physiological aspects of the mule.

Available here to order: Training the Hard to Catch Mule – 4th Edition: A Logical Approach on How to Connect With Your Mule: Roberts, Cindy K: 9781790161461: Amazon.com: Books