Mules, Mule Talk the podcast, mule training books by Cindy K Roberts
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 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.”
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
Lyrics by Cindy K Roberts – Music by Dan Canyon Band.
Those Ears! The mule song! Recorded and produced by Dan Canyon.
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.
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
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.
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
Meredith Hodges, Steve Edwards, Tim Doud, Red & Julie Wycoff, Chris French, and Cindy K. Roberts discuss behavior issues. Over 60 behavior issues are addressed and how to retrain the mule to be safe and confident in his work. Complete information from professional mule trainers that addresses vices or undesirable habits developed in the mule due to ineffective or poor training. A thorough account of mule behavior, proper saddle fit, bridle fit, selecting bits, appropriate tack, and more! Excellent resource for the equine library.
Order here from Amazon Books: The Mule Behavior Problem Solver: How Mules Think, Learn and React: Roberts, Cindy K, Hodges, Meredith, Edwards, Steve, Doud, Tim, Wycoff, Red & Julie, French, Chris, Fergason, Lisa, McCue DVM, Patrick M: 9781481295024: Amazon.com: Books