Your mindset depicts on how you view the world, your environment, the people you interact with; in other words, it portrays your ability to process information. Keep this in mind; mules are very adamant in their thinking. It’s black and white, accepting or not; and this is why mules are referred to as being strong-willed. If you use the word stubborn, you can add single-minded to the following list of undesirable traits found in some equine trainers:
- Balky
- Bloody-minded (those British are humorous aren’t they?)
- Bullheaded
- Cantankerous
- Contumacious (yes, I had to look this one up)
- Firm
- Hardheaded
- Insubordinate
- Opinionated
- Persevering
- Pertinacious
- Pigheaded
- Rebellious
- Recalcitrant – go ahead, look it up. 😉
- Refractory
- Self-willed
- Set in one’s ways
- Stiff-necked
- Unbending
- Unmanageable
- Unreasonable
- Unshakable
Would you choose a trainer with these traits to work with your mule? And, after hiring a trainer to work with your mule, are you involved and participating as well? If not, you would be wise to be involved with your mule’s training. You see, mules develop quirks from a negative incident that the mule willnot forget. Even though mules are forgiving of your mistakes, a mule knows if you are working with him or not. Successful mule handlers recognize each mule as an individual and address challenges in a resistance-free approach. Successful mule trainers know that choosing the shortest training process to get results doesn’t produce a safe and willing mule. So the 30, 60, 90 day rule of horse training will not apply successfully with mules. Developing a partnership is the most desirable and successful training method to use when working with mules.
Oh, the undesirable traits listed in this article? My grandfather was in charge of the mules in the U.S. Army Cavalry back in 1924. Yes, he was a mule-skinner. He wasn’t nice about his training methods either, when working with the mules. Chauvinistic and domineering, he smoked horrible-smelling cigars and he loved his whiskey. Yes, I was introduced to his rough start at mule training. However, I spent a lifetime of learning how to work with mules in a positive way. So, as a result, we can learn from the abusive training techniques that were used and become successful mule handlers during this process.
We can check our attitude before we put our boots on to head to the barn. Make sure your heart and mind are in a good place before you leave your front porch. Before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I thank God for another day and for blessing my life with mules. My heart and soul belong to the mule.
