bit used for a plow mule?

[tallyho392]

Rode a small draft mule today and used a D snaffle…worked just “ok” for direct reining, but had NO affect for whoa…

I know this mule was used by Amish for plowing, confirmed by the white hair/scars where the collar would sit. So, how can I translate the type of bit that would have been used for plowing into a similar bit for riding?

While the D snaffle worked acceptably in an enclosed ring, I doubt it would have any control in an open area. Add to that, this poor molly had been badly malnourished, and doing nothing for over a year, so her muscle tone is nil. (she is now at a rescue). So, I am figuring that once she has completely filled out (she is maybe 3/4 there currently) and gets back into shape, she will be less easily directed by a mere snaffle. She is not impatient or cranky, just barn sour,and I was able to get her to walk 4 circles each direction,passing the barn,using a bit of leg and the reins, each time becoming easier til we walked by the barn without a twinge. However, once she was headed TO the barn, there was no stopping her. Just walking, but no whoa at all.
Any suggestions?
Oh, she is about 20,so still lots of years left, but she’s not a spunky youngster that is “calm” because of being starved,and will turn into a whirling dervish once rehabbed. This gal has manners/training,just needs refreshing.

[goodhors]

Using her in plowing, she probably was half of a pair pulling the equipment. She also probably did a LOT with voice directions, of which there are many ‘common’ commands which she might or might not know. No universally the same ones though, sorry! Common can be what is used locally, but totally different in other areas.

She may be almost totally ignorant of rein pulling without a lot of strength to stop the pair, along with Whoa spoken. Not much use for doing small bending circles, so she may not know how to follow a rein or doesn’t see a reason for doing a ‘pointless’ exercise.

Guess I would think about going to an old-fashioned Pelham, which would allow you to use the snaffle rein for following in learning, yet have the curb rein for a bit of ‘back-up’ in stopping along with the voice.

Mules are VERY group oriented, like having a friend along. If this Molly has always been in a Pair, she may not LIKE being alone, and won’t be any kind of Trail Ride animal at her age. She won’t cooperate if headed out alone and may want to argue about going, maybe buck off her rider to prevent being alone, away from the barn. If you are doing the retraining, be careful heading out on her alone.

She might also be quite wonderful, give you no problems like what I have said. I sure hope that is the outcome! Rather than the other poor one. Makes her more usable, maybe able to get a new home easier.

A suggestion is to do your “work” in the arena away from the barn, then do MORE work when she arrives at the barn, so the work doesn’t stop because she is near the barn. I had a good sized barnyard out front, so we would do some various exercises, turns, canter departs, sidepassing (more advanced, trained horse), before I dismounted after her workout. Trot circles, bending to follow the rein would be easy ones for her, if she will work. Horse quit being QUITE so excited about heading to the barn, where more work waited for her! Eventually horse was the same, heading out or coming in to the barn. She didn’t get unsaddled right away either, stood tied for a while, and sometimes got pulled out again to do a fence check before she was unsaddled and turned out.

Mules LOVE routine, so you need to keep things interesting, not locked into 5 minutes of this, 20 minutes of that, only riding in the arena, etc. They can resent changes in their routine, so you try to prevent things being very exacting when she is handled and worked with.

[enjoytheride]

I don’t think you want to put the kind of bit in her mouth that probably was in her mouth.

“Mule Bits” Typically have “chain saw blade” mouths. Serious.

[tallyho392]

Yes, have seen the typical “mule bits”, and they look awful,I agree, which is why I was hoping you driving folks would have a better idea than myself about what she MAY have been using,and how to make that translate into a less harsh riding bit.
goodhors…LOL…I too, was thinking about verbal commands she may be accustomed to hearing…I tried the gee,haw…no reaction…the WHHOA and pulling hard on the reins worked momentarily while we were walking,just checking out her “brakes”…but once I turned her to the barn, nothing stopped her. We were not doing little circles, the ring/pasture for her is about 100 X 100, so plenty of space, and I did figure 8"s with her and changed direction easily, So, it’s not that she doesn’t respond well to direct rein and some leg. I was very impressed with what she did for me. As far as walking out alone,she was fine. The 2 other horses she was brought in with were adopted out pretty quickly, so she has been on her own for a couple weeks,no adverse behaviors,which is wonderful. Another horse came in over the weekend, and she is totally non plussed. It’s big shedrow ,with each horse having their own stall and turnout area, so I cannot really “get away” from her stall/barn. But I like your suggestions about work being AT the barn as well.
I went to see her because I got a small riding mule almost 2 months ago. He is lovey, the PERFECT size, but a good more anxious than I expected a mule to be…he is said to be a coon hunting mule, but I got him at auction, so who knows. He is VERY anxious when tied,after maybe 10 minutes. And as you mentioned, REALLY likes being close to his buddies,although that is getting better as I work with him. Haven’t had him out on a trail ride yet (which is his sole purpose) because I don’t feel we are a good enough “team” yet. So, I wanted to compare. She is 20, he is about 9,so age alone may be a lot of the differences. And I keep his routine similar enough to keep him from having to stop and analyze everything, but don’t get repetitive with his other work…it seems to be working, all except for the anxiety when tied. But I digress, greatly…lol…I do have a nice fat Pelham, just her size,too, so I’ll try that next time. And I used it on my ASB for many years, so I know how to use the double reins, and I have a light hand…so we’ll see! She is an absolute doll, just sucking up all the attention , and a beautiful sorrel with flaxen mane and tail. I am considering taking her myself,after “just going to look” at her,lol…but would like to get an honest feel for her,with appropriate equipment.

[RPM]

I have a friend who may be able to find out what type of bit Amish people use on their plow mules. If you want me to I will ask him. He might also be able to find out what sort of plowing commands they would give (I wonder if they would be in German?).

Just last night I was watching Places in the Heart. I wish now I’d paid more attention to the bits the mules were wearing! I want to say a half-cheek snaffle but I’m not sure, and I didn’t see the mouthpiece anyway.

[tallyho392]

RPM…yes, that would certainly be helpful, thanks!

[Hilary]

What I see on the draft/working animals in NH are loose ring snaffles- but agree that she may be better attuned to voice commands than reins/bit.

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8286699]
I don’t think you want to put the kind of bit in her mouth that probably was in her mouth.

“Mule Bits” Typically have “chain saw blade” mouths. Serious.[/QUOTE]

Is your drama llama still in harness?:rolleyes:

A mule bit is closer to a bike chain than a chain saw blade. Seriously. I have a couple of them. They have a smooth side and a sharper side. The sharper side isn’t anywhere near a chain saw blade.

The stronger side will get their attention, but isn’t going to cut like a blade will. The action isn’t all that different than, OMG, a Waterford. If you have crappy hands, then no, you probably shouldn’t use it. Like any other bit, a mule bit is as harsh as you want it to be. I know lots of horses that are perfectly fine with a mule bit; mine is one of them.

[tallyho392]

still in harness?(is this a trick question?)…nooooo, hence the question about type of bit previously used,in order to guide me towards an appropriate riding bit…
and since I do have soft hands,could probably use a typical mule bit, but was looking to see if something a tad softer
might be an option

[x]

Try a bit with a curb chain, such as a pelham or the like. It probably will do the trick. I have had mules…a curb can work well with them. I also drive horses, and my move-up bit is a liverpool, again a bit with a curb chain. Mule bits are bicycle chain type bits…may work, but I’d try a bit with a curb chain first.

[tallyho392]

great!..thanks…as noted, I do have a Pelham with the option for a curb chain and/or strap, so will go with that

[goodhors]

Sounds mean, but I would start with the chain, snug so she feels it if you use the curb reins.

You NEED to be able to stop her if she decides to head for the barn. You can always back off, go with a looser chain in time, if she is obedient and cooperative. I would NOT use a leather curb strap, she probably won’t pay any attention to the feel of it, or any curb pressure from it should she decide to ignore you.

We had one lovely horse, but he would totally ignore a leather curb, while wearing a chain even really loose, he was attentive to the feel of the curb pressure and obedient.

I would forget about using “mule bits” at all. Most are pretty horrendous creations, double twisted wire, bicycle chains or worse, which I think should be illegal to even sell! The thought of using such things on soft tongues, bars of the mouth, make me ill. Really easy to tear up soft tissue with such harsh devices, though they may be “traditional” for use on mules. I don’t care what kind of hands you have, if you need such bits for control, you should not be using that animal.

A Pelham with a smooth mouth, mullen, low port, even a medium port, will be easier on the animal, her mouth, than any kind of mule bit. Consider that you might need to have the bit slightly high in her mouth, to get it up in the bars area. Many mules, draft crosses, have longer mouths that go higher on the sides, than what horses may have. You might want to take a look inside her mouth while playing with bits. See if she needs dental attention, has a cut tongue or problems with her bars. I know a person who bought a horse THEN found out the horse only had a partial tongue! It had been cut off somehow. That made for some interesting bitting to use him. They had never looked in the horse’s mouth, though they were experienced horse buyer and sellers.

[tallyho392]

hmmmm…well, I did look in her mouth actually,and could see she had a complete tongue!..lol…yep,will go with the Pelham and chain next time out with her

[enjoytheride]

No drama llama here. People seem.to put mules in those bits because they assume mules are hard mouthed and stubborn promptly making them hard mouthed and stubborn. A pelham might be a good choice, with the curb rein swinging loose and the curb coming into play when she is naughty. You probably have to pretend like she has never been started and show her how light a bit and hands can be.

[x]

Interestingly enough, and old mule trainer told me how he trained his mules–he started them in a twisted wire bit or a bicycle chain bit, and then progressed to a mild snaffle. He told me he started them in that hard a bit so they never found that they could lean on/take off/ignore the bit, and as soon as they were in the habit of listening to the bit, he would then put them in a simple snaffle, and that is what they would go in for the rest of their lives.

[merrygoround]

RE: mule bits

Are you referring to something like double bicycle chains attached to two rings.:eek: I found one in an old barn in Missouri. No wonder Missouri mules were noted for being difficult.