Harness help please

[Jasmine]

I recently bought a mule to keep as a companion to the stallion who is boarded at my farm. Long story short, I now am the proud owner of a mini-mule. He’s cute as bug’s teeth, but I still need him to have a job. Keeping the stallion company is all well and good, but I’d like to train him to drive.

He’s smart as heck. He’s 5, and has been a sheep guardian his whole life, but he picked up on longing in about 3 seconds. He thinks I’m an idiot for asking him to trot in circles, but he does it. He also figured out free jumping faster than the stallion, even though the stallion has done it before.

Anyway, where is a good place to find decent quality used mini sized harnesses? The mule was all of $75, I don’t want to spend a billion getting him a harness. I have no plans to show or anything. I just more want to play with him than anything else.

Thanks!!

(I do have an actual driving person teaching me and him how to drive. I will also be asking them for suggestions)

[whoopdeedo]

Wow A Mule Question

This certainly never happens on chronicles a mini-mule.
Yes they are so smart, mine are just a bug fuzz away from a high school diploma.
I don’t know what “free Jumping” is, but, I suggest you stay away from that if you decide to work on driving this little critter.
Please email me directly and I will send you a name and number of some new harness you can afford. You get what you pay for is the motto, however, I would rather have new and not “worn” harness. Absolutely no nylon stuff either. greeninv@earthlink.net.
How is he taking to the bit?
And, you will need to get your measuring tape out for a start. I would guess that his size will be refered to “B” size, but his head may be larger, like a small pony, for a bridle. Your blinkers have to fit the eyes proper, as there is no peeking under or around the blinker.
And, beware the varying sizes of the easy entry mini carts as well. And, a pony size cart will not do. It is a bit of a technical science at first to get your working tools in hand.
Please do not try to train him as a horse, or push him by whip, or anger when he firmly will not go.
If he is an eager foward mover, go with it, and verbally reward.
With a mule alot of “Atta-Boy-s” are required technique. Forward movement is what you want. If he stops on you, he just is not sure or secure. You have to convince him it is okay. And, wait it out, don’t whip.
The body lanquage with a mule is “to shove”. Don’t do the slap-em-up cowboy training stuff. Take the “dominant” command position by moving him off his stead fast foot position, by moving him to one side, and back to another position, like the showmanship exercises in hand. This is the way they show dominance to each other, by moving the other horse or mule from their current standing spot. In doing this you are taking command.
You are working on building a bond.
And, you have to be consistent with your commands. They understand the word with the que very quickly.
Then, mules get bored at dumb repetition. When you work out after you are in a cart, try to work with another horse or mule of any size. They get it really quick. Keeping it interesting. If you are having fun, so will your new mini-mule.

[RidesAHaflinger]

http://www.orednet.org/~jrachau/drive.htm

I found this website a few years ago when I was learning to drive and to train my own horses to drive. I always thought it looked like a good, thorough description of training a mini donkey to drive. Some of the advice is contrary to what I learned in training horses to drive which made me think it might be right on the money for donkeys! :lol:

[hobbyhorse23]

[QUOTE=whoopdeedo;3360552]
I don’t know what “free Jumping” is, but, I suggest you stay away from that if you decide to work on driving this little critter.[/QUOTE]

If you don’t know what it is, why are you recommending she stay away from it? Free jumping just means sending the animal over a jump without halter or lead, usually by setting it up against the wall of an arena or roundpen and using guiding poles as a chute to send the animal in the right direction. Many minis really enjoy it! I can’t see how it would set up any bad habits for driving.

In response to the OP’s request for where to find mini harnesses, I agree- buy new. Ozark Mtn. Mini Tack (minitack.com) has a good cheap leather harness for $240 and paired with a Frontier easy entry cart it would make a great beginner setup. If you want to try for used I’d advertise on the Lil’ Beginnings saleboard (lilbeginnings.com) and see what you can find.

Mini mules are fun! Good luck with yours.

Leia

[lisae]

My presumption is that with any driving equine, it is better if they don’t think we want them airborne at any time:winkgrin: Critter may decide to pop over something on the trail that the caart can’t manage.

I asked my Haflinger’s trainer (the first one) not to send her over barrels at age 3 for just that reason. Caught the woman doing it anyways.

[hobbyhorse23]

Hmm.

Personally I find jumping not only fun but a valuable gymnastic exercise for the horse. My mini is an accomplished in-hand jumper on the mini show circuit but has never once offered to leap anything he’s found on a CDE course from creeks to actual jump standards being used as hazards. I do a lot of cavaletti work to establish the same judgment and obedience in jumping that I’ve instilled regarding cantering in harness. i.e.- you only do it if I tell you to!

I think especially for a small animal like this that will never be jumped with a bridle on the distinction between one activity and another would be clear. I did try long-lining mine over a low jump one day on a whim and he got quite upset and stopped point-blank. He was like “But Mom, I’ve got BLINKERS on! I don’t jump with blinkers on!” :eek: He sure knew the difference! :lol:

Leia (total cross-training fan)

Critter may decide to pop over something on the trail that the caart can’t manage.
Wait, isn’t making decisions the driver’s job? If you’re driving proactively and not waiting on the horse to do it for you it should never come up! Or so my trainer tells me. :rolleyes:

[Jasmine]

Thanks guys!!

Burrito (I didn’t name him, I swear. He answers to it, so I can’t really change it) is turning out to be a heck of a fun guy. Whoopde, I know not to treat him like a horse. He’s far to smart for that. We have reached an understanding. He behaves himself, doesn’t crowd my space, and does all the idiotic things I ask (WHY do I have to trot in circles? This is dumb. Do you really want to walk behind me with those long ropes attached to my bridle? WHY??) without too much fuss, and I dole out lots of carrots and scratches. I get the evil eye when I try to catch him if he doesn’t get his carrot-bribe. Not the best training, but better than chasing him down and tackling him. He’s not very easy to catch just yet.

I’ve also known full size horses who drive and jump; both free and under saddle. I didn’t think the jumping would be much of an issue.

Thanks again for all your suggestions!

[hitchinmygetalong]

[QUOTE=whoopdeedo;3360552]

Yes they are so smart, mine are just a bug fuzz away from a high school diploma.[/QUOTE]

I’m enjoying this thread thoroughly, but most especially the above quote. “a bug fuzz away…” - that’s HILARIOUS!
:lol:

Personally, I demand pics of these mini-mules in harness!

[whoopdeedo]

Okay, I’ll share some photos if you will Jasmine!

I changed my signature to put some newer photos up of a
mini-mule work in progress. We are in our 3rd year.

I will have to warn you Jasmine, the journey is what it is all about, like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”!

[Jasmine]

I only have a few pictures of the mule so far. None in harness. That would be a trick, since I don’t have a harness yet!

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/ChimeraFarm/IMG_0876.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/ChimeraFarm/IMG_0877.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/ChimeraFarm/IMG_0879.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/ChimeraFarm/IMG_0880.jpg

My farrier thinks he’s funny. Actually, the farrier’s comment was something like, “He’s so odd looking he’s cute. Kind of like a wiener dog.” LOL Burrito is kind of long through the body on stumpy little legs.

[whoopdeedo]

He looks like a “Pecan Pie”.
Very nice mini-mule! Keep us posted!

[Ainsley]

Oh my god, Burrito is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time!! Now that my stallion’s girlfriend has been retired from the breeding life, I may just have to get him a “Burrito” friend too. I wonder if he would like a mini mule as much as I would???

Good luck with the little guy!

Jennifer

By the way, how tall is he?

[Jasmine]

Ainsley, Burrito’s height is unknown at this point. I don’t have a stick small enough. When I answered the craigslist ad, I asked how tall he was. Their response was 4 1/2 feet. I think they meant the top of his ears!! LOL

When we introduced Burrito to Amigo, Burrito calmly marched into the pen, reared up and bit Amigo’s ear. Then he spun around and let fly a double barrel kick that connected with Amigo’s chest. Amigo was suitably cowed, and now Burrito rules the roost. He does seem to enjoy Burrito’s company. He’ll nicker for Burrito when I take either one out to work them.