Wondering if anyone has done any trails with a mule? Any experiences or training advice.
I bought a 5 year old belgian mule shes 15hh and hoping to eventually start her under saddle. Shes had a rough start so we are taking everything very slow.
i have two mules. Both rescues. The big one came with serious issues. Iām not getting aboard her unless i get the feeling we can both enjoy it. Right now, one year after adopting her, sheās finally my good friend. But that has taken a year! She was raised well, but landed in three successive bad homes. And her history is having successfully bucked off three [professional] mule ātrainersā. I think itās a good thing she finally has an R+ female owner. If all she ever does is grace my pastures iāll be perfectly fine.
The other one, omgā¦heās the cutest, smartest, most agreeable trail mount in the whole world. Perfectly safe. And as loveable as they come. EVERYBODY who meets him loves himā¦and he just loves people. It took awhile to get a good saddle fit, eventually trailered him to southern missouri to a custom mule saddle maker. (crestridge). Before that i was hacking him in my ole trustworthy Thorowgood T4. But, after that saddle going halfway up his neck when we were going down a steep hill, and then another day, on a flat trailā¦just sliding round his side and under his belly, (with me ending up underneath him!)ā¦and him standing stockstill!! i bit-the-bullet hand had one made for him.
He was 5 when i got him from the humane society, i had him greenbacked there. He started off like he was born knowing how to be ridden.
I think the main thing with a mule is they need to be your friend. Theyāre very loyal and do not forget anything. (Or be dead broke and ridden to deathāthinking grand canyon trail riding mules)
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Ditto the above. With longerears, itās all about positive reinforcement. They have a lot of self preservation, and donāt like to do things that they deep are ābusy workā or have no purpose. So, you wonāt get far with a long ears by endless lunging. Just go down, reward often, and gain her trust, and you will have a friend for life.
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