Mule-ing Around (Like horsing around...)

 

We recently brought the two mules to the pasture right here in front of the house so they're easily accessible and we can continue to work with them. 

 

Dina (Dynamite as we call her) went on an elk hunt last Oct. and did well packing in and out of the Colorado terrain, but because Al (or Albert Einstein) came up lame, he got to stay home.   

 

Since the hunt, Big J. and I have taken the fun job of teaching them the things that deep down, they were taught before we got them.  They're coming along quite nicely! 

 

Al

Dina

Al is the one I latched onto when we first set eyes on them those months back, so naturally I'm the one working with him.  He's larger than Dina, has a little bit of a pot belly, and a few scars, but his attitude couldn't be better!  He's such a sweetheart. 

Dina is the little skittish one, but is getting over most everything that once spooked her.  She's awfully cute, and that's the reason Big J. is the one who eagerly volunteered to ride her.

 

As the previous owner said, they are broke (meaning we can pack on them and ride for pleasure and work), but having left them alone for a long time, they came to our ranch with a little jump in their step.  We're merely reminding them of some things. 

 

A week or so ago, Dad needed help moving some of our cattle, and knowing that it was a short ride, we loaded the mules.  They did well, that day probably being the first time to move cattle.  No one was tossed, no mule threw a fit, and we even got to trot for a little ways. 

 

Big J. just purchased a new Australian saddle, so it was no surprise when he asked me to go ride with him.  We've ridden the mules in the big east pasture without the help of anybody leading us or making sure the mules won't misbehave.  I don't think they would anyway.  And just as we figured, they did wonderfully. 

 

Since we've moved cattle on them and ridden for fun without any problems, we consider them broke.  Course, there might be those days when they'll put up a stubborn wall and not do what we instruct right then, but we'll ride through it like we are trained to.  As they say, when you get bucked off, you've got to get back on and ride.  It's that simple.