BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Horses Anyone have any Mule advice?

I recently found myself to be the owner of a basically-unhandled coming-yearling mule. Due to it being bug season, we can't geld him until fall, but I don't know how much difference that would make. He's getting fairly used to being handled and is very smart (as mules are, so I hear), but I'm having trouble getting him to give his rear feet. He kicks. Not at the touch, I can touch his legs just fine, but once you get one off the ground, it's a kicking extravaganza. He's fine with the fronts. I'm going to be hunting Amazon for mule-training books in hopes of finding an answer, but in the meantime, he's really needing a trim but the only way to do that at this point is to have the vet out to sedate him which could cause more problems than it's worth (not to mention the time conundrum, the farrier has a full-time day job and won't be able to be here at the same time as the vet, so that's a dead end). Anyone have any ideas on what to try? Thanks!

This is so funny S. I was JUST reading about this a few days ago. Here's a link:

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Stryker, Welcome to the forum, We hope that you will enjoy your stay!
Rosie

Hi Stryker,

Welcome to the horses forum at bellaonline.

Let me first say congrats on your new project. Next please know that the advice below is based on you having some knowledge of horses (specifically baby horses) and training and that you are aware of the dangers of working with such big beasts.

I have worked with a few mules over the years and what I learned about mules is that they are really no different than horses for the most part. Where they differ is that they tend to like their feet to stay on the ground but when they do take them off they take them off in a big way. Since you now have a mule I suggest you find some videos somewhere (perhaps on You tube) of jumping mules - they go straight up and straight down - really quite interesting.

As for your question - handle your mule just as you would an untouched baby horse. A lot of praise when he does what you want and a lot of patience when he does not.

For the hind feet - you will have to be very patient - to start - pick up the front foot - praise! Go to the hind foot on the same side and let him offer the foot to you when you ask for it - by this I mean give him the cue you want to use and then wait - if he lifts his foot even a smidge - praise! rest - ask again - praise for the smallest effort. If you get no response try to go back to the front foot and then try the hind again. Keep working with the ask, wait, praise, ask, wait, praise until you get the foot each and every time without an issue.

Now for some cautions - once you apply your cue you should not remove it or back off until you get the tiny response. If you cannot even get near his foot to touch it in a manner that indicates he should lift it start with a very rigid whip that is long enough for you to be a safe distanct away. Have him in halter and lead and with you at his head apply the whip to the pastern - not tapping it just placing it on the same spot you will use if it were your hand. Rub the spot until he lifts his foot. As soon as he lifts it stop rubbing but do not take the whip away and again praise for every small effort. Once he accepts this you then step it up - he should start to respond quicker as you progress - if you get stuck you may have to use a tap of the whip.

If he explodes the minute you touch him with the whip do your best to keep the whip in place or at least replace it as soon as you can. Once the explosion stops a quick rest, with whip in place, and rub to ask him to lift it again. Repeat each step until the explosions stop and he begins to listen to the cue. Then proceed as above with small successes. Do not work him more than 10 minutes but you can work him 2-3 times a day.

Please read my article The Whip before proceeding with this exercise.

www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60734.asp

If you cannot do the above with some level of confidence then I would strongly suggest you get some professional help as you do not want the kicking to become an ingrained habit - very dangerous. Horses and mules should never be able to back their humans off and if this is what has been happening you may be in for a long haul unless you do get some professional help.

If you have worked with baby horses you should be able to work this out - if you have more questions please go to the horses site and email me with your specifics. I would also encourage to browse through the site for more help with your mule - regardless of what you want to do with him there are many articles you will find of use to get him started.

I would love to know how you progress with your mule - check back sometime and good luck.