by Sandra Goodwin

Created on: March 28, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

At any gathering of long time mule owners a phrase often heard is "not everyone can get along with mules". If you are trying to decide whether to become a first time mule owner I'd like to share some of the knowledge I've gained working with longears.

Self Preservation

This trait passed on from a mule's donkey heritage is what separates them from the horse. Not to say that horses don't want to keep themselves safe but in a mule self protection can over ride every other influence. You may be able to convince a horse to walk through belly deep mud but your mule will know there is a safer path and he/she is going to take it. You could spend all day trying to convince them you are right but that would be wasting a perfectly good day. After all these years, I still do not know how a mule can figure out the depth of a river bank by just looking. I do know if they are safe so am I. Refusing to perform a particular task or trying to avoid going in a certain direction can have it's roots in perceived danger or pain. Taking the time to consider my mule may be correct has helped us form more solid partnerships.

Intelligence

A mule can learn a new task in half the time it takes most horses. Sounds great but mules are also bored by repetition. Once their agile minds have a new lesson down, they are hungry for the next. Drilling them over and over again with something already known can bring out resentment and the last thing anyone wants to see is an angry, smart mule. Longears love learning and this makes them an ideal candidate for almost all traditional horse activities. Anything that requires thinking on a equine's part will bring out the best in a mule.

Hybrid Vigor

Mules can live and work well into their 40s. An 18 to 20 year old mule is not old but just hitting their best years. These older ones make perfect first time mules for the inexperienced owner or rider. They have been there, done that, know how to take care of a person and can teach what a mule is all about. My first longears was a gentle old soul with the patience of a saint. Because of this longer life span, mules mature slower than horses both physically and mentally so waiting to start saddle training until they are 4 to 5 years old will make the process much easier.

Sense of Humor

Maybe it's due to intelligence or born out of boredom but mules have a quirky sense of humor. Nothing pleases a mule more than to be able to walk behind you untying the horses you've tied in the corral. They will laugh under their breath when you become frustrated because they quit doing a task correctly to find out how you'd react. If your tools disappear while you are working in the pasture just ask your mule where he/she has hidden them. Thank goodness for a mule's kind heart which helps keep the jokes to a tolerable level.

The saying "not everyone can get along with mules" is true. A successful human/mule partnership requires patience, willingness to learn, a sense of humor and kindness.

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