I am sad to say that I started to slide away ( not purposefully) from my mule school training once I entered grad school; my mind became focused elsewhere a bit and Ruby could tell, she could read my attitude. I was drifting away from the practice of slow concentration, clarity, and steady, purposeful training (yes, my mule is my personal Yoda : ). I was more in a hurry (had tons of homework to do), more easily distracted, and less patient. Ruby could tell. One day she let me know she knew with a

Hi, everyone, I ride a gaited mule. CSH Andromeda (Ruby) is out of a TWH mare. She just turned 3, and we are working on the gaits & muscling up to maintain the gaits. She does trot, and can canter, though she is underconfident with it. We're working on that - time is an important training aid with her - no hurries. I'm excited to have an equine with special gaits! Now that I have a saddle that fits extremely well (from Crest Ridge Saddlery), her shoulders move much more freely, and she

Important lesson: our mules and horses have off days, too – we must learn to recognize and respect that. Yesterday, I was not feeling well. I had little energy, but being at the barn and working with Ruby always makes me feel good and makes me happy, so I went anyway (I go to the barn every day, or at least 6 days per week). Since I did not have the physical capacity to ride, I thought we could do some light work in the round pen. (Here’s another important lesson – riding when your physical and mental

Do you ever just bust with pride over your equine companion? Chest swelled up, heart full to overflowing, a big fat smile on your face? Don’t you love it? : ) My gut instincts were right about Ruby – at age 3, she has come into a level of maturity and open-mindedness that wasn’t quite completely there before (there was always promise of it). We’re moving forward beautifully! We rode in the heat yesterday – about 93 degrees. But, being of donkey blood, mules can withstand the heat well, and there

Ruby (CSH Andromeda), June 2009

I am forming the belief that mules shouldn’t be started under saddle until 3 years of age or older (I’ve perused a few websites of mule ranchers who stand by this belief). I don’t believe in starting any equine too young – bones and joints, muscles and mental processes are in transition, and too early of a start can cause physical and mental damage (which is why I wish the racing world would change their ways, and some show folks, too). I think mules need a little more time, as well, due to their

A little bribery never hurts : ) With mules, you can use a bribe now and then without it becoming an issue of “spoiling”, and once the behavior you are bribing for becomes habit, then you can stop using the bribes (and your mule won’t climb all over you looking for the treats). It works with my mule, anyway. Case in point: I don’t get to feed Ruby. Wish I did, but I board her, so Mr. G does the feeding (unless everyone is brought indoors due to inclement weather, and I happen to be present at feeding

If you read a couple of my past posts, you may remember me talking about re-gaining my confidence – in working with equines, and in general. Well Ruby’s been working on the same thing. The more we ride outside, the more confidence she gains, and I’m beginning to feel like we’re up to a few adventures out in the pastures. She wasn’t ready for it a couple of weeks ago, but after this week, I feel that she’s growing bored with the arena work (remember - you don't drill a mule) and in walking the

Just when you think you’ve learned a thousand new things, and are cruising along with pride in your education and enlightenment, your mule will “tap you on the shoulder” and remind you that you shouldn’t rest on your laurels – you have even more to learn, and need to reach deeper in your thinking and doing! And need to continue discovering more about yourself in the process. Ruby’s been doing absolutely beautifully! She’s a pearl, no doubt about it. She’s so willing to learn and do for me – makes

How exciting – Ruby is a single-footing mule!! We’ve only just now been able to get out and move around – after winter and after a very wet, cool spring - so I never knew that Ruby was a single-footer…until last week. During the winter we would work a little in the indoor space (very narrow, not an arena), and I always thought she was trotting. I kept wondering, “Why can’t I sit this trot?” My seat would naturally move back a bit, leaving my legs a little forward. I thought that surely my skills