Oops, I guess it was June then. Good thing we got a real historian to set it straight!

Ha!, May, June, pretty much the same. They got rained on for weeks straight.

Well, I’m gunna give it a shot. The plan is to take it slow and try to keep all my bones, brain, and teeth in tact. I’m excited!

Good deal! Post some pics of the new dude.

That is great! I'm jealous have the ranch to keep one but not there all the time or have the time to work with one on a consistent basis

I'm excited keep us posted on your new journey. If there is one bit of advice one should follow is always be positive no negative reinforcement.

Ozark Coon hunters train them to jump fences, so I'd say they can be taught most anything!

I trained one of mine, Stumpy, to jump fences. Or actually anything I’d put a coat or blanket over. He would gracefully stand on his hind legs, squat slightly then spring over fence while I held lead rope.

I know you meant to type coon....

but now I am picturing a bunch of Ozark hillbillies on mules tracking down and hunting cons. Would make a good reality show. One of the con hunters could be like a backwoods redneck preacher, and another an outlaw himself kinda like Savell, maybe a white trash Annie Oakley.... hunting down drug dealers, burglars, illegal aliens, etc. Would be interesting, lol.

I might even watch one like that.

I’m a fan of the positive reinforcement except when it comes to kicking or biting. Best to negatively enforce correction immediately, with what ever is handy. Correction should be immediate and last no more than a second or two. Then move on like nothing happened.

Quote Trapset:
I’m a fan of the positive reinforcement except when it comes to kicking or biting. Best to negatively enforce correction immediately, with what ever is handy. Correction should be immediate and last no more than a second or two. Then move on like nothing happened. [/quote]

Each have their own way of teaching. I have never witnessed negative enforce work on anything and especial on this specific animal. The owner can choice his path but trying to go back after damage is done won't happen with the demeanor of this animal.

Granted, mules are "stubborn" and can be cranky.

But infinitely more levelheaded than almost any horse.

Make sure you are at least as smart as the mule before you start the training regime! And be prepared to "train," not to "break!"

Pete

I believe you want that first correction to be memorable, I'm not talking sustained beating but a sharp, immediate, and short, comeuppance.

Can't say about Mules, but certainly with horses...Had a kicker come into the barn, went into the stall to clean and change water and the lil darling tried to kick me, I had the empty bucket in my hand and gave her a sharp whack with it on the side of the neck.....Never tried to kick again and followed me like a puppy, lol

A memorable correction works with dogs and children too, wouldn't be surprised with mules either.....

Maybe they'd make an escape on a train while singing bluegrass and spirituals!

I am picturing Boyd Crowder and Dewey Crow on a couple mules.

Each have their own way of teaching. I have never witnessed negative enforce work on anything and especial on this specific animal. The owner can choice his path but trying to go back after damage is done won't happen with the demeanor of this animal. [/quote]
You should watch horses and mules and donkeys enforce things among themselves sometime

I had a friend who owned a Jack, among other animals.
One day she asked me to build a breeding chute for her......which I did.
Then she asked if I'd help with a breeding.

Never having done anything like that before I said SURE.

So.... She brings in the jack and snubs him off behind the chute. I am assigned to hold onto a smallish stallion pony of some sort .....whose job apparently consisted of nipping at the mare's face..... OK I can do that.
Then she backs the mare into the chute............a Percheron !!!!

Ill tell ya what......after that experience I think I'd prefer to assist in a grizzly bear mating than be up close and personal to those three orangutans jumping and snorting and slobbering all over the place

Gotta add Ava as our white trash Annie Oakley. She was pretty talented at shooting people.... like her husband, lol.

Lol
Im guessing that mare didn't want anything to do with that donkey.