Breezy Rebel
New member
My dad bought me a mule a few weeks ago. I have been spending a lot of time with him, and he seems to trust me completely, but we have one issue. He's perfect in any other way, but he spooks WAY too often for me to really trust him any other than in the round pen. He handles easily, and he stops and picks up leads fine, and after a while, he'll settle down. Let me give you an example: A few days ago I was riding him in the round pen, just practicing picking up leads, turns and small things like this. At first, he was really anxious like he hadn;t been in there before, and he would spook at every passing car, but after a while he wouldn't pay them any attention. But, while doing turn around a bucket, our neighbor's dog barked, and he kicked the bucket, and when the bucket came up and hit his leg, he flipped out. Then, he wouldn't go near the bucket for several turns. He had gotten awa from me, and I was getting him back to settled. But he was still eyeballing the bucket, and whn his hoof hit a stick it cracked and this spooked him further. Then he wouldn't go near the place where the stick was. Another example: It's fall. Leaves are falling. A leaf heppened to hit his head and he freaked out. I do not know a lot about his past, but his previous owners were kind and treated him well, they mainly used him for packing, and were in a very flat area. He is a GREAT mule, and I want to do more with him, and I don't want him to be scared out of his skin every time something moves. I don't trust him not to take off with me on the trails. Please help!! I'm taking him to a trainer, but still not for a few weeks, so I was just curious. Any ideas?! Also, I'm a new rider, but I've spend my life around horses, and I've driven horses before, but don;t have much experience with mules. Thanks for any ideas!!
Also, he's perfect saddling, will let me bridle him, it's just anything that's sudden. And we have another mule, who will not spook at the same things.
He is also between 8 and 10 years old, and we have had him about a month and a half so far.
Also, he's perfect saddling, will let me bridle him, it's just anything that's sudden. And we have another mule, who will not spook at the same things.
He is also between 8 and 10 years old, and we have had him about a month and a half so far.
Also, he's perfect saddling, will let me bridle him, it's just anything that's sudden. And we have another mule, who will not spook at the same things.
He is also between 8 and 10 years old, and we have had him about a month and a half so far.
Also, he's perfect saddling, will let me bridle him, it's just anything that's sudden. And we have another mule, who will not spook at the same things.
He is also between 8 and 10 years old, and we have had him about a month and a half so far.