Many volunteers and staff at CHR have fallen in love with Jasper, the one-eyed mule who recently arrived at the rescue. Mules are very special animals, with unique behaviors and intelligence that make them stand apart from horses.
Trainer Morgan asking Jasper to back up.
What is a mule?
By definition, a mule is a hybrid species that is half horse and half donkey. This gives them the advantage of “hybrid vigor,” meaning they have the best qualities of horses and donkeys combined into one animal. It’s important to know the behavioral differences between horses and mules to train them effectively.
Donkey Traits: Smarts Over Stubbornness
First, we must understand donkey characteristics. Donkeys have a reputation for being “stubborn,” but this false stereotype is a result of their higher cognitive abilities and overall intelligence. They have the ability to reason and will refuse to do something if they believe it is unreasonable. They also have a high sense of self-preservation and are able to sense danger and actively avoid it. When it comes to fight or flight instincts, donkeys are more likely to freeze or fight back, while horses are more likely to choose flight.
What humans perceive as stubbornness is actually the animal trying to communicate with you. They might sense danger or think you’re not a confident leader and that they should make the decisions instead of you. These characteristics are shared by both donkeys and mules.
Horse Traits: Athleticism and Sensitivity
The characteristics mules share with horses are their trainability, sensitivity, and deep emotional intelligence. They are athletic like horses and capable of being ridden in all the same disciplines. Mules can pull carts, show jump, work cows, trail ride, carry pack saddles, and even do dressage.
Mule Traits: Perfect Blend
When you combine these horse and donkey traits, you get a highly intelligent, athletic, and surefooted partner. Their high self-preservation makes them more careful and considerate of their rider, which is why mules are preferred for riding rough terrain, such as the Grand Canyon.
Trainer Morgan guides Jasper using voice commands: “Gee” for right and “Haw” for left.
Training Mules
Mules are also known to form strong social bonds with other equines and become very protective of their herd. These bonds are also important with humans, and having a close bond with a mule is the key to success in training. They must trust their handler completely to become a willing partner. The handler must have lots of patience and self-awareness, because a mule can sense when you lack confidence or get frustrated, and this often causes a mule to refuse working.
They also have incredible memory, which can be a good thing and a bad thing when training mules. If they have a bad experience, they never forget it. It is important that mules like Jasper have positive experiences with humans, so they remember it’s okay to trust us. Mules will recognize faces of individual people and even the clothing you wear.
When training mules, positive reinforcement is highly effective. Treats, petting, and verbal praise are meaningful to the mule and create positive memories. The most important thing to remember when handling mules is to be patient and understanding and give them every reason to trust you as a confident and safe human.
