The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-08-03
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Rearing Mules.


the dangerous class of humanity. As
the hand of the rowdy and hoodlum is
against every other man, and always
ready to strike, SO the heels of the
mule are always prepared for action,
and at times do serious execution. But
as want OF training, or actually vicious
training, is the cause in one case, so it
Is in the other, and the supposed
natural cussedness of both these
classes Of vicious animals is beyond
question due to wrong bent given to
them in their rearing.
The mule is really most servicea-
BILE animal, and as a draft beast has
some qualities which render him pre-
ferable to horses for heavy work. But
horses are usually trained by persons
of greater intelligence than those who
handle mules, the latter generally be-
ginning the education of the long
cared colts with vigorous application
Of the "black snake" and consequent
ly while horses exhibit more docility,
as a rule, mules are vicious, and the
native stubbornness of the ass is
heightened by the greater intelligence
of the dam. It is quite possible to rear
docile mules. 1t is quite easy to make
them affectionate and OF a gentle. kind
ly disposition. No doubt the training
of a jenny is easier than that OF a jack,
but jack mule may be trained right
ly just as easily as he may be spoiled.
There need be no difference between
the training of horse or mule colts.
Kindness is effective in either case, but
some tact and judgment are required,
for the effective application of kind
ness. There is q difference in the dis
position of animals. Some are sus-
picious and averse to familiarity need
ed for good training. some will submit
to be handled with evident pleasure,
and some will resent every touch
OF the hand or the brush. But
the most suspicious animal is
readily disarmed by gentleness and
gradual approaches. have been
spending few years in mule-bree6-
ing locality and have been rearing both
horse and mule colts. The manage
ment of mules was not familiar to me
at first. but always believing that the
mule was amenable to good training
have been practicing with a pair of
colts now three years old, one Of which
was very hayward and naturally OBJ
stinate at first, but is now as gentle as
a pet horse colt. There are a few
points in the management which re-
qnire consideration, but these are pre-
cisely the same as those needed in the
training of any other domesticated
animal. The first is to disarm all fear
and suspicion; the second is to evoke
some affection by constant kindness;
the third to establish kindness of dis
position and obedience by gradual
steps; the fourth never to punish, but
when force is needed to control the
animal, to use it gently and in such a
way as to make it effective without any
failure.
Some animals are approached with
out any serious effort to escape or re-
sist, and once a young mule secured
by firm rope halter passed through
the mouth, so that it can not get loose
or break the rope. it is only matter
Of few minutes to conquer it. 1t
may be necessary with stubborn an
imal to first drive into narrow stall,
with door in the rear to close it in,
and not wide enough for it to turn
around in. and then secure it by the
halter. This should be done as soon
as it is weaned, and when one can
easily overpower it if it recists. But
If the colt has been reared at home,
this is quite easy to be done by putting
a strong leather strap around the
neck. with ring in it, and fastening
rope halter with a snap hook on it,
and then tying the colt. in the stable
near its dam. If the education is be-
gun when the colt is month old. there
will be no trouble ever afterwards.
but to let colts-of any kind-run wild
and commit all sorts of faults until
they are three years old is the most
serious blunder, and gives endless
trouble in uulearning very bad train
ing.
When q mule-colt has been once
safely tied any thing can be done with
it If it should kick and resist at
tempts to handle it, its legs should be
secured by ropes, and it should be
thrown, and whatever was wished
should then be done, and the animal
released. But this lesson should be
thoroughly given. A jack colt was
kept tied down for an hour. until he
permitted his hoofs to be rasped, his
tell. trimmed, his body handled,
brushed and stroked all over, and when