The Springdale news., 1889-05-31
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Rearing Mules.


 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 a most servicca- ble 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 a vigorous application of the ''black snal1e," and consequent ly while horses exhibit more dOcility, as a rule, mules are vicious, and tho native stubbornness of the ass is heightened by the greater intelligence of the dam. It is quite possible to rear docile mules It Is quite easy to make them affectionatc and of gentle. kind ly disposition. No doubt the training of d jenny Is easier than that Of jack, but jack mule may be trained right ly just as easily as he may bc spoiled.
 Thcro need be no difference between the training of horse or mule colts. Kindness is effective in either case, but some tact and judgment arc required, for the effective application of kind ness. There is a difference in the dis position of animals. Some are sus- picious and avcr5e to familiarity nccd- cd 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 gentlcncss and gradual approaches. have been spending a few years in a mule-breeG- ing locality and have been rearing both horse and mule colts. Tho manage ment of mules was not familiar to me at first, but always believing that the mule was amcnablc 10 good training have been practicing with d pair of colts now three years old, one of which was very wayward and naturally Ob stinatc at first, but is now as gentle as pet horse colt. There arc a few points in the management which re- quire consideration, but thcse are pre- cisely the same as those needed in the training of any other domcsticated o1 Inc. i- fp .,l fan and suspicious 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 uso il gently and in such a way as to make it effective without any failure
 Some animals arc approached with out any serious effort to escape or rc- sst, and once young mulc secured by firm rope halter passed through the mouth, 50 that if can not got loose of a few minutes to conquer il. It may be necessary with stubborn an- imal to first drive into d narrow stall, with a door in the rear 10 close 1t in, and not wide enough for it to turn around in, and then secure 1t by the halter This should be done as soon as it is wcaned, and when ono can easily ovcrpower it if it resists. But if the colt has been reared alt home, this Is quite easy to De done byputting a strong leather strap around the neck. with a ring in it, and fastening d rope halter with a snap hook on it., and then tying the colt in the stable near it's dam If the education is De- gun when the colt is month old, there will bc 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 blundcr, and gives endless trouble in unlcarning a very bad train ing.
 When a mulc-colt has been once safely tied any thing can be done with it. If it should kick and resist at- tcmpts 10 handle it, it's legs should bc 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 tail trimmed, his body handled, brushed and stroked all over, and when he was let loose he was given some cut apples and bran, and did not resist in the least repetition of the brushing, and he has not made any attempt to resist since. By gradual approaches q mare mule has never made any re- sistance, and both animals will now feed from the hand; come at call, and are in every way US docilc as the quietest horse in the sta be. Neither of these animals has ever kicked or made an attempt to do so; and has never been whipped. The favorite- alleged p1Stlne Ot the mulc mas never been acquired, and never will be under this kind of training. I his, of course, re- quires constant supervision of hired men as well as personal attention, but l am convinced, from considerable eX- perience during five years past, that Under a sensible and iudicious train ing begun before the colts are three months old, mules may be trained to equal docility with horses. and will be found superior to horses for all the l hardest kinds of work, requiring steadincSs. endurance, staunchness and l dogged persistence of effort without | discouragcment. All this, accom- panied by their more vigorous diges- tion, greater robustness. stouter build. l greater strength and freedom from | blcmishes and diseases, give to mules a very high value for farm work and heavy draft, especially in those local itics where roads are steep. rough and generally heavy and bad.-Cor. Coun- | try Gentleman.