The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-24
SOUTHERN AGRTCOLTlIR1T7.
Rearing Mules.

conna.A ofage mule may be aptly
nnpaDea with what is generally called
az class of humanity. As
Tue hand OF the rowdy and hoodlnm ia
asa,us1 every other man. and always
leaay TO strike, SO the heels of the
n'uie are always prepared for action
auo al times do serious execution. Rut
as want Of training, or actually vicious
.raihihg, IS the cause in one case, so it
" In The other, and the supposed
naeuFal ~cussedness OPT both these
classes OF vicious animals is beyond
question due to a wrong bent given to
them in their rearing.
h mule is really a most servicea-
ole animal, and as a draft beast has
some qualities which render him nre-
,eraoie to horses for heavy work. But
horses are usually trained by persons
VI 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 snake" and consequent
~ "hlle horses exhibit more docilitv,
asa rule, mules are vicious. and the
native stubbornness of the ass is
heightened by the greater intelligence
OK Inc dam. 1t is quite possible to rea
ooelie mules. 1t is quite easy to make
mem ahectionate and of gentle, kind
~ disposition. No doubt the training
OF "a Jenny is easier than that of a isdR.
but a jack mule may be trained right
10 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 a 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 ssh. But
the most suspicious animal is
readily disarmed by g~entleness and
gradual approaches. / have been
spending a few years In a mule-breeG-
ing locality and have been rearing both
horse and mule colts. The manage
mentaof 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 oil
colts o 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-
quire 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 neededS&p control the
animal, to use it gently and in such 8
way as to make it effective without any
allure.
Some animals are approached with
out any serious effort to escape or re
sist, and once a young mule SECURED
by a firm rope halter passed through
the mouth, SO that it can not get loose
or break the rope. it is only a matter
Of a few minutes to conquer it. i
may be necessary with a stubborn an
imal to first drive int q narrow stall
Awith a door ia he reaA to close it in
@nd not wide enough Rr it to turr
around in. and then seculs it by the
halter. This should be dohAas soor
as it is weaned, and when onSeNcar
easily overpower it If it resists. but
II the colt has been reared at home.
this is quite easy to be done by putting
a strong leather strap around the
neck. with a ring in it, and fastening {
rope halter with a snap hook on 1t
and then tying the colt in the stable
near its dam. If the education is be
gun when the colt is a month old, there
wiz be no trouble ever afterwards
but to let colts-of any kind-run wllt
and commit all sorts of faults unit
thew are three years old is the mos
serious blunder, and gives endless
trouble in u~ulearning a very bad train
Zen a mule-colt has been ONE
safely tied any thing can be done witt
H. II it should kick and resist at
tempts to handle it, its legs should b.
secured by ropes, and it should b.
thrown, and whatever was wishes
should then be done, and the ANNA
released. But this lesson should bf
thoroAghly given. A jack colt wa
kept tied down for an hour, until q
permitted his hoofs to be raspdA nj
tail trimmed. his body hahs9ed
brushed and stroked all over, and whel
he was let loose he was given some Gu
apples and bran, and did not resist L
the least. d repetition of the brushing
and he has not made any attempt T
resist since. BY gradual approacne
a mare mule has made any re