MULE CROSSING: Introducing Under-Saddle Training

By Meredith Hodges

Whether training an equine for harness or saddle, the groundwork is the same. His lessons in groundwork will allow him to learn restraint, submission and balance, while retaining the stature and mental stability of a confident and reliable animal. Physical development through specific exercises will help him to handle the added weight of a rider, or vehicle, and will make the next steps in his training go smoothly. Once your equine is responding obediently in the drive lines, through patterns and around obstacles, it is time to introduce him to the additional weight of the rider. This must be done slowly and methodically. There are also exercises that he should learn during lunging and more ground driving in the Round Pen before actual riding takes place.

At this point in training, your animal has become acquainted with your directions coming from both sides of his body, from the front and from behind. You have been walking in sync with first his front legs and then with the back legs to teach your own body to follow his rhythm and cadence, prepping your body for his motion when you finally mount and ride him. Your equine must now become accustomed to direction coming from his bac (over his head), but first he must learn to adjust his balance to your additional weight.

After reviewing all of your groundwork lessons, detach the drive lines, use your bridle reins and ask the equine to stand quietly and give him some oats reward when he does. While he is chewing, grasp the saddle horn and cantle, and boost yourself into a hanging position from his left side. If he spooks and tries to bolt away, just let go of the saddle, maintain your hold on the left rein and let him circle around you so as not to completely lose him. Quietly give the command to “Whoa” and wait for him to stop, then reward him again and try again. When he finally stands still for this, reward him again and put him away. Better to have short lessons that end on a good note!

The next time out, review your lessons again, including hanging of the side of the saddle on the near side (left mounting side), then go to the off side (right side) and do the same thing. When he stands quietly for this on both sides, then put him away again. It is always important to work your equine on both sides and review what he has already learned in order to maintain his confidence and to lessen his fear. Take as long as you need for each step before moving on to the next step to be sure that he is truly comfortable with what he has learned.

It is advisable to have an assistant for the next step of saddle training. Have your assistant stand at the equine’s head and hold him while you review your “saddle hanging.” If he is calm and compliant, put your foot in the stirrup and slowly hoist yourself aboard, dragging your right leg against his body gently, but firmly, up his hip, over his rump, and down the other side to the stirrup on the off side. If this does not disturb your equine, while verbally reassuring him, rock your weight from side to side and let him feel how the saddle over his back. Touch him gently and reassuringly all over the parts of his body that you can reach easily from your position. The more movement that he can tolerate while standing still, the better he will do later. Do only as much of this in any one lesson that he is able to calmly tolerate. Always try to end your lessons on a positive note! Do not get in too much of a hurry…that’s when the trouble starts!

It is easy to get excited when your equine responds well. It is tempting to allow him to walk off with you aboard, but years of experience have taught me to be patient and wait until the next lesson. The animal is not always completely aware of where you went the first few times aboard and can easily become startled when he is looking for you and finally does see you. Thus, it is important to make him fully aware of what has actually happened by taking you time, encouraging him to turn his head to the side, taking oats from your hand and by doing this on BOTH sides before going any further.

During upcoming lessons, begin with asking him verbally to “Back” with an alternate squeeze/release on each rein before going forward. He has already learned during previous lessons on the drive lines what verbal command and the alternate pressure on the bit mean. Have your assistant lead him only a few steps forward from a halter rope attached to a halter over your bridle (not with the reins!), ask him to “Whoa” and end the lesson there. The next time, you can ask him to take a few steps forward after backing and use the reins to turn him gradually (no sharp and abrupt turns) in each direction, ask him to “Whoa” and end these. Each time, just ask for a little bit more and be generous with the oats rewards and a lot of verbal praise!

The next step is to have your assistant attach a lunge line to the halter (instead of the lead rope) and begin to walk at your equine’s head as before, but this time, have your assistant walk him around the perimeter of the Round Pen. As your assistant circles, have him slowly let out the slack on the lunge line such that the animal walks more on his own. As your assistant slowly works his way to the center of the circle, you will begin to guide your equine around the circle, using your reins if he starts to follow the assistant.

The first time or two ask only for the walk and back it up with soothing verbal commands to “Walk on.” When he is calm and quiet during the walk, you can then give him the command to “Trot” and gently squeeze/release with your legs to send him forward. You should always have  a gentle, but firm, contact with his barrel so your leg cues to not “come out of nowhere” and startle him. Be sure to work evenly in both directions. Keep your assistant on hand throughout this stage of training until your equine works reliably at walk, trot, canter and back with no resistance or bolting. He WILL need to go faster at those gaits until he builds up his strength enough to support your additional weight, so don’t get too excited about…just ride it! he will slow down as he gains strength and confidence. If you begin to fight with him through the reins, he will only become more excited and anxious and resist. We want to set things up so he can SUCCEED in his tasks! This will prevent you both from becoming unnecessarily hurt, or seriously injured.

Equines will usually get through this stage of training fairly rapidly, and most don’t buck until they are asked to canter. If they do, realize they are only trying to adjust YOUR weight further backwards on their back, so make sure you have your saddle placed in the middle of their barrel, over the center of gravity and ride your BALANCED seat! When the rider is positioned too far forward, or if they are asked to canter before they are ready, They will crow-hop or buck if they feel out of balance. If he does, just stop, reset your body position (and re-adjust the saddle position if necessary) and start again. It is important to have your saddle adjusted properly because it is easy for a saddle to slip forward and over their head with you aboard if it isn’t! If everything is in order, and he is just being energetic, you can usually get him to smooth out by calling his name and by firmly verbalizing the command, “NO!”

When a horse bucks, one can usually just urge him on to a smooth canter. Mules often have flatter withers that allow the saddle to slip forward onto the shoulder blades. This is why it is so important to employ a crupper to hold the saddle over the center of gravity. They become use to the crupper during lunging, so it should not pose any problems and it will stop flat withers from becoming an issue. Do not use the back girth to hold the saddle in position. It is only there to hold the back of the saddle down, so it should be adjusted snugly, but never tight. Your mule will appreciate the correct fitting of his tack and equipment.

When he learns to move off smoothly and confidently, be generous with your praise. You do not have to stop often to give him the food reward, but it is still important to lavish him with verbal praise, followed by the food reward after he does his first backing and then at the end of his lessons. If you patiently take your time to practice these training methods, first in the Round Pan, and then later in the Open Arena, he will become much more attentive and obedient. You will soon be able to confidently and safely ride off solo with your equine knowing he is completely reliable!

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe and Twitter.

Covered in TRAINING MULES & DONKEY: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAINING, TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE and EQUUS REVISITED at www.luckythreeranchstore.com.

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