mulesuk

Well despite missing two lorries due to paperwork I gather Picasso finally made the Friday one and is due to arrive about Tuesday/Wednesday so I can stop trying to push Malaga and me beyond our boundaries and concentrate on learning to ride on Picasso while I sort out my leadership on the ground and riding in the round pen with Malaga
Albies' had several kids up on him and even been on him himself despite his shattered ankle.He says he won't buck (They tried!)and if I can't ride him to stick to goats!
Picasso's been hobbled and beaten by his previous owner but is still quiet and gentle so we will see how he settles in

Picasso sporting his hobble scars that have now grown out

Being ridden freestyle bareback and one rein

Food at last

awwww jj he is beautiful... he has got dapples!!! I hope malaga dosen't get too jealous of you giving your attention to another? Good luck with the riding.. it does make such a difference finding one that can build your confidence up a level.... al credit to you for your perserverence i look forward to hearing how it goes XXX

Oh err, not at all what I expected! How big? How old? I thought you said a mare this time?!!

Shall expect more photos when he arrives!

So glad he is finally on his way! Max left on a Friday and arrived up here on Tuesday so all being well so should Picasso. Can't wait to see photos of him in his new home. I am riding Max now - steering a bit dodge but pretty unflappable. Best of luck.

"I thought you said a mare this time?!!".......Aah! Yes I did didn't I?
But Heliotrope had seen him and thought he was alright and his tempererment was ideal so I reckoned if he was trouble he wouldn't have survived that long
And lets face it,he is a cutie

He arrived just before 1pm

Grew a hand when he saw the goats

and did what all good mules do in the most impossible place to photograph

Who's a pretty pink mule then!

He looks great - better than when I saw him I think. Also looks pretty relaxed. Can't wait to hear how you two get on. All the best.

Yes he certainly looks as though he's put on weight though the scars are still visable
I've put him in the isolation paddock and he seems quite relaxed.I did about an hours "undemanding time" with him and he stood about ten yards away comfortably,not approaching but heck it was his undemanding time so he can do what he likes
I removed the head collor and massaged his back which he didn't mind so we'll move on a bit tomorrow as I have a day off (Yep! a WHOLE day )

Well he didn't want to catch me this morning but eventually we worked it out (He doesn't like Polo'S! )
I did a few minuites groundwork to sort out the holes and left him then went back in the afternoon to try the catching game again.He did not travel as far this time and I twigged on what a spanish mule not used to treats would like---chopped carrot!
I took him for a walk down the road and he negotiated scrambling up the bank and round the small gap between the gate post and the hedge, beautifully.He was totally unphased by the traffic even when meeting a large bus on a twisty corner of a narrow lane.He jumped a bit at a passing cyclist who EVENTUALLY said hello as she passed my shoulder,but as many don't even speak that's a start.Malaga would've told me the cyclist was there 100yds back!
The only "whoops" time we had was being passed on the way home by three motorbikers!Picasso thought he wanted to go home faster than I would've liked but I managed to calm him down.I was a bit slow in the uptake as neither Blue or Malaga would've blinked and I think the bikers were a bit suprised themselves as they probably thought it was Malaga so didn't slow down as much.All went o.k. and Picasso was very forgiving of my mistake
So I already know some of his quirks,likes and dislikes,what a shame the Bulldog Bash has just finished I couldve taken him up there to get through his bike problems but there's a training centre a few miles away so we could try there
And Yes Albie,we'll try riding tommorrow

Glad he has arrived safe and sound - how did you get on today?

Had a double shift by myself at work and was too knackered.
Went out this afternoon and took the Rebecca Softride and the new breeching.It fits him much better than Malaga and doesn't move forewards so much though we had a bit of ears back and muttering under his breath when I did the girth up so we'll work on that one.
With a bit of persuasion he worked out where to stand by the block but wanted to walk off so he had to do it again.This time he stood still so we hurried up and did nothing.Eventually I asked him to move on and we just walked quietly up and down the fence.
I was still lacking confidence but he was very good.He hasn't learnt to give his head and his stops and backups are like steering a tank but as he's probably had nothing but phase 4/5 used on him he can't be blamed as his back ups and yields on the ground are crap too.He is willing though so will soon pick it up once he trusts me.
I decided to walk him down the bridlepath behind my field to see his reaction to claustraphobic places.As his brakes weren't good I decided to walk him in hand.As we got out on the road one of the bikers from the other night came round the bend and very carefully moved over to the other side of the road bless him,but Picasso wasn't worried as he was approaching from a differant angle.
We walked up the hill and onto the bridlepath which had had a bollard added since the last time I walked it and a few yards up, lying down a bank was a landrover!Picasso wasn't interested,neither did he bat an eyelid at the Gypsy dogs that ran up and down the fence in the gypsy camp.When we came to the other end of the bridlepath there was a metal gate lying on the floor and bent(Probably run over by the Landrover)but Picasso negotiated it beautifully.
By now I was on a roll,so we carried on down the track and into the village and as I didn't fancy going back passed the Gypsy camp decided to take the circular rout.
A mile or so further on we were passed by a car going down the track to a field where they were busy setting up a racing curcuit for those farm bike things right next to the bridlepath! Should be interesting,think I'll take Picasso down to watch tommorrow
We managed to negotiate the rest of the walk with no problem but as we squeezed round the gatepost home I'd decided I'd walked enough and managed to pursuade Picasso to stand parallel to the gate so I could mount.He did try to take a shortcut across my neighbours ploughed field but I eventually steered him back to the drive and we played "follow the rail" up the drive.He'd worked out where we were and decided to break into a trot,I asked him not to as I wasn't ready but I got the hint of a lovely smooth trot comming up so we will work on that tomorrow!
I unsaddled him and I think he liked having his head rubbed and a carrot this time as he was not so keen to walk off tonight.It was about a five mile walk and I'm going to be knackered for work tomorrow but I can't wait to have another session tomorrow

oh my god, well done you!!! that sounds fab.... and what splendid progress i must confess to being very jealous.... LOL but also very pleased its going well for you both..

I decided to try a bit today although I wasn't sure he had ever had one.I have a myler comfort snaffle with an attatchment so it fits to a rope halter.Picasso didn't come to meet me but didn't travel too far and appreciated a rub on the nose.
It was easy to bit him and attach it to the halter and he played with it for a while and was disgusted that he could not work out how to chew a carrot with it on as it kept falling out of his mouth.
Mounting was better this time and after a few circuits of the field steering was too, so I decided to take him out for a walk round the village and show him a new route.As before he ignored everything including some dogs and as we passed the playing fields some children asked if they could stroke my "donkey" I said yes as long as they didn't call him a donkey I had always had to refuse with Malaga in case something scared him but it was nice to be able to take Picasso over and although he jumped a bit when one of the little girls reached up to stroke his nose he was very patient.
I walked him out of the village and up the hill towards another bridlepath that joined the one we had used the other day.It was hot and a nice afternoon and he was so good I decided to mount him on the road using the verge as a mounting block.This time he did not attempt to move off and stood still while I sorted out all the reins (I had a set plus the hitching rope on the rope hackamore, and a set on the bit too!)
He walked quietly down the road and peared into the undergrowth that covered the bridlepath but turned onto it when asked.Masses of pidgeons flew up out of the canopy over our heads but he ignored them but twitched an ear at the young buzzard squealing somewhere overhead.We had to struggle through some boggy bits but eventually came out into some open wheat fields that had some huge round bales left in them.His ears pricked and his eyes stuck out on stalks as he stared at the alien creatures but moved on alongside the hedge when asked.Most of the bales were well away but one was about thirty yards fro the hedge and as we approached I could feel it all becoming too much for him He turned round politely and decided to go back so I hopped off,took the hitching line,gave him plenty of length,and walked him in a zig zag towards the bale.As I was making it his idea (almost) he remained calm and as soon as he discovered the bales were FOOD his attitude changed (Strange how he didn't have any trouble eating with the bit on now! )
I dragged him away from the bales and remounted.We carried on our journey uneventfully untill we came to the main bridlepath where they were holding the motorcycle rally...perfect chance to get him used to them...how interesting!
I dismounted and walked him along the path where they were just starting another race and people lined the track to watch.I needn't've bothered dismounting as he totally ignored the whole thing.When we got passed I remounted and we continued with Picasso doing his bit for clearing the bridlepath by snatching mouthfuls of thistles and burdock spikes.
We rode through the village and back home and all apologies to Malaga,his trot is much better than Picaso's but I'm not telling him that to keep him on his toes.
Before releasing him I had two jobs to do,see if he would load in my trailer (Yes, but I had problems pursuading him to back out...did I tell you his back up was lousy!?)and trying on his rug that the boss let me buy off her..and it fitted!
All in all a good day which Picasso underlined with a nice good roll

LOL.... The perfect pinkasso!!!!

He sounds like the perfect mule partner..... if you ever need him to have a holiday send him my way......

I am waiting to hear that you are jumping the straw bales next... and posting the clips on youtube.. extreme mules uk.... i think we should start are own site LOL>>>

I think he's a bit passed extreme sports bless him but once I get the tack fit worked out and my confidence I'm sure Malaga would love to give it a go!