mulesuk

hi. i'd like to ride our molly and if advice is needed i'll take it.i dont want to mess her up as i'm no rider.i,ve trotted about bareback n that on her but have no experience of bits,saddles etc.15yrs more ago i had 14hh rig.i'd ride him bitless.it was fun n fast.that was then!our 2mules are doin loads of lungin n long rein work with voice the key.pretty pointless pullin on the bit.!!doin very well indeed.the riding tho feels,well.....some of yous are riders of your mules.yes.i watched some clever stuff with mules being rode.see,the feeling i get with mary d is;hey matey,i dont have to go in that direction if i dont wannto so dont you go pulling on that piece of iron while you perched up there.or tapping your heels!!!so little trots about the field.shes,like the rest,very smart.dont want to make bad unnessecary mistakes.just i think she'd like riding.perhaps a lot to do with the unblinkered experience she's having.when she first started,my she was surprised but has settled into it.any 1st step how to ride your mule tips welcome.thanks.chris

Well I started to ride Malaga in a small area and one rein in a rope hackamore which is great for stopping you grabbing both reins First I teach him to give me his head from the ground and then in the saddle ad then he learns to disengage his hindquarters.
I ask him to go and raise my rein,upping my energy.Usually he'll make an effort but if not I'll use my rope swingig it from side to side over my shoulder and gradually lowerig it if I have to untill I'm touching his backside.The INSTANT he makes a slightest move I stop at whatever phase I'm at and let him move.
To start with I act as a passeger only,I don't try to micromanage him.He'll walk and if its only a few steps we wait for the equal number od seconds ad then I rub him and ask again.The further he goes the more rest and rubs (reward)he gets.We also play follow the rail where he has to keep to the track by the rail.I don't correct him unless he goes off track ad the he is left on a loose rein again.
Its a bit slower than the kick pull idea but at the end you have a willing animal that moves forewards on an ask.
It is hard work if you have an animal that's just learning even more so when you are only learning yourself