Rubber Driving Bit.

[Paulk]

Anyone ever use a rubber driving bit?  I have an old Amish mule I bought(he also spent a few years in New Orleans as a carriage mule) and he is dead broke but seems to fight the bit I use.  The only bit I had wide enough was a twisted wire bit and he is constantly chewing on it and doesnt seem to respond to it like I think he should and not to mention he looks like a rabbid dog from slobbering so much.  I have noticed that when I get upset and yell commands at him and add a few curse words he responds better but I don’t like to do this because it starts to take the enjoyment away from it, plus the neighbors probably think I’m crazy screaming at my mule.

This bit is rubber, straight and about a 3/4″ to 1″ dia. 6″ wide and has a little flexibility to it.  it also has 2-1/2″ rings on it.  I wondered that with it being flexible and a bigger diameter if it would have a little forgiveness for my green hands.   I just recieved it in the mail and can’t wait to try it out but will probably have to wait untill the weekend.  Does anyone know if the Amish use a common bit on work mules or do they use what ever works?

Anyother suggestions would be appreciated.  Paul

[bdcasto]

horsedrawnpromotions.com uses rubber bits or latex covered bits exclusively in their busy business of training harness horses of all kinds.  Visit their youtube channel (BarryHook2 I think) and search for rubber bits.  I’ve used a bit similiar to what you describe on a limited basis with good results.

BD Casto

New Carlisle, OH

 

[Paulk]

Well I finally tried my new rubber bit out over the weekend and the first trip around the property went great. He didn’t seem to be chewing on it as much and fighting with it like with the other bit. I hooked him to my new stone boat I built and he started good and made good turns so I decided to take another lap and couldn’t get him to turn when I wanted or sometimes he would go the oppisite direction. This mule is 15yr old and an old Amish mule so i know that he knows what he is doing. I wonder if he senses my inexperience and is using it against me. I get frustrated and we stop so I don’t become angry and I usually end up leading him or just putting him away because I don’t want things to get worse. I am going to try double checking my harness to make sure nothing is rubbing or pinching but other than that I’m at a loss on what to try next. When I first brought him home he wasn’t this bad but I didn’t get to hook him but a few times over a couple months and it was just to haul manure a few hundred feet with a small wagon.

Any thoughts? Paul

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Paul, Of course it is difficult to say with any certainty, but you instinct that he is taking advantage of you is probably in the right ball park. Please don’t take this as a negative comment. Only that is a common problem, you are experiencing. We often tend to seek some kind of mechanical explanation for what is going on; ie, different bit, or harness fit, but it is likely the mule is confused by the signals you are sending.

If this mule wasn’t using a twisted wire bit before, I would expect a bit of a reaction when you try to work him in one at 15. The rubber bit is fine, but probably not necessary. A simple straight bar bit or liverpool, will likely work fine for this mule. The most basic advise I give folks that are just starting out (or with a new animal) is go slow, both in the number of new things you try to do, and just in how you work around the animal. Make him calm and relaxed as you work. Good luck and let us know how you make out. Donn

[carl ny]

Just giving up and putting him away is probably the worst thing you can do.He will get wise to that and figure out that if he goofs off he won’t have to work.Always end on a positive note. JMHO

carl ny

[Paulk]

One good thing about this mule is that he doesn’t get excited about much. I couldnt ask for a better animal, he will stand patiently while tied and to harness, when you walk out in the pasture you can’t get him to run from you and just well mannered. I only get to work him a couple times a week right now for a short period and I think we just need to work together more.

As far as stopping goes I usually make him stand hooked to the sled or tied in harness for awhile and sometimes I will lead him around. i just dont want him or myself to get aggitated and futher complicate things.

I need to work on some fence this week and I plan to hook him to the stone boat. Ifigure I can pile my stuff on it so we can go some short distances and practice in smaller increments.

[mlelgr]

The Amish that I have experience with in Lancaster Pa generally have 4 to 8 mules hooked at a time with lines on the center 2 and everything else on a jockey stick. If your mule spent the majority of it’s life on an Amish farm it may have also spent the majority of it’s life on a jockey stick getting lead around. If this is the case working alone and receiving commands from the lines will be out of the norm. None of this means you won’t be able to drive your mule single in the lines it just may explain some of the behavior. The golden rule for working with mules is “mitis in rey, firmit in modo” “gentle in the matter, steadfast in the way” or a little more loosely translated “gentle in what you do, firm in how you do it”.

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