Charlene Raddon Talks About Mules and Her Latest Release

I’m used to doing research for things like ladies’ cleaning methods, pioneer recipes, Pullman trains, the history of forts and towns, how to raise sheep, 19^th century automobiles, and steamships. Things like that. My latest book, Lula Mae, Love Train Series Book 4, sent me in another direction—mules. I’d never considered needing to learn how to handle a mule.

My heroine, Lula Mae Rivers, known as Snapper Lou, is a gold-shipment driver, muleskinner, crack shot, and ace card player. She’s proud to say she’s not a thief, liar, cheat, blasphemer, or train robber. A robbery left her broke and she needs to get to Cheyenne, Wyoming to pick up her motherless niece. Dressed as a boy, as is her custom, she stows away in the Union Pacific Railway baggage car headed there. Unfortunately, she’s discovered by U.S. Marshal Gannon Calloway, who has no idea she’s a woman at first.

Later, they ride off together from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to chase down a killer who has kidnapped Lula Mae’s niece. Do they go by horseback? Well, the marshal does, but Lula Mae only rides mules, so, naturally, I had to learn about them.

Who’d have thought there would be much to know about mules? They’re just like horses, right? Wrong.

 

A mule is a hybrid cross between a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). Because the mule most often demonstrates the best traits from each parent, he possesses what’s known as hybrid vigor. The mule inherits from the donkey his incredible strength, intelligence, patience, perseverance, endurance and surefootedness. He gets his equine beauty, athletic ability and speed from the horse.

One type of mule is a hinny, or hinney. This is a cross between a male horse (stallion) and a female donkey (jenny, or jennet). The hinny differs from a mule in subtle ways. One example is the hinny’s slowness and meticulous say of moving. He gets this from the jennet as does the mule, which tends to be a little faster, more energetic and more agile, like the mare. The hinny, because of his meticulous way of going, is actually better in very steep, rocky terrain and, especially, in loose rock, and will not tire a quickly as a mule. Gaited hinnies are preferable in this kind of terrain where there is little opportunity to gallop because they have a smooth, more ground-covering gait.

The hooves of a hinny tend to be more donkey-like—narrow, oval and more upright—whereas the hooves of a mule will look more horse-like; a little rounder (although still oval) with slightly more angle than the donkey hoof, but not as flat, round and angled as a horse’s hoof. The hooves of both mules and hinnies should be trimmed more upright and the heels left longer than a horse’s hooves.

Got all that? Now, you have to learn how to approach a mule because you don’t do it like you would a horse. Mules are more sensitive; they can become upset easier. You know the saying, stubborn as a mule. This won’t necessarily be true if you know how to handle a mule. You don’t just stalk up to one. You watch her and take your cues from her body language. If her tail is swishing, she’s upset. Wait until she, and the tail, calms down. She’ll look at you, tip her ear toward you, to check you out. If her head goes up, she turns away or starts her tail swishing, back off and wait for her to calm. When she relaxes and drops her head, it means she’s accepted you.

Don’t yell at a mule. Use your body to communicate with her. Stomp your feet to get her attention, stop her moving around. Back up to tell her to stay put. When she’s calm, you can approach. Don’t pat a mule; stroke or scratch her instead. You build a relationship with a mule; then you can handle her easily.

A mule can make a great companion and even an equine competitor. They can be used for steer roping, and penning events as well as working hunter, jumping and even dressage competitions. Draft mules are excellent for farm work.

The mule, much like the camel, is at home in a desert like climate, able to leverage scarce water rations far more effectively than horses. It is rare for a mule to become dehydrated. Mules live longer than horses, on average. The median lifespan of a horse is 15 years whereas, it is 18 years for a mule. Some mules have been known to live well past 40 years of age. Mules have super strong hooves. While their feet are small, they are far more robust and much less brittle than those of the horse. Fairly resistant to hoof problems, their feet can be kept in great condition simply with regular trimming. They are very surefooted and careful due to their small, narrow hoof structure.

Mules have very few feeding problems; they do not get colic and laminitis as easily as horses and require very little grain feed, subsisting beautifully just on forage. Their hay does not need to be top range, often second cut or older hay is fine. Mules are calm, reliable animals.

Lula Mae is an expert on handling mules. She’s a muleteer, which makes her an unusual and fun character to work with. She’s also an expert on handling a whip, which means I had to learn that as well. Maybe I’ll write about that next time. I had a blast writing Lula Mae’s story. I hope you’ll hop aboard the Love Train, ride along with her and Marshal Calloway, and watch them fall in love.

Giveaway!

Charlene is giving away a copy of Lula Mae to one winner, and a second winner will win a book from her backlist. So exciting! Leave a comment for a chance to win!

Have you ever ridden or known a mule?

Charlene Raddon likes to claim that her fiction career began in the third grade when she told her class she’d had a nonexistent baby sister killed by a black widow spider. Her first serious attempt at writing came in 1980 when a vivid dream drove her to drag out a typewriter and begin writing. She’s been writing ever since. She grew up certain she’d been born in the wrong era and truly belonged in the Old West. Her genre is, of course, historical romance set in the American West. At present, she has five books, originally published in paperback by Kensington Books, two anthologies and a novella available on Amazon. Now an indie author, Charlene is busy on her next novel. She also designs book covers and other graphic materials for authors, specializing in western, at http://silversagebookcovers.com.

 

Website: http://charleneraddon.com

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Raddon/e/B000APG1P8?tag=pettpist-20/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharleneRaddon/

Buy LULA MAE on Amazon