Mules

The Longest Running US Mail Delivery

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Surprisingly, the American pony express operated only a very short period of time — for eighteen months from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California. Yet, thanks to the popularity of books, movies and TV shows, most people have heard of it and believe it was in existence for many years.

But what’s really surprising is that another equine mail route has been continuously operating for almost a hundred years, if not longer. The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum’s earliest photo of these equines delivering mail is from 1938, but the route was already firmly established by then. Who are these equines and where is the mail route, you ask? Let me introduce you to the mules who, five days a week, carry letters and packages, including those from Amazon, down nine miles of steep trails in the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and the community of Havasupai people living at the bottom.

Each mule can carry up to two hundred pounds. It takes three hours for the string of mules to walk down and five hours to walk back up — while being led by a single wrangler. On the return trip, the mules are untethered. Smart and well-trained, they walked single file, nose to tail. There are usually two mule trains each delivery day, allowing the wrangler and mules a chance to rest overnight.

Why mules, you ask? For one, motor vehicles, which would damage the environment and the Grand Canyon’s natural beauty, aren’t allowed. For two, mules are extremely surefooted, strong, and hardy, making them well-suited for this type of hard work. While they can be stubborn, they also learn quickly and rarely forget.

One of the last stops before reaching the canyon bottom is Peach Springs, AZ,  whose claim to fame is the only post office in the country with a walk-in freezer. This is to keep frozen food as cold as possible before the final leg of the journey. You see, not just mail is delivered. The ranch and Havasupai people depend on the mules to also bring needed supplies, such as medicines and tools and equipment and even small appliances.

Like any postal employees, the mule wranglers and packers get an early start.  They begin their day at 2:45 a.m. in order to beat the heat, oppressive for half the year. Inventory is weighed and sorted, the mules are fed and groomed, and then their panniers are packed. As soon as it’s light enough, they start down the trail.

Without these regular deliveries, the Havasupai people would be cut off and unable to get the supplies they need to survive. The Phantom Ranch wouldn’t be able to host tourists. So, these delivery mules aren’t just a cool piece of living history, they’re providing a vital service to a remote community.

A Little Lesson in Voice Commands for Livestock

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I recently read a wonderful book I couldn’t put down and that has stayed with me since turning the last page. As I often do when I’ve finished a book I loved (or one I hated), I go online and read reviews to see if people agree with me and if they don’t, why. Most reviewers raved about this book and felt the same as I did. There were a few one-star reviews, however, and I read those with curiosity. How could someone not like this awesome book?

One reviewer who gave one star stated they were annoyed by the main character constantly shouting, “Gee, gee,” at the mule she rode, calling the word gibberish. This was apparently enough for the reviewer to bash the book. I was shocked. As someone who’s owned mules, I know that ‘gee’ is a vocal command for equine, most frequently draft horses and mules, meaning turn right, and ‘haw’ means turn left. The main character in the book wasn’t shouting gibberish at her mule but rather instructing it.

Me being me, I decided to do a little research on vocal commands for equine. Turns out, horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are quite smart and can learn a number of commands, including recognizing their name and coming when called. They aren’t the only ones. Bovine, such as cows and oxen, are also capable of learning commands. Goats, too. Pigs are incredibly smart. I once had a pot-bellied pig named Queenie who knew how to sit, stay, come, lie down, and followed me around like a dog.

So, what are the most common vocal commands? Because, you know, you can teach your horse or oxen or goat any command you want. But here are the ones people tend to use:

Whoa:                     Stop

Clucking:                Go or move up a gait

Kissing noise:        Go or move up a gait

Move out:               Go

Step Lively:            Pick up the pace

Walk:                      Walk

Trot:                       Trot

Canter:                  Canter

Gallop:                  Gallop

Easy:                     Slow and steady

Stand:                   Remain standing

Wait:                     Stay put

Back:                    Back up

Gee:                     Turn right

Haw:                    Turn left

Over:                   Move sideways or sidestep

Quit:                    Stop whatever you’re doing

Most horses are taught vocal commands on lunge line in or out of a round pen. Draft equine, oxen, and goats will more likely be trained by walking behind with a set of long reins. Just like teaching a dog, livestock learn well with the reward system. A treat and/or fond petting for a job well done.

What does all this mean? Well, for one, the saying, “Dumb as an ox,” is probably wrong. Seems oxen are kinda smart. Stubborn as a mule, however? That one is one hundred percent true. If a mule doesn’t respond to voice commands, it’s not because he doesn’t understand or is dumb. He’s just refusing!

A Little Bit About Some Big Horses

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I recently finished writing a book that will be out April of 2023. In it, there are a pair of elderly Haflinger draft horse brothers who are mostly pets but used occasionally for pulling a carriage. One of my critique partners, when she first read about the horses in my book, named Elvis and Otis, told me she had no idea what a “draft” horse was and had to look it up. Actually, I was kind of surprised as the Budweiser Clydesdales are probably some pretty recognizable draft horses.

While draft horses can be ridden, large breeds like the Clydesdales are better suited, and specifically bred, for pulling heavy loads. Some of the lighter and smaller breeds, like the Haflingers in my book or the Norwegian Fjord, can be ridden, but they aren’t typically fast or agile. They are, however, like most draft horses, very gentle natured — which is why, in my book, my hero often leads his three-year-old twins around on the old horses’ backs.

Another common draft horse is the Shire, which is among the tallest at around 17.2 hands. Like the Clydesdales, they have these great shaggy feet that look fantastic when they walk out.

I fell in love with the Friesian many, many years ago as a teenager when I first saw them perform in a circus. With their long flowing manes and tails and high-stepping legs, they’re a breathtaking sight. Which is why you’ll often see them used in other equine performance events, as well as parades and even trick riding.

The Percheron is a draft horse I’m more familiar with as we once owned one. Originally from France, they started out as a war horse and then, after the war, were used as a work horse. They are usually grey or black, though I personally have only ever seen grey Percherons. They have incredible docile personalities and, this is pretty cool, can be used as jumpers. Maybe that comes from them being first bred as war horses.

The Belgian is one of the four main breeds of draft horse used in Europe, the others being the Shire, the Clydesdale, and the Percheron. These are the draft horses I’ve seen the most. Especially at pulling competitions. They are big, sturdy, and reliable. Like all drafties, they have that great docile temperament (comes from being a cold-blooded horse rather than a hot-blooded horse like an Arabian or a Thoroughbred).

Which makes them an excellent choice to use in cross breeds. Those of you who’ve read my posts here know that I’ve owned a lot of mules in my life. Some of those mules were Belgian draft mules. They inherit the best qualities from both parents. From the donkey (or Jack) father, they get surefootedness, cleverness, and incredible endurance, not to mention those great ears! From their Belgian mother they get their size, coloring, strength, and easy temperament.

There are many more less common breeds of draft horses. But I can’t end this post without talking about miniature draft horses. Basically, a draft pony is a smaller version of one of the established draft horse breeds and must show the same conformation character of a draft horse. They also can’t be taller than 58 inches. Full disclosure, I’ve never seen a draft pony in person, but they look pretty adorable, and I think I want one.

Charlene Raddon Talks About Mules and Her Latest Release

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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, 19th 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