How to Communicate with Mules and Donkeys

When you bump the nose of the mule a few times, he starts to get an understanding of how you want to communicate as the herd leader. When you communicate with the nose, you communicate directly to the part of the body the mule cares the most about.

While you DO NOT want to do lateral flexions, however, small flexions using the rolling of the hands are a great start to muscle relaxation and communicating with the nose.

You softly roll your wrist, barely bumping the mule’s nose. At first, he will brace against you, but as his nose starts to get sore he will realize if he lowers his head, the pressure goes away. The thing the mule wants more than anything else is to be comfortable… and lowering his head during the exercise makes him comfortable.

You can start with this small exercise, you can also go into the surcingle and allow the surcingle to do all the work… on it’s own.

In this video, watch Steve Edwards from Queen Valley Mule Ranch demonstrate how to start your communication with your mule using a properly adjusted rope halter and move from hand communication to the surcingle communication.

Learn more about the surcingle used in the video here, https://muleman.co/2mskYwZ

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