Passage Training with a Mule: The Component Parts

This video is very similar to my previous video: In-Hand Dressage Training: Working Toward Passage with a Mule, with a couple changes--a little more explanation, only the highlights of her trot, and it documents Umber's most recent progress (January 14th, 2011). This video explains some of the component parts of the dressage movement "passage" which is a slow, powerful, highly collected trot with a suspension and a pause between each stride. A good passage looks like the horse (or mule) is dancing. I have never seen a mule performing the passage, so I am experimenting to see whether it is something I can train Umber, my 8 year old mare mule. Umber is a cross between a standard donkey and a Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) mare. I show some of the component parts (or building blocks) of the movement, including self-carriage, haunches-in, leg flexions, and leg flexions in movement. All of these exercises have been taught with clicker training, a very effective, non-coercive, non-aversive training method. To find out more, and to get started with your horse or mule, go to my website: www.EquineRevelation.com