Mini mule

[Sevenwonders]

Hi all, just got a mini mule and he was raised up in a pasture with other horses and donkeys. He is 4 months old. We had him for almost 2 weeks and he will not let us go near him or he will back up and sometimes try to kick. We do not have a herd companion for him yet, but he does like our english cream retriever dog. The vet is coming out in 2 weeks to give him his first exam and shots. He is not halter trained. I am worried that he will not let the vet go near him as he fears people still. I know it takes time but we dont know how to bond with him. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you. By the way, we named him Maverick.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Welcome!

 

[Mini Horses]

Okay, sounds like you have no experience in training or handling any horse or livestock -- would this be a good assumption?

First -- do you have a barn? A shelter you can use to pen him? You will need to put him in close quarters and work kindly but diligently....now! Talk to him all the while to get him used to voice. Gently but firmly you need to put a halter on him and while holding that, begin to calmly let him...neck & shoulders first. Let him get accustomed to that. Not gonna happen overnight but stay at it. At his age -- and size -- you can have him halter broke in a week. That is, if you stay at it!!

Now he'll fight getting the halter on but back him into a corner, be on his side away from wall and move him against the wall. Put halter on.

Apparently the sellers didn't do handling . My minis were handle from birth! At his age, haltered, leading, tied and loving it. Sorry for you both.

 

[Sevenwonders]

Yes, we have a barn stall. And yes, we are working with him as best we can. We are new to mini mules. Hoping to get better advice from the equine vet in 2 weeks. Thank you for your time though.

 

[Baymule]

Yes, we have a barn stall. And yes, we are working with him as best we can. We are new to mini mules. Hoping to get better advice from the equine vet in 2 weeks. Thank you for your time though.

You just got advice from someone with 40 years of experience with Mini Horses. She basically said to corner him in the stall and put the halter on him. He will get over it. He's not going to stick his nose in the halter, you will have to manhandle him a little bit to get it done. It's not going to hurt him.

Also just sit quietly in the stall, like on a bucket, not on the ground. Up against the gate so you can slip in and out easily.

You can use feed as an enticement. Standing, not sitting as he wants to kick. Place feed pan on the ground, near you, closer each day. If he wants to eat, he has to come close to you. If he starts to kick, a loud AAAHHHNNNTTT!

Donkeys are highly intelligent, most are smarter than people. Mules combine the intelligence of the horse and the donkey, making them way smarter than the horse or donkey. This places the mule in the intelligence level above humans. LOL

 

[frustratedearthmother]

You've been received stellar advice above! If you start implementing their ideas you'll likely have made great progress by the time the vet gets there. As someone who has worked with a veterinarian in the past, I've gotta tell you that pulling up to a farm and being expected to work on an animal that hasn't been handled is NOT their favorite thing to do. A veterinarian doesn't want to be injured handling an untrained animal and they aren't going to train him for you. I don't mean for that to sound harsh because you are obviously looking for solutions. Try some of the ideas above! You came here and posted your problem hoping for help. Spending time with Maverick will do wonders. He's just a baby so patience will do wonders. Good luck!!

p.s. Is he going to be castrated?

 

[Mini Horses]

Absolutely castrate. Absolutely, vet wants a controlled animal to work. Don't be afraid, take control. Be kind but absolutely firm. They learn. At this point he's only the weight size of a large goat. In another 4 months, you're in trouble. Equine control is by the head. Get a halter on him.

Once haltered and they calm down -- huffing & puffing -- it sinks in that they are ok, not hurt. We've all three worked horses (&donkeys for me) for yrs. Listen to us & do. Surprise yourself. It'll work. Now we wrangle goats & sheep -- harder to do.

Update us on your new adventures.

 

[canesisters]

GREAT ADVICE from everyone!

A couple of tips.
I'd put him in a stall with plenty of water & an appropriate amount of pain grass hay (and leave him there until he's got a halter on). Several times a day offer a tiny amount of a premium hay or a bit of sweet feed or some produce - but, he only gets it if he makes SOME effort to come toward you to get it.... and a tiny bit more effort each time. That way you become a source of good things & he will quickly start to look forward to you showing up. Get started touching his neck, especially along the mane. Scratches are addictive. It shouldn't take very long at all before you can scratch all along his neck, over his shoulders, even put your arm over his neck to scratch his chest - but watch for a quickly raised head! Like everyone else said, get that halter on him as soon as possible.
Try to end each session on a 'good note'. If you have to do something unpleasant - like slip that halter on during a scratching session - then don't leave until he's taking a treat from you again.
Good luck & I can't wait to hear how quickly he turns into a snuggly pet.

By the way... we love pictures of new critters.

 

[Baymule]

He’s marked up real pretty!

 

[Sevenwonders]

Absolutely castrate. Absolutely, vet wants a controlled animal to work. Don't be afraid, take control. Be kind but absolutely firm. They learn. At this point he's only the weight size of a large goat. In another 4 months, you're in trouble. Equine control is by the head. Get a halter on him.

Once haltered and they calm down -- huffing & puffing -- it sinks in that they are ok, not hurt. We've all three worked horses (&donkeys for me) for yrs. Listen to us & do. Surprise yourself. It'll work. Now we wrangle goats & sheep -- harder to do.

Update us on your new adventures.