How to Properly Adjust A Rope Halter for Mules and Donkeys

Mules and donkeys are not horses. Mules care more about their nose than they do anything else and for that reason you MUST communicate with the nose.
Teaching the mule to listen while you're on the ground is IMPERATIVE if you're going to be riding in the saddle. Why? Because if you can't control the mule from the ground, you will never be able to control the mule from the saddle.
For a rope halter to be worth its weight, it should communicate to the mule or donkey. If it's not communicating (for instance, a nose band instead of knots) it's not worth using.
In this video you will learn how to properly adjust a rope halter so the knots are in the best locations for communicating to the mule's nose and underneath the chin. You'll see how to continue to adjust the rope halter as it becomes lose through use as well as the difference a properly adjusted rope halter actually makes in your ground communication.
Watch Steve Edwards from Queen Valley Mule Ranch in real time, adjust a rope halter and install it on Rufus the mule.
Learn more about the rope halter used in the video here, muleman.co/2WVTVX2
BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO STEVE’S KZbin CHANNEL
Connect with Queen Valley Mule Ranch
Website, www.muleranch.com
Facebook, / muleranch
Twitter, / muleranch
Instagram, / muleranchaz

[@cpettis209]

a mule and human relationship is like a dog and human. Need trust and a relationship, not pain.

[@muleranch]

Hi Chris, thanks for watching and listening. Mules are not looking for a friend or buddy the way a dog does. A dog looks for companionship, the mule wants to be left alone... The relationship cues must been taken from how mules interact with one another and how they interact with the herd leader. From there you can adapt their behavior in the herd to how you train. You have to respect the animal enough to communicate with him the way he communicates. Sadly, too many treat mules like humans and they completely disrespect the animal and what he needs... and ultimately end up in the hospital because of it.

[@minjarataylor5887]

@@muleranch oh my god the irony of your statement burns

[@joesweet3410]

I picked up a mare breed to a jack, she has no manners will the come along work on horses the way it does on mules ?

[@rengab137]

Who else came from Think Like A Horse?

[@RDL10441]

LOL .......me !

[@69._.pug._.girl.48]

I did

[@conniemaykuipers5616]

What a beautiful mule

[@69._.pug._.girl.48]

This is stupid people always look at the good things you don't look at the pain and abuse at this meal was going through

[@larryfolloway6335]

That mules just counting to see how long it takes you to fix that halter.

[@muleranch]

Thanks for watching, Larry!

[@savvasvez6619]

That's a huge mule.

[@69._.pug._.girl.48]

Look up Mammoth Jack that mule is average

[@davidelippi7619]

Lovely mule. To my experience mules they have quite a cat-like personality. They are the ones picking you, not vice versa. You click with one or you don't. Then you can of course train any mule to accept different handlers or riders and they will do great anyhow, but they won't bond with anybody. Many years ago I broke in a mule that actually got so bonded to me, she would get very jealous if other mules or horse would come near me. But otherwise yeah, she just loved to be on her own and was not always easy to convince her it was time to go to work.

[@jj_hoolio]

Poor sweet mule. What I would give to sweep him away from this circus. He didn't do a single thing to deserve your nagging and all the pain you inflicted. Turning KNOTS into weapons to use against the mule. Makes my face hurt just watching. I guarantee you, in fact, I would place a cash bet that I could get that exact mule step back with two fingers on a halter like the one he was tied with at the beginning of the video. I would bet my entire life savings with confidence.

[@jj_hoolio]

@cynthia nipper equids are incredibly sensitive creatures. They will give back what they get. I imagine this guy has had his fair share of kicks and bites. He screams nervousness when he's around this mule. I doubt he realizes it.

[@sandy99922]

We had a couple of mules when we were kids. We never treated him like that. Did you watch that mules lips move when you were yanking on him to go backward? That was a pain response. So sad to see such brutality in this day and age. Poor mule. He wasn’t even trying to push you around. It’s about time to retire. Hey hey hey hey get out of my space. Dear god what a barbarian.

[@muleranch]

Thanks for watching and listening, Sandy. We will agree to disagree. Training cues need to be taken from the way the mule interacts with the herd and when you spend time around a large herd you discover that this is, in fact, very very mild compared to how they treat each other. It is not about how we feel, it is about how they communicate. This training is about keeping the rider safe and having leadership over the animal to prevent him from putting you in the hospital. Above all, it is about having DEEP RESPECT for God's creation and honoring these animals as work of His hands. If you have found something that works best for you, keep doing it.

[@FoxtrS2]

get retired now yanker man !!! is pain the solution ??????

[@muleranch]

Howdy, thanks for watching. The mare dictates where every animal is supposed to go and what they’re supposed to do. If you watch her, she communicates certain ways as the herd leader. When a new mule donkey or horse comes into the herd, they want to find the herd leader and when they meet them, the herd leader pins ears and says “don’t come no closer, I’m the boss.” The animal keeps on coming, they pin their ears and swish their tale, “I have asked you and now I’m telling you, don’t come any closer.” When they still don’t list she spins and kicks them and is that painful, yes. If she bites them is that pain? yes. We want to communicate to the mule “Listen to me.” If they look off to the right or left, I create discomfort. I do it no different than the herd leader. I ask with a bump. I tell with bump, bump. I tell with a bump, bump, bump... If the halter is adjusted correctly there will be a minimal amount of discomfort, if it isn’t adjusted correctly you’re creating a whole lot more pain.

[@meaganwright2134]

This is a terrible way to treat an animal. There’s no communication and this guy is being an absolute ASS to this poor mule. You shouldn’t need pain to work with these creatures. I can’t imagine what possessed you to think this was okay. And he’s an equine. He’s half horse, he thinks like a horse, and he behaves like a horse. He deserves respect and you yanking on his head like that HURTS. He feels pain like everybody else.

[@muleranch]

Hi Meagan, thanks for watching. If you've found something that has worked for 40+ years keeping you and your loved ones safe, keep on doing it!

[@bearinmindfarm]

Learn how to have some compassion.

[@Mayyleigh]

Bruh that is not how you adjust a halter, I have never put a halter like that on my horse, it's way too low, and all it does is cause pain, your litterally yelling at this Mule for nothing. This is not a relationship, your treating the mule horribly. I feel bad for the horses that have to do deal w u.

[@muleranch]

Hi Mayleigh, thanks for the comment. The main thing to point out is that the mule is not a horse. The mule is fundamentally different than a horse. The mule gets his bone structure and much of his conformation and disposition from the donkey. The worst, most cruel life you can give a mule or donkey is treating him like a horse and expecting him to respond as a horse. The most humane thing is to recognize they are different and respect them as different. The main goal in training is to have complete and total leadership so that regardless if you're leading on the ground, riding in the saddle, or driving, you can communicate effectively to maximize the joy of both the owner and the animal - but also protect against wrecks, accidents and injury. The last thing anyone wants is for a mule to become injured or a rider to become injured simply because they couldn't communicate with the animal. If these training techniques don't work for you, that's okay.

[@westheweasel]

Queen Valley Mule Ranch: that’s no excuse for how u put on halterst and “adjust them” and why the hell do u smack him when he rubs himself on u? That’s not being disrespectful that’s a dummy being a total dummy please just have the halter on without causing pain and confusion

[@muleranch]

@@westheweasel Unfortunately, not reprimanding the animal for getting into your space is how you wind up in the hospital. Imagine a mule that believes it's okay to push around a 14 year old girl because you didn't reprimand him when doing ground foundation training. I don't have to image it... I've seen it... and people end up hurt because a 1000 pound animal wins against a 140 pound human. The ultimate respect and care for the mule comes when you watch how the mule interacts in the herd with the herd leader and then communicating with the animal in the same way. Anyone who treats a mule or donkey like a human or pet is primed to get hurt and that's the last thing we want. But if you've found something that works for you working with mules and donkeys (not horses) by all means, keep at it. I want folks to stay safe, enjoy the animal, and the mule to find fulfillment in his work. Happy Trails, partner.