Helping the Environment While Training Your Mule

by Susan Dudasik, Salmon, ID

photos by Bev Craigmile

The first step in can recycling is to introduce your mule to the sound of crushing cans

A few years ago, while out for a pleasant afternoon trail ride I noticed a variety of red, blue and silver objects growing profusely among the sagebrush and cactus. Upon closer inspection, I realized the colorful objects were hundreds of discarded aluminum soda and beer cans. “What a shame,” I thought, “that such a pretty place should be spoiled by such carelessness. Someone should do something about it!” As I rode home, I pondered that “someone!” What was my problem? I was someone! By the time I arrived home, I had a plan and was feeling quite smug.

The next morning, I tossed an old set of saddle bags behind my saddle and got on Lou, the sorrel molly mule I ride. Confidently we set off for our ride. Encouraged, I couldn’t wait to put my plan to work. As we approached the “field of cans”, I dismounted and walked up to the first pile. Loosely holding Lou’s reins, I picked up my foot and stomped it down on the first can. Next thing I knew, Lou was running backward and I barely had any reins to grab on to. After a few minutes of trying to calm her down, I managed to get Lou back to the can pile. It suddenly dawned on me that if I wanted to put my clean-up project in action, I would first have to get Lou’s co-operation. I’ve worked Lou on trail class obstacles and have trail ridden her, but this was the first time I tried to pick up cans. I made the mistake of assuming she understood what I wanted. She didn’t. I would have to start at the beginning and show her what I expected.

 After removing her reins and attaching a leadrope to her halter, I spent the next twenty minutes leading Lou up to a can and crushing it with my foot, speaking calmly and reassuringly as I did. When she started to relax, I would kick the can so it made more noise. Before long she was cautiously standing at the end of her leadrope and I could walk all around her crushing cans.

WORK WITH YOUR mule until she will stand still as you move all around her, bending down and making rattling noises

The next day, we returned to pick up the cans. Again we had a difference of opinion. While I was standing straight crushing cans, Lou was fine but when I bent down to pick them up, that was another story. It must have been a funny sight seeing me bending over then standing up as I approached her from all sides like some kind of ritual or dance. Again I tried to keep calm and talk to her as I moved about. When she relaxed and stood quietly, we called it quits for the day and headed home. What started out as a simple idea was turning into a real project.

On the third day, things were looking better. I rode Lou right up to the cans, squashed a few, picked them up and filled both sides of the saddlebags to bulging. Now I didn’t stop to think that the full bags would mean I would have to kick my leg up higher as I tried to get on. I tossed my leg over and crunch, it landed right on the bag full of cans. The sudden racket coming from behind her was too much. Lou jumped forward. Fortunately I had hold of the reins and was able to stop her on the first jump. Foolish me, again I assumed she knew what I wanted. We were told that she was broke to drive so I didn’t think twice about something rattling behind her.  I unloaded the bags and left about 4 cans in each bag, just enough to make some noise as Lou moved. Then we walked half-way home. As we did, I took advantage of the situation to work on her leading and practiced leading her from both sides, had her stop and stand still, led her over logs and down gullies. When home was in view, I cautiously got on and rode home, reaching back occasionally to rattle the saddlebags.

After that, whenever I get on with bags full of cans, I turn her head toward me by shortening her left rein and giving her more right rein. Then, if she tries to move off, I already have her bent in a circle around me and she can’t jump forward.

As the days went on, I was able to add more cans to the bags until I could retrieve a full set of bags each time we went out. We progressed slowly until Lou was comfortable with carrying the full rattling bags at the walk, trot and lope.

USE CAUTION when loading cans into you saddle bags. Stand by your mule’s shoulder in the safety zone and reach back to put the cans in the bag. If you drop a can and your mule kicks at it, you will be clear

I had the same problems with unpacking the cans. At first I just untied my saddlebags and took them to the tackroom where I dumped the cans into feedbags. Then I decided to bring the bag to Lou and simply take the cans from the saddlebags while she was still wearing them. To do this, I held her leadrope and introduced her to the empty bag by letting her sniff and touch it. Then I patiently moved it closer until I could rub it along her sides. When she accepted that, I began dropping the cans into the bag, cautiously watching in case she decided to kick at it, but she didn’t.

If you decide to try recycling with your mule, there are a few safety tips you should follow. First, when you pick up cans, stay clear of your mule’s hind end and when loading or unloading your saddlebags, stand near his shoulder in the safety zone. Always check the area for broken bottles or other trash and be sure to wear gloves when gathering cans.

Recycling with your mule is fun and challenging as long as you go slow and take the time to  introduce your partner to what you want to do. Today, Lou accepts can recycling as part of her regular job. Last year we filled several feed bags with squashed cans and earned enough money to purchase a new saddle blanket, logged enough trail hours to earn a 100-hour certificate in the North American Saddle Mule Association’s Versatility Trail Program, and cleaned up a wide section of riding trails. But the biggest benefit was learning more about my mule and working together to overcome various challenges.

(from the December 2002 issue of Mules and More)