Horses or Mules?

being even worse upon hearing your expletives when your mule refuses to do something.
One example of mule payback is the tale of a farrier who roughly slapped a mule with the flat of his hammer. A few years later he was shoeing that same mule turned his back and was viciously kicked into the feed bin.
However payback stories are few and far between so I am not yet buying into the notion of a vindictive nature which stores hateful memories to be later unleashed upon the perpetrator. I think it is more likely that a mule will be unfairly branded as difficult or stubborn because of an owner or trainer who does not have the training ability and patience to work with an animal as intelligent and unforgiving as the mule.
My friend Bob Silverthorne of Albertas High Country Guides School a long time mule owner commented that a trainer needs about 15 years with horses before attempting to train a mule. The idea has merit as there can be a mountain of difference between the calm forgiving nature of horses like our Fjord crosses and a sensitive mule with a long memory.
While a mules memory may be superior to that of a horse so too is the depth of the lasting bonds a mule will form with an owner who treats them well. Mules are capable of developing deep affection for their owners and mule owners have an endless library of faithful reliable mule stories.
One such story is of a lady who was sitting on her porch enjoying the fine evening. A short distance from her house was a large corral and barn where her mule Horace had free run of the area. Suddenly and unexpectedly Horace came busting out of the barn bucking and rousting about in a great panic. Concerned with the strange behaviour the lady walked down to the corral. When she looked back smoke was pouring from the rear of the house it was on fire! Unfortunately the house could not be saved but she was convinced that the point of Horaces behaviour was to relay the impending danger.
Mules are famous for their reliability trustworthiness and dedication to the job. When the season is over and you are at home sitting in your comfy chair the best packhorse dude horse or mule you can have is one that does not bring to mind any negative events