Something new that I learned about mules

[Dustin Checotah]

J & S Old West Cowboy Museum

Yesterday at 9:14 PM  · 

Have you ever wondered why they cut a mules tail in "bells"? Back in the day.....the Army used mules in service. A green mule had its tail shaved. By the time the mule was broke to pack, a 'bell' was trimmed in the tail. Once broke to drive, a second bell was added below the first. Broke to ride, a third tassel was trimmed below the second. Thus, a three-bell mule was a well-schooled animal. This way, when looking at a corral full of unknown mules, it was easy to identify which one to select for the job at hand! From our friend Tim K

[Cat Brules]

That IS VERY interesting to know!

 

 Cat Brules

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

I, too, did not know that .........   thank you   

[Texas Joker]

¿Hence the phrase 'shave tail'?

[Cypress Sun]

Now, if women would do the same thing...it'd make life a lot easier.

 

I'll go hide now.

[Pat Riot]

22 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

Now, if women would do the same thing...it'd make life a lot easier.

 

I'll go hide now.

Found one!

 

 

She can pack, drive and ohhhhh never mind… 

[Go West]

I found an old book at the library when I was a kid that was about racing mules. There were pictures throughout and they were fast looking animals. I don't recall much about it other than the pictures. I just checked online and apparently, mule racing still goes on.

[Chantry]

Mules served in various militaries until at least the end of WWII.  I know they were used during the Italian campaign in the mountains and were extensively used by the British Indian Army in the various campaigns on the Northwest Frontier for over a hundred years and in Burma during WWII.  Mules could go farther on less forage than horses and they could go places even jeeps couldn't go.  

[Grass Range]

Mules are much more careful with packs as a horse will try to rub the pack off on a tree to get rid of it. A mule will sidestep around the tree so the pack does not touch

[Finagler 6853 Life]

Interesting article.  It would appear that all three mules have saddles on them so two of them must be in training.

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

 

[Sedalia Dave]

For those of you that are withing traveling distance of Bishop California, there will be a celebration of all things related to mules memorial day weekend. 

When I was stationed at China lake is was one place we went every year. If you have never seen a pack scramble I highly recommend watching it.

 

The event this year will have to comply with a bunch of covid protocols but will happen.

 

Mule Days 2021

[Sedalia Dave]

 

 

6 packing teams with 5 mules and 3 horses each, untack them all and set them loose in an arena only to then go gather them all up and repack them in order to be the first around the track with all packs in tack! Hilarious to watch.

 

This race the packs look pretty standard. Back when I was attending the packs consisted of big blue plastic barrels, 10 foot sections of PVC pipe in various sizes, a kids plastic wading pool, and other odd shaped over sized stuff that had no real place to attach a rope to.

 

 

 

[Joeronimo Caffiend]

3 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

Now, if women would do the same thing...it'd make life a lot easier.

 

I'll go hide now.

Women do the same thing to us, we've just not discovered the code yet.

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

3 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

Now, if women would do the same thing...it'd make life a lot easier.

 

I'll go hide now.

Run. And zig zag. You can expect incoming any moment.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

Found one!

 

 

She can pack, drive and ohhhhh never mind… 

Ye gods and little fishes, that's just scary.

[Whiskey Business]

Does not look like a "well schooled animal".

[Texas Lizard]

9 hours ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

I, too, did not know that .........   thank you   

Get many mules down your way???? Or just a lot of jackasses....

 

Texas Lizard

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Well, that was actually interesting.  Better be careful we don't want to raise the standards of the saloon too high.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I learn something new every day!

[Texas Lizard]

49 minutes ago, Whiskey Business said:

Does not look like a "well schooled animal".

Depends on where you want the animal at.....

 

Texas Lizard

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

3 hours ago, Texas Lizard said:

Get many mules down your way???? Or just a lot of jackasses....

 

Texas Lizard

 

 ..... probably, but I don't know any personally ......   

[Texas Lizard]

31 minutes ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

 

 ..... probably, but I don't know any personally ......   

Mules or jackasses....

 

Texas Lizard

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

 .... mules; .......... jackasses are everywhere ....... 

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

5 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I learn something new every day!

Perhaps not the best material tho. 

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

If I didn't have so many other things taking up my time, I would love to have a mule! 

[Texas Lizard]

4 hours ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

 .... mules; .......... jackasses are everywhere ....... 

Kinda have the same problem here....

 

Texas Lizard

[Dustin Checotah]

17 hours ago, Texas Joker said:

¿Hence the phrase 'shave tail'?

As I was posting this I thought that was maybe the origin behind calling someone a shave tail.

 

[Alpo]

Brand new to the Army, does not know anything, has to be trained to be useful.

 

That does sorta sound like a second lieutenant.

[Michigan Slim]

My dad was kicked in the forehead by a mule when he was young. Carried the scar to his grave.

I'd like to log our Michigan property but don't want it tore up. I've been told of an outfit that hauls the logs out with mules. Less damage.  Might look them up 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

On 5/21/2021 at 3:55 AM, Texas Joker said:

¿Hence the phrase 'shave tail'?

 

 

Confirmed.   Merriam Webster online has this entry:

 

shavetail

noun

 

shave·tail | \ ˈshāv-ˌtāl

Definition of shavetail

1 : a pack mule especially when newly broken in

2 usually disparaging : second lieutenant

First Known Use of shavetail

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for shavetail

from the practice of shaving the tails of newly broken mules to distinguish them from seasoned ones

 

good luck, GJ

[watab kid]

learned somthin new here , i did not know that , but then ive never gotten on well with mules and had no occasion to learn such , good to know should i ever have the need to select one tho