Originally, the term muleteer referred to this strong and jovial man who spent his life on the roads with his mule couple, about ten animals, while the rafardier generally had less than six. In the 21st century, most of us are simple rafardiers, with our single mule.
Using the term rafardier to echo the term cavalier would certainly be correct, but nevertheless anachronistic. We will therefore designate the owner of a mule as a muleteer, aware of the evolution of the meaning, and taking refuge behind this semantic shift specific to living languages, which adapt to the times so as not to disappear.
Thus, muletier echoes cavalier, a title that we, simple mortals of the 21st century, wear with pride despite the change of times.
Have a mule
This raises a lot of questions, "I would like a mule, but I don't know anything about it and it doesn't seem easy!"
To have a mule it is not necessary to know, but to be,
I'll explain:
The mule is intelligent and whimsical, yes we know that, she is capable of cunning and humor, but she is also hypersensitive, and there we are not exaggerating, more than a horse. She will scan you from head to toe, to know if she can trust you with her life, sometimes there will be an immediate crush, and that is perfection, the selection criterion! sometimes she will take time to gauge you and only come out of her silence after several months, even several years, go 2 years maximum we reassure you...
The first quality of the mule driver is undoubtedly patience! The beast could only be fully operational in several months... There is a real game of seduction that can take time (and it is also quite fascinating), but this is not always true. Some mules are very familiar from the beginning. Good origins, education from a young age will make them an animal relatively close to the horse, but a smart and slightly hooligan horse
Forming a duo with a mule is a unique alchemy for each pair. For example, Noisette will be adorable with Léon, but when Émilie buys him, she will not be able to do anything with him, absolutely nothing! Émilie will even end up wondering if Léon had not drugged his mule before selling it to her!
Once this more or less long seduction phase is over and successful, patience remains essential when working with the mule. She often thinks before she acts, which can take time… And sometimes, the result of her thinking is at odds with your request. That’s where that famous phrase comes in: “Make your idea hers.” Yes, but sometimes, the mule says exactly the same thing and does a great job of “Make her idea yours!”
Hence the importance of the second essential quality: perseverance, accompanied by an anchoring as firm as hers, and always without violence! Because being violent with a mule is exposing yourself to your own violence and to a total closure of dialogue. It is up to you to understand why she says no to you. Thus, the third necessary quality is the ability to reflect and to show empathy.
When Noisette expresses her refusal, it is very often due to a misunderstanding, a discomfort, a pain, or else, and this is frequent, she simply wants to tell you: "There is something that interests me there, much more than you!" or "My friend from the meadow is not well." It is up to you to understand and give her an answer
It is often said that you have to be humble. Of course, we are immensely proud when we have gone through all the stages and that Noisette knows how to do lots of things. So, we want to share this pride, to do a demonstration in front of friends, to prove to them that mules are intelligent and that you have tamed the beast! And there, no luck, just that day, Noisette does not want to do anything, she had a bad night. At the competition, she refuses to pass the bars and does her famous stubbornness, you have not demonstrated anything at all!
This is where another quality becomes essential: a sense of humor, because she will often put it to the test. Mules are mischievous, sometimes even a little crazy!
Mules have a much sharper survival instinct than horses. Of course, they are colder and think more, but if they feel that their life is in danger, not only will you get nothing from them, but the situation can become dangerous for you, because at that point, you will no longer exist in their eyes. A word of advice: don't insist. Besides, they are often right. Many stories testify to this ability they have to sense danger before it occurs.
Once Noisette has chosen you, after the adaptation phase and the tests she has imposed on you, rest assured: you will have a faithful, attentive companion, and happy to interact with you. Most of the time, she will be up for anything. Versatile, they love to learn and share moments with their human with whom they very often establish an exclusive relationship. It is a bit like a big dog that you can trust, because their intelligence allows them to understand and avoid dangerous situations.
The technique will come later, as the challenges are encountered. At that point, you can call on a suitable professional, if necessary.
As for the reputation of "dirty beast", it is largely usurped. At one time, they were made to move forward with sticks; of course, they did not miss the opportunity to correct their trainers! The professionals who worked this way took big risks, because the mule is agile and knows how to aim. This is how many derogatory proverbs were born about them.
However, be careful with mules that have been poorly educated, either violently or not educated, they can be potentially dangerous, remain cautious during the domestication phase, they are not all Care Bears
Today, and even in the past for some elders, we recognize the sensitivity and finesse of this animal. Mules are adorable companions, safe and reliable for their bipedal companions, even if they always have an idea in mind that is not necessarily yours. But we get used to it, and it makes us laugh.
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