The controversy surrounding the work of equines, such as horses, donkeys and hybrids, is recurrent and gives rise to reflection, especially in the light of 21st century knowledge. This raises the idea that the history of humanity, before and after Jesus Christ, has always been accompanied by the presence of equines but I will not repeat what has already been said on this subject (see the post Mule from where are you coming ?).
Why equines? These animals have a social structure, with rules for a beneficial life in community, as is the case for any group, animal or human. Some individuals will be more dominant, others more reserved, but all will be adaptable to survive, because adaptation is the key to the survival of a species.
However, the space available for these animals is clearly decreasing in favor of human habitat and its agricultural footprint. This reality may seem brutal, but it is true. Despite the famines, wars, epidemics, genocides and sterilizations that go with them, humanity remains tough and reproduces, consuming more and more. However, equines managed to survive, unlike the dodo, the French elk or the European bison, because they accepted domestication and were used for their labor force. It should be remembered that after the 1970s, draft horses owed their "survival" to the consumption of equine meat. The mules almost disappeared, erased by the tractor and the semi-trailer.
Let's return to the initial question: why equines? It is precisely the imprint of this hierarchical culture that has allowed man to domesticate them, just like dogs who live in packs.
Reminder of social relationships in a herd
In the 21st century, human survival is much less dependent on animals, except for food. In work, machines have taken over, with the pollution and human exploitation that accompany them.
Most equines have become recreational animals. This transition opens up new questions, because leisure involves many parameters specific to each person and personal ideology has then taken precedence over tradition: sport, horse riding, driving, equine therapy, coaching, and maintenance of green spaces. Each investment will be intimately linked to the experience, sensitivity, culture and geographic area of the human owner.
However, there remains the question of education. Its etymology, taken from Latin, has a double origin: "educate" means to nourish, and "educere" means to draw out of, to lead towards, in a word: to raise. This doesn't seem relevant when we're talking about equines.
Let's then use the word "dressage", derived from the Latin "directiare" meaning "to straighten, to put straight" but that's not entirely right either.
"Apprentissage" seems to be a better option, from the Old French "aprentic", "aprentif" in the 13th century, or from the popular Latin "apprenditicius", "apprenditum" meaning "learned".
Equines learn from humans, and vice versa.
But who says learning says knowledge, discipline, pedagogy and kindness on both sides.
And a hint of constraint. This is the bad word that is said. Constraint, derived from "stringo" meaning "to tighten" with the prefix "con-". Here we are !
Helping an equine, and more particularly a mule, learn its place with us. As we do not have the same social codes, it is a safety requirement: this way we avoid that the dialogue seen from one's side is the same as with a fellow weighing 500 kg. We are here in an intercultural exchange, inter-species what's more. This communication is an art! I will not mention a bad word such as anthropomorphism, which would like to impose its own emotions on another species, a sort of emotional colonialism.
Neither villain games, nor human games!
The basis is mutual respect: I respect your codes, you respect mine. That's cool. But what is this “respect for everyone” (human conception) for a mule?
Constraint is present on both camps, especially with the mules.
I can impose my power, but then with or against?
Against: I break, I hit. With mules, it will be necessary to dose it... It has happened, it is probably still happening and it produces extremely dangerous animals, not really submissive and very often irrecoverable. Here, I'm not talking about the mule that was hit, just hit, but of the mule beaten to blood, deprived of food to weaken it or shackled to blood to submit it.
With: I respect you and you also respect me. Yes, I'm the human who decides for you because your codes are dangerous for me. Ok, you don't understand, I'll explain it to you. Ok, if that bothers you, let's change. Ok, you don't want to do anything today, we don't do anything. But you see, today we have to plow this field. The wheat that grows there will be used for the bread that will feed me or the grass that grows there will be to feed you. So, we have to go there. And yes, there we have constraints! In the same way as when in a herd there is a conflict of resources and a particularly "playful" individual turns his fellows around a hay rack or blocks access to the water point after having watered his thirst. This is the reason why equines understand the concept of constraint.
How a mule is trained and used will depend greatly on its intended role. As a pet, it can be exposed to fewer constraints and more flexible learning, focused on socialization and interactions with humans. As a pack animal, it may require more strict training to get used to carrying loads and following specific commands.
For animal traction, the work can be more demanding because the mule must not only be well trained to obey commands, but it must also develop the strength and endurance necessary to pull loads. Working in collaboration with the human referent is essential here.
In the case of livestock sorting where cooperation between mule and human is crucial, training can be intensive and specialized. This is often very technical work, where the mule must understand subtle signals and react quickly to the movements of the livestock.
In each case, the degree of constraint and learning will vary depending on the specific requirements of the role the mule is called upon to play, as well as the preferred training and working methods of the referring human.
But, however, be careful of "mower" mules, uneducated or poorly educated due to lack of knowledge. Ignoring the education of a mule can have harmful consequences, because this intelligent and autonomous animal will seek to satisfy its needs on its own, which can be dangerous for itself and those around it.
NB I freely agreed to write this article, my mule agreed to support me by remaining lying in the sun and I agreed under her coercion to take my car to go buy bread at the local convenience store
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