Natural Elements Horsemanship

10/10/2025

Mo’ and I took Eli out in the woods, today.
He’s 2-1/2 years…not developed enough to ride but looks good tacked up.

He’s learning the world of the unexpected…wild critters, cattle jumping from fence rows and terrain. Mo’ will move right out and he has a nice soft trot keeping up with us.
Good “whoa”, patience and calm demeanor.

From Post Farm Mules…good stock and good start with humanity. Btw, Mo’ is from there, too…9 or ten years ago.

10/08/2025

Good training (brush up) ride on Rocket, today.
Traffic and tag with a small pack of dogs…
She’s been out to pasture with only a couple rides in the past 18/24 months.

She’s not as brassy and confident as she was when I started her but every ride has gotten better. She’s not forgotten anything. Her whoa, reverse, disengage, side pass…all still there.

10/07/2025

View from the, “office”.

10/07/2025

Ground communication and riding are interdependent aspects of mulemanship/horsemanship.

09/27/2025

Our little slice of heaven.

09/26/2025

Echo sessions;
This is a brief presentation on flexion.
Echo has had some time off with our travels to work with mule people in France. Clinics and a mule competition (Challenge) had us gone for nearly three weeks.
Today was the second time she’s been saddled and she dealt with the new feel, very well.

09/18/2025

Friends along the way…
Dick and Muriel were good companions at the 4-day Mule Qui Peut event. Muriel and I helped set the course along with Carol and Pascal.

Muriel, who has been training for years, did a demo and also assisted me in a presentation.
Nice folks!

09/18/2025

Not just a clever saying.
Because mules “read” us, it matters HOW we wait for them to process an event, thought or action.
Too often, especially in a clinic setting, folks WANT to see motion, emotion and keep an animals feet moving while the mind has been left behind. Waiting…observing WHEN the animal has processed an event or put together a proper response to a proper cue is critical to the animal assimilating that knowledge and being able to execute it consistently.
It also keeps the mind from being flooded chemically, keeps anxiety down and helps the animal to be comfortable in our presence.

We often create motion (especially forward OR bolting) because we haven’t learned to wait WITH the mule…not FOR the mule.

Training with mules especially, we need to train ourselves and learn HOW to wait.

09/17/2025

Dominique and Van…
She is the one who got the ball rolling for our “tour de France”, mule-style. She and I had months of texts between us, coordinating and scheduling. SHE did the work!

They met us at the Charles de Gualle airport, gave us a motor tour of Paris and whisked us off into the beautiful French countryside to the first destination. What a whirlwind for us.
So many, first-time experiences for us.

Thank you, Dominique for your advocacy on my behalf in getting me involved. I am happy to help enrich our knowledge and understanding of the mule. Interesting to see the French view and utility both modern and past, as well.

You and Van were our first and last experience on the trip. Like bookends…as it was meant to be.

Nous pensons à vous deux avec beaucoup d'affection.

09/17/2025

I am honored to have been invited by this French mule association, Mule Qui Peut, to demonstrate my approach to mules and to help jury your competition.

My wife, Chris and I were treated incredibly well and appreciate all the work in coordinating clinics, travel and accommodations. We were well cared for!

I am pleased with those attending the clinics.
Very attentive and involved. At every clinic we were treated with kind regard. As the first American muleman/trainer (as I’ve been reminded) I tried to present the mule as honestly as I know them. One of the best compliments I heard, many times was, “this makes so much sense”.

I am encouraged by your organization, the quality of mules and your passion and desire to promote the mule, expand knowledge and understanding. May you continue, long and strong!

Bob Smith's arrival in France is a fine example of collective and associative success, fully in keeping with the spirit of Mule Qui Peut: sharing knowledge, cultivating solidarity, and putting the mule first.Bob shared his valuable expertise with us with disarming simplicity. Despite a 24-hour trip,...

09/16/2025

Carol Drougal drove us to clinics, translated, tour guided and served as a wonderful French ambassador to Chris and I.
She participated in our first clinic and over the course of every one, she became more familiar with the concepts and was able to convey thoughts as well as translate.

She made side-trips to show us a broad spectrum of a beautiful country.
Thank you, Carol for all you did with the Mule Qui Peut group as well as for us!

09/15/2025

Some pics of people we came to know during our first clinic and mule challenge. I had the honor to help evaluate and score the teams along with Pascal, Murièl and Carol.

Pascal is well versed in mule history, tack and handling. He’s the 8th generation of his family to be involved with mules.
He is actively restoring an old castle with some partners and already has a good start for their museum dedicated to the mule.

He speaks little English but enjoyed one another’s company…one evening, showing each other pictures of our animals, homes and family.
Some things can transcend a language barrier.