Having trouble catching my 10 year old mule. He initially was no issue to catch and just walk up and put the halter on. Now he is a ball buster and it takes me an hour or so to get him. He doesn't care about oats or treats and uses the other horses as leverage to get behind. I don't have a place in the pasture to corner him. I currently have a halter on him and a long lead rope but now he knows the distance I need to go to get to the rope and he just walks away. Does great in the round pen and arena. He will come right up to you and follow you around. Get to the big pasture and it is " F*** You" Frustrating as this is his only bad vice and I can't keep him separated from the others.

If you can't separate him from the others, then I am guessing he has at least one other vice, herd bound, which I guess makes it the same vice. I would also guess that is why he won't let you catch him in the big pasture because he knows your are going to take him away from his buddies. Mules are smart. I am pretty sure they got their share from Lucifer...

I wouldn't say he is herd bound because once I catch him I can ride him off with no antics and the same if I am riding with someone I can go off by myself and he is just fine. I was able to move him into another pasture by himself and he will have to rely on me for food and water. I caught him twice tonight but it took some time.

This is hysterical. What a typical mule!

When you first buy one and put her/him in the pasture I think they look to you for assurance and security and hence come to you and therefore get caught.

But after they learn the pasture and their buddies and how unpleasant riding might be compared to just eating grass 24/7, then it's piss on you.

A couple things I have done in the past might be of some help. And maybe not.

I round up the rest of the critters in the corral to feed them and then shut the gate, keeping out the wayward mule. Some of the time being shut out will induce the mule to come up to the gate and then allow themselves to get caught. You must have great patience!

Other times they'll be running around the pasture giving me the virtual finger. I have found that 90% of the time that if you don't give up and just keep slowly and patiently pursuing them with the halter in hand they'll eventually give it up and stand to be caught. Sometimes in short order and sometimes not.

Whatever I do I never give up because the bitch will know I'm a puss the next time around.

You can always shoot them too.

My Grandfather used to run 340 head of horses and mules about eighty years ago. Every now and then one would do that to the catchkid (aka my Dad and his brothers).

My Father told me his Father would climb a horse and rope the recalcitrant mule, then stake him out on a bare spot for a day or two on a 10-12 foot light chain. Then whistle him up and beat him when he wouldn't come. Dad said he hardly ever had that occur a second time.

If you are not willing to enforce compliance, the Mule owns you...

My trick was to take the cow dog. When the critter ran from me he got chased by a long legged always in shape dog. About 15 mins of that and they were ready to be caught. The next time you go out with the dog they know you mean business and submit.

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Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
My Grandfather used to run 340 head of horses and mules about eighty years ago.

Holy crap! That's a lot of critters.

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When the critter ran from me he got chased by a long legged always in shape dog

But I ain't got no dog!

He's just testing you. Don't fail!
First thing I would do is take possession of the rest of the heard and not let him back in. This is easiest to do in a small pasture or arena. Get him to catch you rather than the other way around.
If you can, catch him every day, most of those days just lead him around for a minute, turn him loose, and catch him again.
Be real, real careful how you turn him loose. He should lower his head and curl around you. Never ever turn a horse or mule loose when he is looking/leaning away. You are rewarding him for thinking about being AWAY.
I wouldn't expect to fix this in a day or two. Good luck!

I have dealt with a few dozen mules. Stuff like this is why I say life's too short! Mules are very hard to keep motivated. I just don't see the point. Good luck again.

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You can always shoot them too..-------------------------------Bill Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.

Will,
I am beginning to think you can be saved from being a mule man with a quote like that!! You signature line goes well too...

Twilli,
I would reckon your right if he will ride off alone well, not herd bound. He is just being a mule that doesn't want caught. I had two horses get out through an electric fence the deer took down the other morning and they took a trip up the county road. The young horse that I taught to be compliant to the Open Loop, and essentially roped anytime I want him, stopped and put his head in the loop while the old horse ran around being silly in the cold morning air. Nice to have one like that.

I have him separated and he now relies on me for food and water. I have been sacking him out when he comes to me and as the one gent says I catch him then let him go and yes I make sure he faces me. I've done the chase them down with the 4 wheeler till they are to pooped to go anywhere and decide its best to just stand still. That tactic doesn't phase him and I usually just walk around slowly till I catch him. Trouble is there is no place in the pasture to separate him from the other critters. Were making strides but I plan on keeping him separated for a month or so and we will try him again. I'm not much for the beating method and mules always remember what you've done to them. Hence a shot to the head at the appropriate times he deems is right. Will keep you posted.

Mule hides make great leather.

I always wondered about the correlation between Will's Never ending supply of Chinks / "Elephant" hide wallet and belt sales and his mule trading...

Mule is doing good isolated from the herd and he is relying on me for food and water. He is now catching me in the round pen and in the arena. How do I transition back to the pasture. I am afraid once he gets back into the big pasture he will regress to not wanting to get caught.

First off, if you really do think that it's the other horses competing for his attention that is making him hard to catch, bring them into the roundpen or arena. Maybe just one or two at first, but eventually bring all of them in, and work on catching him with the new distractions. I would then repeat that process in the big pasture. The more little steps in between that you can add, the less work it'll be in the end. Good luck! When I do this, rather than just running the whole group around, assuming they don't all need it, I try and keep the herd in a corner and don't let the mule join them. Eventually, I'd want to be in the opposite corner and still get the mule to come out of the herd to me. If you can do that, theoretically, you should have no trouble in the pasture either.

I would hobble him at night and pen him during the day for a week or two...Some mules get pretty handy hobbled and can travel pretty darn good, if that happens then cross tie him left front leg to right back leg or visa versa.,...

Knee hobbles work real well in my experience, especially on mules...I really like knee hobbles.

You can always tie him up or stake him out with a single hobble on one leg, and feed him hay and water him for a week or two, he will sooner or later accept you as a friend and will give up the ghost and let you catch him...All packers and outfitters have to be able to catch their livestock as they get away in big country from time to time, sometimes with your saddle and rifle! Its important to be able to catch them, to teach them to ground tie.

I have found that teaching them to ground tie while hunting makes them easy to catch..I use 25 feet of cotton or Nylon rope that I run from the haulter or bit and on the other end a trap drag made out of rebar..I step off, toss the drag, and walk out in front and shoot. he will hang up real quick..If he is a slow learner then tie it to the bit and run it under your cinch and that will jerk him in donut and he will freeze there.

He is just a mule, you have to work around these things or shoot him.. Mules are slower and harder to train than a horse and it takes a lot of patience and taking care about losing your temper, that usually sets you back a month or so..however, I do lose it from time to time, they can be so damn ignorant. Dad told me that anyone that doesn't lose their temper with a mule is just as stupid as the mule!

Petie is doing better and is now back in with the herd. I am able to catch him now on a regular basis and put the halter on him. We are still working with him catching me and following me around. Have mules at both ends of the spectrum on can't get him out of my pocket and the other a ball buster come catch me. If he didn't cost so much I would have probably shot him a long time ago.