Gotta Love That Dragon Mule!

This picture says everything about why I love the Dragon Mule.  Dragon has been the member of our gang who has to had compromise a little more than the others.  For a mule that loves to work and explore we've had to put things a little on the back burner.  My time is no longer quite my own and especially with being in the depths of winter she gets ridden occasionally by Smiley Human or even less occasionally by me.

I admit that I have worried about how this effects her and have thought long and hard about if it's fair to deny her one of her greatest pleasures…. but I have taken good advice and especially liked the advice that her 'job' at the moment is to fit in with family life :-) To be fair she seems happy enough with her lot in life and is very much loved, fed, watered and entertained (as much as can be managed - she'd always love more).

So this morning was one of my morning duties with HF under MH's control (much to his pleasure!), it was my turn to act as chief poo shoveller and to get Dragon ready for her ride with Smiley Human.  I was organising some hay and had the tarpaulin out, Dragon hasn't seen this for a while but thought it was great fun.  So much fun that she had to wear it and parade in it.  She is so unbotherable that she didn't even move when I plonked it very loudly on her back, I do believe that she flicked a ear at me as if to say, is that it? So I went back to my jobs and let her revel in her new fashion item…. Super Mule anyone?

She wasn't moving though when I was trying to sweep the yard so I had to go under her….

I love this mule, she is crazy opinionated and can whip you well with her Dragon tail but underneath it is a brain the size of a small country, a really willing heart and a softy.  No sooner had she whipped me with the Dragon tail whilst trying to do up her girths / cinches than she was happily burying her head in my arms for scratches.

Once she had swapped her Super Mule cape for her saddle off she pottered with Smiley Human, she hadn't been out for three weeks, the weather was good and she'd eaten a little too much good haylage - eek!  I was a little concerned about her behaviour for Smiley Human - who always just smiles at any antics.  I don't know why I bothered worrying really?

Smiley Human reported back that she had been perfect; the normal trains, bikes, tractors, cars, people and life in general firmly put in their place by brave muletta Dragon.

Then Smiley Human reported back that we had forgotten to put her stirrups on the saddle…..oops! Oh well, just a good job that she is a perfect muletta hey? I blame it on baby brain or the terrible cold that I have at the moment, many would say it's just my natural air-headedness.  Alas it's a good job the Dragon mule has brains enough for the rest of us :-) And a very good job because she'll be carrying a precious cargo in a few years time…..

Have a great week!  By the way thank you for all of your comments, even if I don't get chance to reply as much as I'd like I love reading every single one of them and its lovely to hear from old friends. We'll be back again soon!

Back In The Saddle!

Finally!  It's over a year since FH placed her foot in my stirrup and climbed onboard.... that was until today.  I have been trying my best to encourage FH on board but she's been busy.... one thing us
mules are good at though is patience so I figured I could wait a little longer.  Me and Smiley Human have been going out and about together but it's always nice to have two riders, not that I'm greedy or anything ;-)

So this morning FH appeared with saddle in hand, I was a good muletta having all my straps done up (I'm extra good these days as FH sometimes has the Baby One attached to her so I have to be very careful).  And I waited, ears pricked and wondered where Smiley Human was...... and I waited..... but then FH said WE were going out together.

FH was a little twitchy, she was wondering if she'd forgotten how to ride in all that time? What if she had lost her balance (hehe...) We had a little walk first and then it was time, FH gingerly placed a foot in the stirrup (I stood VERY still like a good muletta) and hoisted on board and we were off :-)

FH is a kilo or two heavier than before (we'll soon get that off her) but all the gear fitted and she sat onboard like she'd never been away.  She sat quietly and chattered away to me, mostly about my mulificent ears, I could tell she was a little on edge but that was fine cos I am brave enough for both of us.  FH soon relaxed and we were off climbing steep tracks and looking at the lovely Autumn views. I could tell FH was beaming away behind me, I was very proud, we call it her 'riding face' :-)

We didn't go far but that's fine, there is plenty more time for longer rides.  A wonderful time was had by us both, it was pretty nice to have FH back in the saddle!

Sunny Day = Smiley Dragon!

Oh Mother Nature the Dragon mule loves you!  You sent me a sunny day to give me some respite from the un-mulelike weather and I'm soooo happy!

In fact I couldn't hide my happiness by smiling wide and proud!

Ah that roll in the sunshine feels sooo good!

Oh yeah!  Even an itchy scratch of my Dragon ears :-)

There's always someone that tries to photobomb the shot though isn't there?

Hey you! I know you're making ears behind my head, trot off will you, this is my photo shoot .....

Oh for goodness sake Mini go on then have your picture taken if you really must, I'm too busy chilling anyway!

Let's hope for more nice weather for the week ahead - have a happy week everyone!

Yeehaa! Freedom!

Yeehaa Minis, let's run around!  It's been so desperately wet and windy that we've been hiding indoors.  So far 2014 has mostly brought rain and mud :-(  No matter how much FH has tried to lure me out of the Dragon's Den I've not been for moving.

But this morning I peeked out and there was no rain!  Yippee!  So I decided it was time to venture outdoors, hmmm FH why do I have to have this rug on?  Something to do with a ride tomorrow if the weather improves and not wanting a muddy mule..... hmmmm pigs might fly if you think it's going to be dry, the weather warnings are out for more heavy rain, I think I'll be hiding indoors again.

Anyway enough of that, time to go and roll around....

And kick up my heels!

Yeeha!

Think I'll try my bronco mule moves, what do you think Roller?

Trying out the same moves are you Roller?

I'm gonna try for some dressage moves now... look mules can do collection of paces too.... although FH says I'm a little over bent?!  Pah, who cares!

OK done now, time for some food, would you care to move the fence now please?  If you do that I promise to stop making skid marks in the paddock..... at least for now anyway ;-)

Have a good weekend Muleteers, hope that all of our friends who are experiencing bad weather are staying safe, warm and dry.

Two Mule Years Of.....

I could hardly believe my superior ears when FH told me that I had been part of the Muleteer gang for a whole two years this weekend!  Wow time flies....  Two whole years of fun, frolics and teaching those humans a thing or two!  I can tell you when I arrived here two years ago I wondered what I'd gotten myself in to.  I had been living with big horses on a busy yard and had begun to teach my previous human some of my favourite things like work!  Alas the day came when I had to leave my baby home and strike out on my own as a mule about town.

Imagine my surprise when I ended up in an episode of Gulliver's Travels.... there was something weird going on in this household, the inhabitants were tiny, one looked a bit like me but in miniature and the other was like a teddy bear..... hmmm.  Not to say anything of the humans, they were completely unbothered by my mulish ways (errr hello, I am a rarity you know) and try as I might they were welcoming of my mule tricks, most odd.  Then there was the place; ramshackle, dinky stables, monstrous hills and wide open spaces, a crazy yard cat, some canine capers, train lines, rivers, farm animals, eccentric neigh-bours and interesting views - hmmm plenty for a mule to keep up to date with!  Gee it's a good job they got me as a guard mule with all this going on.

So what have I spent the last two years doing then?  Let me take you on a journey down memory lane, hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Eating

Gotta get your priorities right!

Everything is edible....

.... if you're a mule!

I'll have that thank you!

Never miss snacking opportunities!

Giraffe or mule??

Playing

Gotta keep those minis fit!

Roller gets frisky!

Pesky Catanian keeps me on my hooves!

Pesky kitty!

Yeeha!!!

Hide and seek anyone?

Splish splash, give the human a bath!

Steady on mini!

Two can play at that game....!

Working

I'm happiest when working, wow what lovely places and times :-)  Always happy to take FH or Smiley Human where they want to go.... show me the way and I'll take you for a ride!

Moorland mule streams for a paddle.

Setting off for a ride with Smiley Human, I'm soft on her!

Ear radar... mmm tasty hedge ;-)

The next generation!

Dartmoor in Autumn... almost camouflage, in a minute I got hot and had a little roll..... oops forgot FH was on board

Herding sheep, who needs a dog?

Blue skies and views for miles on the moor.

My best mates.

Perfect

Out with My Heroine and our humans

Super-mule-model

Learning New Things.

As well as the riding thing I've also learnt to log and do horse agility (this actually involves training humans to be agile - I'm already perfect!)

Always time for a snack

For goodness sake FH, this is not scary, why do you look so concerned? 

In my own sweet mule time thanks..... do those colours really go well with my coat?

Dainty hooves can fit anywhere you like

Hurry up humans, you lot take ages about life you know...

Showing Off!

Us mules are not stubborn.... we are winners!  Always happy to show off a little ;-)

Loving

What better way to pass some time?

My taste in men is.....

...... eclectic!

I reckon.....

.... this human's alright.  But ssshhh don't tell anyone.... I have a reputation as a Dragon to uphold ;-)

Kitty is pesky but I love her anyway, us girls gotta stick together.

This human is definitely alright, he brings bananas and carrots and calls me beautiful. 

And he's always good for snuggles.

Yawning

All this can be terribly tiring though, so what's a girl to do but have a few yawns?

Say.....

........aaaaahhhh!

Boring, boring, boring.

And more boring, wanna see how empty my tummy is Granny?

Sleeping

With all those yawns, there's only one thing for it!

Dream....

..... a little.....

......mule dream........

..... of me. 

Good night!

Exploring

When the sleeping done there's always been time for a little exploring!

Being Happy

And finally, what better way to spend two whole mule years than being happy with my funny little muleteer gang?  This place may be small and ramshackle with some rather 'unique' inhabitants but there is a whole lot of fun and love!  If my training human reads this, there is just one thing left to say...... thanks for finding me the perfect home :-)

Happiness is.... some friends to spend your days with, a sprinkling of adventure and a lot of love.

The Three Muleteers and Catanian!

The Three Muleteers

Thanks for indulging me in my little walk down memory lane, hope you liked some of the pictures!