Mates!

Spring is in the air, the grass is getting green and we're shedding our winter coats! FH is despairing of the effect a moulting mule can have on a clean fleece jacket, we reckon the mule hair look is in for this season?

We have been a little bit busy so getting our hooves on the blogging technology has been a bit challenging! But we are all doing great :-)

We love this time of year! The nights are drawing out so we see more of the humans in the daylight, the sunshine warms our backs and there is more time for fun.  Dragon is enjoying some lovely rides, us minis are loving our endless fuss from the Human Foal and MH and FH and generally we are just enjoying being together.

Our happy little herd of mates is about as perfect as it gets we reckon, we are quite happy to share the tiniest slice of green that our humans provide… they are a bit mean!

We're off for some sun bathing and day dreaming… Roller dreams of shoes, the Mini dreams of banana skins and Dragon is dreaming of her next adventure….

Take care folks!

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!

My Little Pony

That's it folks, I've found my calling in life!  This little girl is already a huge 'My Little Pony' fan. Well who wouldn't be?!

I am officially this little HF's very own My Little Pony.  We had a little chat, well erm a snuffle really but don't tell ;-) and I offered my handsome services as her forever pony and I was accepted.

The acceptance sounded a bit like raspberry, coo, coo, gurgle but I got the meaning!

And what better way to celebrate? A munch on some haylage just for me and a little riding practice for the HF, she is rather a natural.  

I'm a little worried as she already looks the perfect size on me, think we need to have words with FH about feeding her so much hay as I don't want her to grow too quickly…...

…. because we all know what will happen then…..

This Dragon has designs on My Little Foal…. she's gonna have a long wait….. this one's mine for the moment :-)

Back soon friends, snuffles and mini pony ear waves! 

Three Muleteers and a Baby

Wow, it's been a while since we've posted, we have missed all of our blog friends and have missed commenting on your many blogs.  We have managed to follow them a little though, often at 4am with no ability to comment but we have been enjoying your posts nonetheless.

I've stolen the Muleteers blog just for a little while to update you all, don't worry their new year's resolution is to get back to chatting to you all!

Needless to say it was a very busy 2014 with the addition of our newest Muleteer member in May, hard to believe she is now 8 months old - yikes!  I was chatting with the minis this morning about life in general and remember wondering how on earth we would manage with all of our furry gang and a new baby and 'life' as well…..

Well we're relieved / delighted / pleased / exhausted to report that it can be done! All of our furry clan are doing fantastically and their new little sister loves them more than we could ever have imagined.  They have all enhanced each others' lives as we hoped they would.  It has been very hard though….. there have been nights where we haven't slept much when the last thing we wanted to do was muck out beds, fill hay nets or walk the dogs but these things gotta be done. And done they have been, MH has become PA to The Muleteers most of the time and is exceptional at housekeeping duties, grooming and scratches with assistance for the rest from me and HF when the weather allowed. Thanks MH you're a star :-)

We have strapped HF in to her baby carrier and walked the canine comedians daily who have been exemplary and taught HF the beauty of nature (and the delights of chasing shadows!).  Murph grows a little greyer each week as he realises his puppy raising duties have taken on a whole new level of complicated, he solemnly allows himself to be pulled and teethed on and just wags a lot.  Milo is HF's partner in crime, he can make her smile just by walking in the room and dutifully assists with clean up duty now that she is loving (read throwing, smearing, tearing, mushing, dribbling) real food…. obviously no faces are washed in this 'clean up' ;-)

Dragon has been ridden lots by Smiley Human and me when I can manage it, she has turned in to a wonderful riding mule enjoying cantering on the moor and pottering around the lanes. She is also a delight for HF who squeals at her, we can already 'hear' her saying "when can I ride Dragon?" Dragon just peers at her benevolently with a maternal look in her eye.

The Mini is still the apple of his Mummy's eye (sssh don't tell anyone, there's room in my heart for all of them ;-) and is HF's fluffy favourite.  Somehow The Mini has claimed HF for his own and when she appears he is quick to make sure the others don't get a look in….. although petrified of most adults and only willing to let them have a cursory touch he is quite happy to be climbed on and pulled at by HF who is particularly fond of his ears, who wouldn't be!

Roller is the ‘My Little Pony’ that every little girl would love to play with, he has been officially ‘backed’… with Roller this involves having HF placed on his back while he turns his nose to check she’s on board and then some standing very still and then a little s-l-o-w walking and some more standing – perfect! Roller’s fluff is also delicious to sink little hands in to and boy does he smell like heaven J

And of course our trusty huntress Diesel is busy terrorising the local mouse population and when not doing that is snuggled up tightly with her mini pals hiding from the winter weather. She tends to give HF a wide berth at the moment, happy to watch from afar (sensible you may say).

Oh and the humans? Well HF is just the best little person we could have hoped for! She was rather poorly early on but is now much better and is just the happiest little baby.  Full of squeals, coos and raspberries, her favourite things in the world are her furry brothers and sisters, music and food…. takes after her parents there. And then there's me and MH…. I think it's fair to say we are greyer, more tired, slightly dishevelled and occasionally incoherent but we are definitely happier than ever with our expanded Muleteer gang, they all make us very proud and happy!

Here's hoping for a healthy, happy, fulfilled 2015 for everyone reading and we look forward to catching up with you all 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!

First Ride!

Well Muleteer friends it's been a while but we just had to come back to report our excitement at our first ride by HF :-)

HF is rather pleased with our furry handsomeness and is never happier than when allowed to stroke and touch us all, apparently we are much more satisfying to stroke than those hairless humans ;-) We knew that we'd trained her well!  She does look really happy with herself doesn't she?

FH reckons that 19 weeks is old enough for a ride surely? OK so it was more of a sit but we reckon it still counts?

Roller was first to get in on the action... apparently he has been sanctioned as the first mount as he is 'bombproof'.... well he wouldn't notice anything anyway as his head is firmly attached to the grass in front of him!

I was not to be outdone though, whatever they say about me I know my job and it is to look after my herd and most especially my new rider - come on FH I told you when you were growing my new rider that she was MINE!

So come on HF hop on over, get off that ponio and discover the delights of looking through an amazing set of ears!

Yep there we go, don't I look just right with her on top!  Watch out FH if you grin anymore you'll split your face :-)

I'm off to plan some adventures for my new rider..... I have had a few folks say I look like a medieval jousting mule in my bug armour?  It befits my brave nature!

And finally apologies for our absence.... our human foal has been unwell (she is now getting better by the day) and we sadly lost MH's Mum recently so things have been a little difficult.  We are pleased to report that all inhabitants of Muleteer HQ - furry and non furry are well and enjoying life, we will update on all of their fun and frolics soon!

Ears Waves, Snuffles, Miaows, Woofs, Gurgles and of course Neigh-Brays to you all xxx

Catching Up!

Wow it’s been busy here over the last few weeks…. 

Our Human Foal is now nearly 8 weeks old and it has passed in a blur.  We’re sorry for our absence and for not checking in on our friend’s blogs as often as we’d like to.  Our hooves and paws have been a little busy with caring for the HF, but we know you all understand J

Despite our blog absence life has continued in a new normality here at Muleteer HQ!  We’ve all been getting in to raising our new foal in our own special ways.

Dragon and The Mini are always on inspection duty, they absolutely love HF.  Dragon has totally found her maternal instinct!

Both of the long ears like to make sure the humans are doing a good job of looking after HF and making sure that their tack fits securely (their saddle / harness thing looks a little weird?), they are both most keen to know when they get to carry HF?

In the meantime Dragon has been having some lovely rides out with Smiley Human and hopes that FH might manage a little ride soon? She is also looking mighty fine in her beautiful summer coat - there is not much finer thing to behold than Dragon at this time of year!

The Mini has been fighting the battle against the bugs with his suit of armour, he is winning most days and staying itch free J

Roller is still trying to shed out his winter fluff and looks a little ‘preloved’ with his patchy coat.  Nevermind, he’s still the most handsome pony in the neigh-bourhood (not that we’re biased!).  He is, as always, very helpful and insists on assisting the girls with the poo picking, FH says he and HF are SOOO helpful….

Diesel is on fine huntress form and appears to have decimated the local baby bunny population despite them often being the same size as her…. Sad but at least she does eat them and dispatches them quickly!

The canine companions are going greyer by the day.  Milo is continuing to grow a magnificent woolly coat, it seems no one told him it is the summer?  Heyho he seems not to be bothered! 

Murph is going greyer with his added responsibility, he is now guardian of an extra family member and takes his pram guard duty extremely seriously.  It’s a good job his labrador shoulders are broad!

And the humans?  Well they are a little on the tired side but loving having their extra smiley member of the family!  MH has taken on much of the mucking out duties for which we are all very grateful (don’t tell FH but his bed making is superior to hers and he’s much more generous with the hay and cat treats but a little stingy with the grass).  

FH is spending much of her time feeding, washing, playing and on poo patrol.... and yes that's for all of us Muleteers not just HF.  The Mini is kindly supplying FH with dirty fly rugs galore to make sure she doesn't forget how to handwash clothes, FH finds herself regularly wondering how mothers used to cope with washing nappies by hand?!  The Mini thought she'd like a little insight... ;-)

And finally…. HF!  She is smiling, gurgling and entertaining us all.  Her very favourite thing is being outside in her baby carrier or pram, her best entertainment is nature’s mobile – also known as looking at the leaves blowing in the trees and the cotton candy clouds, guaranteed to take away any baby cries!

We’ve also noticed that she knows the special sounds of her dogs barking, mules neighbraying and Roller whinnying, these noises bother her not one bit but she is always alarmed by strange dogs barking or other odd noises, shouldn’t be any surprise though we’ve all been getting to know each other for many months now one way or another…. it seems like a lifetime ago that this picture was taken!

Hoping all of our friends are happy and healthy, we promise to be back again very soon J