HI! My name is Sweet Pea. I am a very talented mule. My tail has a code that tells about my talents.

Read my story below and learn the code!

SWEET PEA’S THREE BELLS

Hi! My name is Sweet Pea. I know how to do many things that will be fun for you. If you know the code, you can read about my talents by looking at my tail. 

My tail has been trimmed in a special way. Trimming my tail does not hurt me.  It’s like you getting a haircut.

My tail has been trimmed straight across from one side to the other in three places. These trims are called “bells” because they look like bells. I have three bells on my tail. My bells don’t ring but they tell a story.

          My First Bell

My first bell, the one at the top of my tail, means I am trained as a pack mule. If you want to go on a camping trip, I will help you. 

First, put my special packsaddle on my back. My packsaddle is made to hold two big canvas bags, one on each side of me. My canvas pack bags hold all your gear and food for your camping trip. 

I will carry everything for you safely in my packs. I will not bump the packs into the barn door as we leave or into trees along the trail. I know my job. I am a talented pack mule. That is what my first bell says.

Here I am carrying my packs and ready to leave the Switchback Ranch in Montana.

My Second Bell

My second bell, the one in the middle of my tail, says I am trained as a riding mule. Put on my bridle and saddle. I am ready to be your partner. I will carry you down the trail on a great adventure.

As you ride, your view ahead will be wonderful between my two gorgeous, long ears!  I am a riding mule. That is what my second bell says.

 Here I have on my saddle and I am ready to travel the trail in Montana.       

My Third Bell

My last bell, the one at the bottom of my tail, means that I am trained as a driving mule. I will trot down the road pulling you in your buggy. Put on my harness, hitch me up and off we will go! 

As a driving mule, I have learned three important words – whoa, gee, and haw. “Whoa” means stop. I think you might know that one. “Gee” means I should make a right turn.  “Haw” means I should make a left turn.  

As we drive along, I will listen for these three words and follow your directions. I also listen to what you tell me through my long driving reins. I am a talented driving mule. That is what my third bell says.

My human friends did not have a picture of me in my harness pulling a cart. We found this picture instead. I wonder if this mule has the other talents I have?    

Now you know the mule owner’s code.  It tells everyone the ways I am ready to help you. I am proud of my three bells and the tale my tail tells!

 

Author’s note

Mules are very special animals and wonderful to know. A mule has a horse for a mother and a donkey for a father. From her horse mother Sweet Pea inherited the general conformation of her body, agility, and willingness to partner with humans. From her donkey father she inherited long ears, intelligence, sure footedness, toughness, and a cautious nature. 

Mules are reputed to be stubborn. This is a misconception. Mules are independent thinkers and want to understand what they are being asked to do. They will resist doing things that they deem too dangerous or too arduous, not out of stubbornness, but out of a strong sense of self preservation.