b'BEHAVIOR TheHorse.com/BehaviorSUE MCDONNELL, PHD, CERT. AABA Reminder About Mulesto make timing mistakes that inadvertent-ly result in punishing a desired behavior or rewarding an undesirable behavior. Also, compared to horses, and even to donkeys, a mules outward signs of fear, discomfort, or confusion are extremely muted. So just as with zebras, its easy for impending explosive escape or aggressive response to go unnoticed or to be misread as stubbornness. One thing is for sure: If you grew up with mules and with good role model handlers who understand and enjoy working with mules, you will find horses and donkeys much easier to read and train. Sudden AttackAn acquaintance of mine was Q returning her 14-year-old stallion to his stall after a trail ride, when he bit into her bicep and literally dragged her out of the stall into the aisle. All told, the attack exposed the muscle in the bicep, broke several of her fingers, and did enough other damage to warrant several stitches. After the episode the animal backed off and became docile. Any idea Researchers havewhat caused this seemingly unprovoked found that mulesattack? She now intends to geld (and learn significantlykeep) him.ISTOCK.COMfaster than horsesPatand donkeys. ColoradoWhat considerations would youenvironment. One of my all-time favoriteIt is difficult to say much about Q suggest keeping in mind whenscientific papers is one by Dr. Leannewhat brought on a sudden attack working with mules as opposed toProops and her colleagues (Mule Cogni- A of this type in a 14-year-old stal-horses? tion, A Case of Hybrid Vigour? Animallion, assuming he has not shown similar Cindy Cognition, 2009) in which they comparedaggressive tendencies in the past. An South Dakota mules, donkeys, and ponies learning effi- attack of this type can have both physical/ciency in a simple two-choice discrimina- medical as well as social and handling Mules certainly are different fromtion task. They found that mules learnedcauses. In rare instances, something as A horses. Many of the difficulties folkssignificantly faster than either parent spe- simple as a sudden startle can evoke fear have when working with mulescies. This extraordinary ability to quicklysufficient to provoke a sudden severe stem from the fact that, compared tomake and remember associations meansoutburst, but the owner likely would have horses, they are extremely quick learn- that as a mule trainer or handler, yourecognized a tendency for that type of ers and attend to very fine details in theirneed to be very consistent and careful notreaction before this age. 58TheHorse.comTHE HORSE March 2018'