196 THE PHACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



continuance of whicli the animal cannot eat well, and may be- 

 come irritable. 



Mules, and especially small ones, can carry 30 per cent. 

 of their own weight ; the load may be estimated at from 200 

 to 300 pounds. A team of four mules, driven two and two, 

 will, if of good size, draw a load weighing 50 cwt., in addition 

 to the waggon, at the rate of four miles an hour on a good 

 road. 



A mule with a load on its back will walk a little over three 

 miles an hour; but the same pace should be maintained 

 throughout, for either trotting or slow moving, and especially 

 long halts, tire and injure the animal. 



Mules show by their gait when they are fatigued. They 

 should, therefore, be carefully watched, so as to abstain from 

 pressing them when they exhibit signs that their strength is- 

 exhausted. A tired mule droops his head, his neck becomes 

 horizontal, and the ears fall back immovable. So long as he 

 has strength, the ears remain erect and incline forwards; as- 

 soon as he begins to fan his ears — to allow them to swing back- 

 wards and forwards, it is an indication that fatigue is begin- 

 ning to tell on him. 



With regard to food, in the United States mules generally 

 receive, in towns, a mixture of maize and oats in the propor- 

 tion of 1 to 1|-, the quantity of the mixture allowed per diem 

 varying, according to the size of the animals, from 4 lbs. to- 

 10 lbs. Together with this grain ration, from 6 lbs. to 12 lbs. 

 of hay is given. Small mules are, in some instances, fed only 

 twice daily, morning and evening. 



The experience gained in wars shows that the mules from 

 Egypt, Persia, and India, thriving on little grain and coarse; 

 gi*ass, are more hardy and enduring than the Spanish, which, 

 being finer bred, require better food to keep in good working 

 condition. 



They should be groomed and kept comfortable, but they 



