44 THE MULE. 



long, SO that it will drag on the ground. The aninnal 

 will soon accustom himself to this ; and when he 

 has, take up the end and lead him to the place where 

 you have heeii accustomed to feed him. This will 

 make him familiar with you, and increase his confi- 

 dence. Handle his ears at times, but don't squeeze 

 them, for the ear is the most sensitive part of this ani- 

 mal. As soon as he lets you handle his ears familiarly, 

 put a loose bridle on him. Put it on and take it oif 

 frequently. In this way you will secure the colt's con- 

 fidence, and he will retain it until you need him for 

 work. 



Speaking of the sensitiveness of the mule's ear, a 

 scratch, or the slightest injury to it, will excite their 

 stubbornness and make them afraid of you. I have 

 known a mule's ear to be scratched by rough handling, 

 and for months afterwafd it was with the greatest 

 difiiculty you could bridle him. Nothing is more impor- 

 tant than that you should bridle a young mule properly. 

 I have found from experience that the best way is this : 

 stand on the near side, of course ; take the top of the 

 bridle in your right hand, and the bit in your left ; pass 

 your arm gently over his eye until that part of the arm 

 bends his ear down, then slip the bit into his mouth, and 

 at the same time let your hand be working slowly with 

 the bearings still on his head and neck, until you have 

 arranged the head-stall. 



It would be a saving of thousands of dollars to the 

 Government, if, in purchasing mules, it could get them 

 all halter and bridle-broken. Stablemen, in the em- 

 ploy of the Government, will not take the trouble to 



