Scooby

All that early work takes whatever the mule has naturally, and makes them into the best mule they can be.  And Scooby, here, has some pretty great raw materials to work with.  First, he  LOVES people!  When you go out in the pen to catch him, he will catch you first.  Whatever you’re doing, he wants to be a part of it.  He’ll follow you around, even after you’ve just pulled a wet saddle blanket - or three - off him.  His eagerness to please, his athleticism, his prize-winning bloodlines and the fact he’d rather work hard and be with people than have the day off all point to one conclusion - this boy enjoys his WORK!  

Although he has a nice gait his saddle trainning has been focused toward skills that will serve him as a reiner.  He’s been out on the trail and loves his playtime. He has all the trail aptitude hours trailriding produses . At the same time it hasn’t been the main focus of his work.  Instead, he’s been working on gait transitions and halts, putting a polish on his neck-rein, giving to light pressure well, and the kind of arena work to teach him what he’ll need in his vocation.  He’s gotten some very high praise for his softness and lightness - really remarkable for a young mule - and his working trot is so comfortable you can easily sit it.  Oh, and don’t forget - he has speed, speed, SPEED!  

Scooby is kind of a prodigy - we’ve found that he has the kind of mind where he can eagerly absorb lessons on several different topics in one session, so we’re not limited to one maneuver per ride.  He’s learned his exponential, as well as his retention.  Sometimes, if he has a day or two off, he’ll come back doing the maneuvers from the previous time even better than when he left - as if he’s been thinking them over!  He’s coming along nicely on more complicated maneuvers, like his sidepasses, neckreining at speed, and precision stops, sliding stops, and rollbacks. He’s getting a great foundation, and will be ready to take in whatever direction his new person wants to take him in.