Body Talk

by Larry Bentcik, St. Maries, ID

Published in the November 1997 Issue

You and your mule come to a swampy creek crossing, and we all know mules don't like these, so you figure you had better be ready .... ‘Circle The Wagons!’ Your mule is neck reining well, but now you go back to direct reining and shorten up on those reins, your legs grip just a bit tighter, and your body stiffens. Your mind is made up: your mule is going to wade right through that big hole. Wrong! Because when you began circling your wagons, your mule began circling his. In making those few subtle adjustments, you told your mule you were ready for a fight, and you probably didn't realize you were even communicating with your mule.

You see, mules and humans do have a common language, but it isn't a vocal spoken language. Sure, your mule might understand a few words, like ‘Whoa,’ ‘Back,’ ‘Load,’ etc., but that is a very limited vocabulary.

Our common communication is body language, and because we humans are blessed with vocal communication, we've become nearly deaf to body language - while our mules have become experts!

Perhaps you've never thought of it as body language, but our most standard cues are just that. Our hand moves in different directions with the reins, our legs move on our mules' sides, indicating our different commands, all basic but effective forms of body language, and to some of us, the limit of our vocabulary. But our mules understand so much more!

If you have doubts, do some experimenting, not just once or twice, but every time the conditions allow. I've been working at it for nearly 30 years and I'm still learning. For the past 15 years, I've been fortunate to have as a partner a super calm mule who has been very patient in helping me learn this language.

Here’s a simple experiment to see how your body carriage affects your mule's stride. You should be out alone and on a fairly level trail to see the most obvious results. To start, make your body talk loud and stern, sit stiff in the saddle, your eyes looking far ahead up the trail, your arms rigid and your legs straight. Soon you'll notice your mule's head raise a bit, his ears will perk up and focus on where you're looking. His pace will quicken and his stride will lengthen. Now that he is alert and moving right out, quiet your body talk. Lower your eyes to a spot only 20 feet in front of your mule, let your head bob in time with his ears, let your shoulders drop a little, sit real light in the saddle and relax your legs. Before long, your mule's head will drop, his ears will start flopping, his pace will slow and shorten. Your whispers have soothed him. Impressive and predictable results from intentional body language.

There is also an unintentional body language we humans have that can get us into trouble. It's when we don't realize what we're saying that we create a problem. Once we've said something wrong to a mule, there is no arguing to "quick fix" our way out of it. Imagine that when you went to hook up your trailer, it had a flat tire; just yesterday, you had that tire fixed at the shop in town. You're irate, but you change the tire, hook up, and head for the mountains .... then you glance at the gas gauge, nearly empty! Back to town you go. By the time you arrive at the trailhead, everyone else is saddled up and waiting. Guess what your body language will be saying as you swing up on your mule. Better make a serious effort at quieting your unintentional body talk.

I once knew a horse that would wade right across a wide river, but would always jump the narrowest creek. Once the horse found a new owner, he quit jumping those creeks. I don't know how or when this problem started, but it wasn't a horse problem ... it was caused by the rider's body language. At each creek crossing, the rider would tighten up on the reins, grab tight with his legs, and in every way get ready for a jump .... you know, ‘Circle The Wagons.’ The new owner wasn't told of this problem, only that the horse was good at crossing rivers. I'm sure the new owner figured if the horse would cross a river, creeks wouldn't be a problem, so he didn't ‘Circle the Wagons,’ and there was no problem! I'll bet that horse was darned glad he didn't have to jump any more creeks. Unintentional body language!

How many times have you heard about the mule that was scared of a truck, or a bridge, a backpacker, or a motorcycle? What about the mule that won't go through brush or acts up going downhill? These are all similar problems that can be solved with correct training and positive intentional body talk. But if we let negative, unintentional body language convey the wrong message to our mule, the problem will become worse.

Let's say your mule once shied as you shook out your handkerchief. So now you don't blow your nose as often as needed, and when you do, you're timid and tentative as you get your hanky out of your pocket because you don't want to spook your mule! What puzzles your mule is just why you're so cautious and careful with this piece of cloth. If you're scared of that thing, your mule is sure it is going to eat him! Unintentional body language.

Not all of our unintentional body talk is bad. I hunt elk from the back of my mule, and when we're in an area where there is fresh elk sign, my mule starts tiptoeing. I have no idea what I'm doing to send that message. Positive unintentional body talk.

Please don't think I'm suggesting that correct body language is the answer to your training problems. But, the next time you and your mule are having a misunderstanding, consider your body talk. If you can't identify a problem, ask a friend to analyze the tone of your body language.

Use whatever training methods you are most comfortable with. In fact, this comfort level directly affects your body talk. Train your mule to where you control all of his movements. Now, build his confidence in you by consistently giving him a positive and happy message through your body language.

A photo featured in our November 1997 issue of Anne Pratt with Rocky and Clyde in the background in the Ragged Mountains located near McClure Pass Gunnison County, Colorado.