I like to scout some areas while riding Cash, my mule.  I will look for trees that are down, ride fence and I will pick up trash that blew in from a heavy rainfall or storm.  I always take a large feed sack or heavy duty trash bag and tie onto the back of my saddle.  I will travel with pruners and a folding saw just in case something needs to be done while I am on the trails around the barn.  Cash is now an excellent mount.  He will stand quietly while I finish a task then we move on to what deserves our attention next.  Sometimes, I get lucky and I can bend down from the saddle and grab hold of a deadwood branch that needs to be dragged off the trail.  Sometimes, we have to jump over a fallen tree from last night's storm.  It is all a part of the job when it comes to the mule's way of thinking.

Cash can now sidestep and move quietly to let me position him to work a gate or I may have him move in close to overhanging limbs or vines that I can work with while in the saddle.  He remains quiet should a branch or brush fall on or near his head. 

Cash has a different attitude when we go to work on the trail.  I can tell, Cash would rather work and ride with a purpose rather than walk along down the road or path.  A mule is very quick to his way of thinking and it is in black and white.  There is no gray area.  No ifs ands or maybes.  He might think about it, but the result has to be to his way of thinking...and there dang well be a point to all of this riding business.  When you step up into the saddle, get to the point.
~Cindy K. Roberts