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Cash The Mule Goes To Colorado & Dodge City
Cash the mule went to Colorado again. All the years I have been riding in the mountains, I have not had any problems with altitude or elevation sickness. I think hybrids defy altitude issues. Mules make excellent mounts for riding in wilderness and challenging terrain. 
You know you are in deep trouble if your mule has to ask for an oxygen mask!!! Stampede Peggy rode shotgun (literally.) You know you are in good hands when Stampede is with you. We did a lay over in Dodge City - we figured that would be one place we
couldn't get thrown out of and we
were right! Giddyup to Dodge! ~Cindy K. RobertsCUSTER, SD - WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM
Cash brayed to the buffalo herd - I think he was lonely. More photos posted on facebook. ~Cindy K. Roberts
South Dakota Trail Has Big Cat
A towns person confirmed this is a big cat print alright. She hunts big cat every year
with her son because they are attacking her donkey herd. She asked what do I ride on the trail - horse or mule? "Why, I ride a mule!" I said. She replied, "Well, that's good, mules will fight a big cat, a horse will dump you and run off to protect his own hide!" I am so glad that we got the Mule Is King On The Trail thing all figured out. ~Cindy K. Roberts South Dakota - Broken Arrow Campground
I bought a bath tub at a junk store - yes, it was an impulse buy. Lariat Lucy is wearing her BIG hat that she bought in Cody a couple of years back. I swear, I get hungry every time I see her in that hat. I want to poke around and help myself to some cheese nachos when I see that hat. "Sightful Bear" on the right, is a gifted artist and friend.
Crossing High Water - Ridng Trail With Nevada
Nevada has a lot of stamina and can go all day down the trail. He crossed high water last weekend for the first time. Mud does not bother him anymore - after all he has been studying dirt for the last 3 or 4 months. He is so much fun to ride. He loves to gallop and hop through the tall grass in the field! Yippee-ty-yi-yeah!Nevada, The Spotted Mule
Nevada the mule has had a lot of human contact since he has been weaned and it has all been positive for him. Nevada is discovering that he is very athletic. He loves to gallop and he is becoming more
confident to travel through muddy areas. He recently discovered that sitting back on his haunches while sliding down a muddy ridge is very much fun. He also discovered that chasing horses can be fun and he is confused as to why the White Tail deer do not want to play with him. This mule is a hoot to play with.
Every mule deserves a long recess. ~Cindy K. Roberts
Every mule deserves a long recess. ~Cindy K. Roberts
The Mule's Perspective: There has to be a point to all of this riding business.
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
Cowgirl's Don't Get The Blues
I ran into some silly cowgirls along the trail over the weekend. Cash galloped behind them willingly - he was wondering why all of a sudden, there was a stampede that he didn't start. He energetically leaped over a few jumps (under Western saddle) while playing follow the leader. This is new for Cash, to gallop after a group of hellions on horses. I have been keeping the stops on this mule since he had been somewhat rebellious. What has really helped him is the Whoa Mule Fast Stop hackamore -- it cuts out the shenanigans in mule training so you can get down to business and ride. So, we started riding at night. The nighttime sky is amazing to see. The hoot owl was busy with his night
time call and whippoorwill was singing his song. As you can see, Cash has excellent night vision with his nighttime goggles. This
mule's demeanor has changed considerably in the last year. His confidence training has brought him a long way. (Confidence Training For The Western Saddle Mule by Cindy K. Roberts) He's five now and he's all grown up.
Nevada, a 4 year old big mule colt is coming along. This guy loves to
gallop and he is a jealous creature. I have to keep my mules at an arm's length when bringing them through the gate or things can get quite "snippy" real quick if ya know what I mean. I will be starting Nevada under English saddle soon. In the mean time, he is still looking for lions, tigers and bears while we ride through the timber. 
Cowgirl's don't get the blues, they just ride in the saddle. ~ Cindy K. Roberts
Cabin Fever
Cash, and I are getting the worst case of cabin fever. 
The recent ice storm has made it a little bit difficult to get around. I hope Cash doesn't create the desire to become a figure skater - do you know what it would cost to send him to the Winter Olympics?
Stay warm - stay active ~Cindy K. Roberts.
The recent ice storm has made it a little bit difficult to get around. I hope Cash doesn't create the desire to become a figure skater - do you know what it would cost to send him to the Winter Olympics?Stay warm - stay active ~Cindy K. Roberts.
Happy New Year
Cash the mule has made some New Year's resolutions: 
- to buck only when necessary
- to load into the trailer every time - night or day
- to be brave when my owner leaves me on the trail - out of sight - while she clears away brush
- to always wake up on the right side of my pasture so I can always be cheery.
