Everyone in the mule groups online keeps telling me that Arthur should have been isolated from the horses until he got attached to me. Well -- too late now. But on the plus side, it's Duke he's gotten close to and NOT my mare. (That's not how I thought it would work!) But he's not only pals with Duke, but he is learning from him, as well.
When it's time to eat - morning or evening - Duke has always come into his paddock and waited for me in his (open) stall. Now he comes in with Arthur behind him and goes on through the gate to Arthur's paddock. Then once Arthur is in there, Duke comes back through the gate to his own stall. (Bright boy.)
Lizzie, in the meantime, has already gone into her own paddock by going through both of theirs! Not sure how she manages that, but hey -- when I walk into the barn, there they are . . . everyone is standing there in their stall looking at me, and I don't have to move anyone around or do anything at all except close the paddock gates to keep Duke from helping himself to everyone else's food once he's done with his!
But I'm very surprised that I don't have to go out and get ANYONE these days. Duke was never a problem, of course. Duke is always right there anytime anyone goes out to the barn (or even drives up to the house). He just loves attention from virtually anyone at all. Someone here? Duke will come see. But I sometimes had to walk out to the pasture and get Lizzie. But not since Arthur arrived. Now they ALL come in with Duke.
Arthur is still very friendly with me, too - although he IS nervous when anything new happens. He's not loaded with confidence. So I ordered yet another mule book called "Confidence Training For The Western Saddle Mule," by Cindy Roberts. She's written a number of "mule" books. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean they're great, but this one looked like it might actually be helpful. Here's what's in there.
Okay. It's still early, but I'm going to go feed the dogs now and go to bed! I clocked in at work this morning at 7 and didn't leave until 6 this evening - and I'm probably going to have to work another long day again tomorrow. Yuk! BUT all that extra time means I'll be able to leave early -- VERY early -- on Friday. None of my attorneys are going to be there Friday. John and his dog have another dog obedience trial out of town somewhere or other. Jeanne has only been working Tuesday through Thursday since Mackenzie got hired. And Mackenzie expects to be having her baby by then! So I'm going to go in just long enough to file a PCT application for John (the date it needs filed falls on Friday so even though he won't be there . . .) then I'll be free to leave whenever I like - probably by noon! Hope it's as gorgeous a day as it's been so far this week! (Get ready Artie!)
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