MULES ! What's not to love ? Tips on how to keep them on your feet (2024)

FAQs

How do I keep my feet from slipping out of my mules? ›

- If you must wear stockings, use a trick employed by runway models. Take a strip of masking tape and double it over, sticky side out. Press the tape to the sole of the slide, toward the front, so that the ball of your foot adheres to the sticky upper side of the tape. Such is the price of looking fashionable.

Luckily, though, it turns out that there are lots of ways to stay in on the trend while also ensuring that your footwear stays more secure: Look for tighter-fitting vamps, multiple straps for extra support, and maybe even a slingback or ankle wrap.

Mules are easy to slip on and off your feet, so it may seem like they are difficult to keep on your feet, but that's where adjustable mules come in, look for styles with rip tape or buckle fastening straps so that you can tailor the shoe to suit you, giving a more secure and comfortable fit.

It's important to make sure you choose the sock length that works best for you, wear socks made with materials appropriate for the season, and try your best to keep them as fresh as possible. So in short, it's fine to wear socks with mules.

Desensitizing. The best way to train a mule or horse not to kick is desensitizing the animal to the fear stimulus by getting him so used to it that he no longer takes notice. Desensitizing takes time, skill, and sometimes (at least initially) drugs. In the long run, the skills of a good trainer can be of great help.

Begin by rubbing the tissue all over the mule's nose and work your way up to the forehead and ears like we did with our hand. Remember to take your hand away before the mule moves his head. If the mule does move, keep your hand on the mule's head and ask the mule to lower his head using the calm down cue.

Most equines will need to be trimmed or shod every 6-8 weeks whether horse, mule or donkey.

Unlike a horse, if a mule becomes overheated, overworked, or overused, he will often slow down to a safe pace, sometimes stopping completely. Mules have very few feeding problems :they do not get colic and laminitis as easily as horses and require very little grain feed, subsisting beautifully just on forage.

Mules could go twenty-four hours without water when they had a light load of under 300 pounds. The standard army mule load was about 150 pounds. A mule was used to pack loads on its back, pull wagons, or be ridden.

They are very good at training people, which is one reason they don't always have the best reputation. Mules learn dirty tricks easily, like dragging you around and running through their shoulders (when you ask them to turn right and they go left instead) and they can learn to avoid work and make you do their bidding.

Where should your heel be in mules? ›

The heel of mules whether flat or high should be centred underneath the heel of your foot.

Q: Do mules need shoes? Mules tend to have stronger and more durable hooves than horses, so often they do not need shoes. Unless your mule is doing lots of work on rocky terrain or pavement, it will probably not need shoes.

I tried out a pair and was hesitant at first — mules tend to be more trouble than they're worth aesthetically, in my opinion — but was pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to walk in them. The upper is made of a breathable, woven fabric with just enough stretch, which also makes them super packable.

Relaxed Foot: Benefits of Wearing Mules

One of the stand-out features of mules is that this is a backless shoe. If you are dealing with Achilles tendonitis or another type of pain in the back of your heel, the mules will not make it worse. This is because no back will rub or irritate the tendon while you are walking.

Keep Your Mules Out of The Rain

Mules are definitely within the camp of footwear that you should highly reconsider wearing in wet or rainy conditions. While mules are closed-toe shoes that will protect your feet more than a pair of sandals, there's still plenty of space for water to seep in.

He needs to know that you are his provider and you are his herd leader. Get that mule out of pasture and put him in that stall – and then leave him there. Often we think of mules as dogs and want them to be “happy” – so we talk in high affirming voices, we give them treats and we love on them and show affection.

Mules can kick sideways. Although mules are usually docile, an angry mule can kick both backwards and to the side. Avoid a mule's hind legs as these animals can pack quite a punch!

Well that is variable depending on how much time you can devote to your mule and also on the mule himself. I usually recommend at least 5 days but some will take more time. When your mule starts greeting you and shows you the manners you want to see, you can consider the next step.

Those horses that would benefit from blanketing are those that are thin, debilitated, ill, or have no natural hair coat.” Not every mule has a wooly warm coat. Some breeds have naturally thin coats, and others have thin coats from blanketing, living in a warm climate or barn, or whose coat has been clipped.

Mules tended to have more stamina than the horses. Mules could travel about 20 miles a day. They also were more surefooted in treacherous climbs due to the fact that, unlike a horse, they are able to see where they are placing their hind feet..

What age can you break a mule? ›

You should never start riding a mule until his leg joints have closed. The only way to be sure a mule's leg joint has closed is to have the joints ex-rayed by a veterinarian. Most mule's joints will close when the mule is three years old.

Mules endure heat better than horses do.

It has been scientifically proven that the donkey is similar to the camel in its ability, when water starved, to drink only enough water to replace lost body fluids. Most mules inherit this ability.

Mules can drink up to 15 gallons of water a day. That's 120, 16 oz. bottles per day! Mules can store water longer than horses.

Mules also have a good memory, so if you cause them any pain, they'll remember it and hold a grudge. Horses, sheep, goats, and cattle will enjoy having a mule around, but mules are somewhat territorial.

You should never feed Longears (donkeys, or mules) any pre-mixed sweet feeds, or products high in alfalfa. Equines in general and especially pregnant equines, should never be turned out in a pasture with Fescue grass.

A block of salt is better than nothing at all. The best is loose (granular) salt. Donkeys, mules and horses have smoother tongues than a cow and may not actually get their needed amount of salt from a block. They may end up biting the block in an attempt to get more, which can lead to teeth and jaw or tooth problems.

Mules are hardier than horses, but they do have a few health issues unique to their kind. Donkeys and mules are hardier and live longer than horses, but still have health problems. They need good care, just like horses, and have a few health issues unique to their kind.

Sex: Male is a 'horse mule' (also known as a 'john' or 'jack'). Female is a 'mare mule' (also known as a 'molly').

Some things that should be taken into consideration would be the physical health of the mule including structurally strong bones, sound hooves, healthy teeth, good weight, etc. All these things need to check out before I would move onto the next step in evaluating this potential new mule.

Casual Half Socks

Toe socks for backless shoes, the dressy half socks are perfect socks for mules.

Is it hard to walk in flat mules? ›

Mules should be comfortable, and you should have no difficulty walking in them, whether they're heeled or flat. If you have slim feet, look for narrow-fitting mules – these will provide more support to your toes and prevent the shoes from slipping off. If your feet are wide, try regular or wide-fit options.

About the only downside of mules is that they can be unstable to the point of falling off your feet while you are walking. Luckily this can be remedied with the correct shoe inserts whether for high heels or flats.

Don't slip slide away. I have run into an occasional mule which slip on my feet. To help prevent this, try a half-foot sock with a little thickness to it and on the bottom of the shoe a strip of two- sided tape will slow you down if it slips while walking.

This is because no back will rub or irritate the tendon while you are walking. They are also a smart option for people who have arthritis. If you are looking for shoes that are comfortable, stylish, and good for your feet, try out mules, as you will find they are not only feet-friendly but also extremely stylish.

Take a strip of masking tape and double it over, sticky side out. Press the tape to the sole of the slide, toward the front, so that the ball of your foot adheres to the sticky upper side of the tape.

Mules, like horses, need to be shod if they work in rough country or are ridden or driven on paved roads. Otherwise they often get by without shoes. Most of them have tough feet and do well barefoot if they are properly trimmed.”

Sleep and Rest

Mules can sleep laying down or standing up just like horses and donkeys.