I wrote this up once before, but it's so much fun it's worth mentioning.

A couple of years ago I met a mule-skinner on the trail. He supplied fire-fighters and trail maintainers in Northern California, and was based out of where I stayed for a while.

He had about a 3 acre pasture where he kept about 6 horses and 6 mules. Some of them worked one day, and some the others. They were a longer-term cohesive herd.

On the trail, staying overnight, they'd have to tie up the horses to keep them from straying. The mules, however, were left free because they wouldn't leave the horses.

When some worked and some stayed behind there would be a celebration when the workers came back and were turned into the pasture. A big whoopla lasting about 10 minutes. They'd run and jump, all of 'em, whoop and hollar and had a grand time. They'd roll around in their sand pit, nuzzle the folks who had been gone, and in general greeted the returners asif they'd come back from the Civil War.

Every herd had a leader, I was told, usually a horse, a mare. In this case it was a male, though. Grant, by name. They were fed hay, and it's bailed in about 10# sections and the mule-skinner drove by and threw a mini-bail over the fence about every 30'. The animals would each pick one, there was one each, and eat.

With one exception. It was considered an honor to eat with Grant, so one at a time they'd come over and chew on his bail. He didn't seem to mind. After one had been there a couple of minutes another horse or mule would come along and kind of boot the first out and eat for several minutes until someone else "cut in".

I was told that when a new animal was introduced to the herd there was an initiation, where the other horses and mules kind of picked on the new one. They told me who was newest, and how Grant had protected her until she was accepted, standing in the way of the others when they'd get aggressive.

I spent a wonderful evening watching those animals and learning. An absolute delightful time.

Arf