Bob and Bill

[BuckSkin]

2018 Merrimac Mule Day
Sunday_05-August-2018

Bob and Bill, owned by John Littlefield of Magnolia, Kentucky.

Alas, John fell victim to the Corona Virus on Monday, 27-September-2021.

Merrimac - Taylor County - Kentucky

In this first photo, notice the off mule's right ear; now notice way in the distance that kid on the bay mule behind that bush; although he can't see him on account of the blinders, he very well knows he is back there.

[pontiac1940]

Mar 3, 2024 6:21:21 GMT BuckSkin said:

although he can't see him on account of the blinders, he very well knows he is back there.

So the mule is keeping an ear on the young man on the bay in the back? Interesting. 

[BuckSkin]

Mar 3, 2024 6:36:07 GMT pontiac1940 said:

Mar 3, 2024 6:21:21 GMT BuckSkin said:

although he can't see him on account of the blinders, he very well knows he is back there.

So the mule is keeping an ear on the young man on the bay in the back? Interesting. 

Horses and Mules can look in two different directions at the same time; and, if they so choose, they can direct their listening in two other directions independent of whichever way they may be looking.

They may be keeping their eyes on the two closest Tigers, while keeping their ears on the other two Tigers that are circling around behind.

Although a Horse is not always looking where he has an ear pointed, in most cases, wherever an ear is pointed, an eye is pointed there also.

Of course, when the Horse is wearing a "blind bridle", his peripheral vision is limited to how much the blinders cover.

An old long-in-the-ground acquaintance of mine was a logger who logged with Mules.

He had one leg about ten inches shorter than the other and wore lace-up work-boots with a special block of wood on one of them to sort of level him up; the way he limped, I always thought he needed another inch-and-a-half to level him up.

He had a distinct voice that could cut through bulldozers running; he dominated every conversation he was ever in.

He had his Mule bridles special made with huge blinders.

When asked why he preferred such huge blinders, his reply "When I call on them s__-__-_-______s to get tight, I don't want them to be able to see just what I might be fixing to hit them with"

[pontiac1940]

Mar 3, 2024 7:23:59 GMT BuckSkin said:

When asked why he preferred such huge blinders, his reply "When I call on them s__-__-_-______s to get tight, I don't want them to be able to see just what I might be fixing to hit them with"