‘Why does my mule fight the bit?’ - Part 2 Well, once you’ve ruled out the teeth, the next problem is usually your hands. If your hands aren’t right, your mule can’t be right. Most folks try to make the mule do it — dragging with both hands, over-pulling, moving too much. Here’s the rule: ✋ Hands no higher than a fist above the horn. ✋ Left hand goes past the horn? You’ve over-pulled. High hands = high head. Low hands = low head. You control the head with your hands. 🎥 Watch the full Ask Steve

'Why does my mule fight the bit?' - Part 3 Once you’ve fixed the teeth and your hands, the next thing to look at is the bit itself. A mule’s mouth isn’t a horse’s mouth, he’s got a donkey skull, a different palate, and he just plain doesn’t care about the bit the way a horse does. That’s why the snaffle bit is for foundation work and fixing problems, not for everyday riding. Once that foundation’s set, you move to a ported bit that fits the shape of his mouth and communicates clearly without pai