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articles:mule_tails [2019/08/03 17:31] – rrandall | articles:mule_tails [2019/10/06 11:08] (current) – rrandall | ||
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====== Visual Management... and Mule Tails ====== | ====== Visual Management... and Mule Tails ====== | ||
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- | A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. The genetic mismatch of these species causes sterility, but the hybrid creates a pack animal that combines a horse’s strength and intelligence with a donkey’s sure-footedness and endurance. In addition, a mule’s hide and hooves are tougher than a horse’s, and along with their tolerance of poorer coarser foods and abilities to tolerate arid terrains, endure heat better. Mules can carry heavier loads for longer distances, and eat a third less than horses doing the same work. On the downside, mules are temperamental (e.g., the phrase | + | A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. The genetic mismatch of these species causes sterility, but the hybrid creates a pack animal that combines a horse’s strength and intelligence with a donkey’s sure-footedness and endurance. In addition, a mule’s hide and hooves are tougher than a horse’s, and along with their tolerance of poorer coarser foods and abilities to tolerate arid terrains, endure heat better. Mules can carry heavier loads for longer distances, and eat a third less than horses doing the same work. On the downside, mules are temperamental (e.g., the phrases |
- | Mules have been used as pack animals, plow animals, to pull wagons, and even for riding. In addition to civilian use, mules have long been a staple of almost every major army in the world. Their usefulness has continued into the 21st century as the United States Marine Corps has conducted an 11-day Animal Packers Course since the 1960s at its Mountain Warfare Training Center located in the Sierra Nevada near Bridgeport, California. During the Soviet–Afghan War, the United States used large numbers of mules to carry weapons and supplies over Afghanistan' | + | Mules have been used as pack animals, plow animals, to pull wagons, and even for riding. In addition to civilian use, mules have long been a staple of almost every major army in the world. Their usefulness has continued into the 21st century as the United States Marine Corps has conducted an 11-day Animal Packers Course since the 1960s at its Mountain Warfare Training Center located in the Sierra Nevada near Bridgeport, California. During the Soviet–Afghan War, the United States used large numbers of mules to carry weapons and supplies over Afghanistan' |
It should come as no surprise that with such widespread use, people needed a quick and easy way to visually identify the level of training that a mule had. | It should come as no surprise that with such widespread use, people needed a quick and easy way to visually identify the level of training that a mule had. | ||
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As the story goes, when the US Army used horses and mules as their main form of transportation in the military service, as a new mule was brought in with no training, the head (top) of its tail was shaved. This type of mule was known as a " | As the story goes, when the US Army used horses and mules as their main form of transportation in the military service, as a new mule was brought in with no training, the head (top) of its tail was shaved. This type of mule was known as a " | ||
- | Obviously mules in the army had a job to do, and these " | + | Obviously mules in the army had a job to do, and these " |
{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | Later on when the mule had also learned to drive in harness and pull a wagon or other equipment, a second bell was trimmed below the first. | + | Later, when the mule had also learned to drive in harness and pull a wagon or other equipment, a second bell was trimmed below the first. |
And when the mule had learned to carry a rider, a third bell was trimmed below the second. So a " | And when the mule had learned to carry a rider, a third bell was trimmed below the second. So a " | ||
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BTW, this is why a new lieutenant (i.e., a 2< | BTW, this is why a new lieutenant (i.e., a 2< | ||
- | {{: | + | {{: |
<WRAP clear> </ | <WRAP clear> </ | ||
- | For more information read: [[https:// | + | For more information read: [[https:// |
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