Actually had a couple of recent firsts with my mules. We used them to set an acre of tobacco a while back and I was very pleased with how quickly they caught on to it. By the time I had finished the first quarter acre I could say "easy" and they were barely putting one foot in front of the other. I had two novices on the setter who had never dropped plants before and they were able to keep up.
Today I hooked to the mowing machine for the first time and they stepped out like they had been working to one their whole lives. We clipped an acre of pasture before lunch and will be going back to finish shortly. I am really hooked on mules. I can't begin to say enough about what a good team I have ended up with. They amaze me more just about every time I use them. Don't get me wrong I still like my horses but I can't get over the differences.

Mules are smart. Once they figure out what you want they will just about go out and do it by themselves. I wouldn't trade my mules.

Another thing I appreciate about them is that once they're comfortable with a job you can turn them out for a year and when asked again it's like they did it yesterday.
I agree Jerry, it's hard to beat a good pair of mules.

jerry talking about mowing hay reminded me, we had a 15 year old amish boy lose a foot in a mower a week or so ago here in wayne county, he got off to move some sticks and did not take the mower out of gear first, mules took off and it was too late, so please be safe in all you do on the farm.

I sure hate to hear that David Siders, but I do appreciate the concern. I try hard to remember things like that, and I try real hard not to get in such a big hurry that I don't. Most times I think I may just be lucky. Other times I think someone may be looking out for me. We had an Amish boy here injured in a mower accident a couple of years ago. The team ran off and he fell in front of the sickle. He lost an ear and got quite a bit of damage to one side of his face.

ouch sounds scary and painful.

When I hear about these sorts of things it does tend to make my skin crawl. I know farming accidents can happen in a heart beat and we all need to be aware and careful. Every time someone gets eaten by a herd of hogs my phone rings off hook with friends and family telling me to be careful. The year I bought a square baler a guy in central Kentucky got pulled into his and baled and everyone called to tell me about it. It makes me a little uneasy but I do try to be careful and not take any unnecessary risks.

just remember you cant be to careful, If you haven't got the time to do it right when will you have the time to do it over. Short cuts are not always the quickest or safest.