Sunday, June 16, 2013

How to Rope Your Dad, Happy Father's Day!

 
 
 
 
 
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

How To Sell a Mule...


There are many techniques one can use to sell a mule, known for their cantankerous nature, unpredictability if not also dependable and sure footedness on harrowing trails in the wilderness and ability to put horses in the dust as far as endurance, but since they do have a bad rap, sellers have to be extra creative to bring out their positive selling points, like here at Jake Clark's annual auction, held annually on Father's Day weekend in Ralston Wyoming, that we got to go see with my dad and brother, both expert and well suited mule "rangers".

Of course you want to do some trotting and turning to show off the mule's moves...

Then to show how gentle and "bomb proof" they are, just toss a kid on 'em, (a scary rain poncho on the rump also testifies to their mellowness)...


Exactly how many kids can you get on the backside of a mule?


As they kept saying, "Now there is an insurance policy", still not quite understanding that one, having paid Daughter #1's medical bill after Grandpa, other grandpa to clarify, tossed her up on a untested horse he was considering buying, instead of trying out himself. My brother would blame it on the fact it was a horse instead of a mule.

But if the bidders still need some convincing, just start standing on them....


swing a poncho around...

or do it "Double Decker" style...

 

with spurs, now there is a trusting fellow!