New Edition of The Book of Mules: An Introduction the the Original Hybrid

 

The Book of Mules: An Introduction to the Original Hybrid has just been released and is available on Amazon.com in paperback.

 

Some of you may have already bought The Book of Mules (Thank you!). If that is the case, you probably don’t need the new one.

When the The Book of Mules became out of print, I decided to republish it myself. I made a few changes. First, I changed the subtitle to “An Introduction to the Original Hybrid.” That has always been my intention in writing the book – to introduce mules to first-time owners or folks who are still in the “thinking about it” stage. I think you more experienced owners will find some useful information, too.

You will find chapters on the origin and history of the mule, types of mules and their uses, how to care for them, health issues, raising mules, and some training principles. While a good deal of what’s true of horses is true of mules, a good deal is different. I updated some of the back-matter. Websites come and go, and a few did go in the eleven years since first publication, as well as farms and businesses.

I added a new chapter at the end titled “Some Mule Tales.” The reason I added the mule tales is because back in 2009 when The Book of Mules first was published, I met folks who shared their stories with me at some of my book signings. These people had farmed and worked with mules back in the days before tractors were the norm. Some stories were funny, and some were bitter-sweet. Thanks to social media when I asked for stories, I got some response. I am happy to include their stories because they are an important part of American’s heritage. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did.

I didn’t get back all of the photos used in the book first time around. So, there are some different pictures. The book looks different in and out, but the information is the same except for minor tweaks here and there. Another thing, I really wanted to have this paperback edition printed in color, but it would have cost folks nearly $30, therefore the interior is in black and white. The Kindle version has color. All that being said, I am simply happy to have The Book of Mules: An Introduction to the Original Hybrid available for future readers to add to their library.

PS If you buy the book please leave a review as all of the previous reviews disappeared when the old editions came off Amazon. And, if you will email me that you’ve bought the book, I’ll be happy to send you a signed bookplate that you can stick inside of your copy.

Find me on Amazon at amazon.com/author/donnacampbellsmith

 

A $40 Helmet can Save your Life

I enjoy reading posts from my horse folk friends, new and old, on Facebook. Images abound of people enjoying their horses: trail riding, showing, driving and caring for their equine partners. But, it worries me to see many of them riding without a helmet. Safety helmets are not just for kids – although I’ve seen pictures and videos of children riding without helmets, too.

The American Medical Equestrian Association (AMEA) and the Safe Riders Foundation reports that sixty percent of deaths due to riding accidents are a result of head injury. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) has set the standard for the modern riding helmet. It is well documented that wearing an ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet saves lives and protects riders from brain damage in falls from a horse. But sometimes it’s not until a loved one is left paralyzed, or loses their life, that we are really struck by the reality that horseback riding is a high-risk activity. The risk can be minimized by the simple act of putting on a helmet every time we ride and keeping it on even while dismounted, but handling the horse.

The US Pony Club reports their head injury rate has been reduced by 29% since they have made wearing helmets mandatory, and head injuries are fewer among jockeys than recreational riders since the American Jockey Club began requiring they wear safety-approved helmets. In Great Britain the hospital admission rate for riders dropped 46% after helmets became routine gear for English equestrians.

Most equestrian associations now have rules requiring safety helmets be worn. In Ontario, Canada it’s the law that individuals under 18 years old must wear helmets while riding. Parents, trainers or instructors can be fined up to $5000 if a minor is found not complying with this law.

In the United States is the use of helmets is self-regulated. The USA Equestrian Federation requires that all junior competitors in hunter, jumper and hunt seat equitation must wear ASTM-SEI approved helmets while mounted anywhere on the show grounds. USEF added a rule in article 1713 for eventing that requires protective headgear at all levels of competition. The rule states a hardhat must be worn when riding on the flat. When jumping an ASTM/SEI approved helmet with harness secure and properly fitted must be worn.

4-H rules vary from state to state. In Kentucky, all 4-Hers when at a 4-H event are required to wear ASTM-SEI approved helmets that are secure and properly fitted anytime they are riding or driving horses. In North Carolina ASTM/SEI helmets are required in hunt seat, short stirrup, and games when mounted on the show grounds. In all other divisions approved helmets are strongly encouraged and approved as optional use.

A helmet should be examined by x-ray after a fall to be sure the integrity of the helmet is intact. Many helmet companies will examine a helmet and replace it for a small fee. Dropping a helmet on a hard surface can also damage it. Any signs of damage like cracks, dents or holes inside or outside the helmet are reasons enough to replace it with a new one. Even without obvious bumps and bangs the lifespan of a helmet is a maximum of five years. A manufacturer’s date is printed inside the helmet. It is not advisable to buy used helmets since the integrity of the helmet cannot be guaranteed.

This brings us to the questions: should we require riders wear helmets when riding on our property? Are we liable if a rider falls and is hurt or killed while riding at our facility? Should instructors require their students to wear helmets?

Helmets Come in a Variety of styles and Colors

The dangers of riding without a helmet is well known, yet people are not using them. The most commonly heard excuse — especially among young people— for not wearing a helmet is that they look funny. But equestrian safety helmets have come a long way since the mushroom styles of the early models. Today they are safer, lighter, cooler, and more fashionable. By using improved technology manufacturers can produce helmets with a lower profile and improved fit, thus making them more attractive as well as more efficient. Helmets also come in a wide range of colors and styles for every riding discipline.

When all is said and done the price, around forty dollars, of an ASTM/SEI helmet is cheap insurance when you weigh it against the consequences of riding without one.