My 12-year old grandson, Carter, is a super kid, but for one reason or another, he can be fairly timid at times. For example, his three younger sisters love the horses and mules...love riding them, brushing them, being around them. Carter, on the other hand, has always been somewhat shy, if not downright afraid of them. And I can understand why. After all, you've got a 1,000-pound animal with the brain the size of a walnut.

Anyway, Carter is up here at the ol' homestead for a week visiting Grandma and Grandpa. No little sisters. Just Carter. The other day he said, "Grandpa, I'd like to try riding one of the mules...all by myself." You could've knocked me over with a feather. In the past, he's gotten on a mule, but always insisted on being led around. Not this evening, though. After some brief instruction on how to make it go, how to make it stop, turn right, and turn left, we turned him loose.

He did a great job. I think he was pretty proud of himself. I know I was proud of him.

Here's a picture of the ol' man on my little mountain horse with Carter on Cookie.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Both of my Grandfathers passed away before I was born....Carter is a blessed young man.

I never knew my grandfathers, sorry to say.
I'm now trying to be a good one for my grand kids and hang around long enough for them to remember me.
I hope he realizes how fortunate he is.

Mule Packer, I understand Carter’s thinking. I have little brother who has had horses these past 50 years or so. He loves his horses, and they love him. It is fun for me to watch them playing together. But, I don’t know horses. I told him, I recall, maybe 25 years ago or so, as I was visiting, and contemplating his horses, that I like animals smaller than me.

I think it relates to our evolution as males. We want to feel we can physically handle things, if need be. And a horse, or a mule, is so much bigger than we are that, if we don’t know what we are doing, well, we gonna lose any physical confrontation, no question.

So I think Carter’s reaction is just being a normal male.

But, if you teach him, and — I don’t know horses or mules, so I’m just saying — they teach him, he’ll get it.

Looks like a fine grandson you have there!

Mule packer. You are a good Grandpa. I know because I'm one also. I remember my grandfather Frank. He was born in 1875 & had a lot of stories to pass on to me. He passed after my father had in 1970. Yes, Frank was 95. I remember once he told me that he & his brother once walked from Nebraska to St. Louis to fight in the Cuban war. By the time they got there the war was over. True story.

Very beautiful memory and that of a lesson in confidence. He is lucky to have you as a Grandfather.
Jim

I remember my Dad trying to make me swim. All he accomplished was making me more scared. My Mom tried to give me lessons but I was still scared.

I decided at 6 that I wanted to join the rest and beat the heat. I taught myself with little instruction from the other minnows. I learned in short time and became the strongest swimmer in the neighborhood. Ya couldn't keep me out of the water.

I think similar has happened with Carter and his fear of horses. I just takes some longer than others and that can be good. Be ready for lots of trails.

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Dum vivo cano

Maybe some alone time with Gramps helped him (no pressure from his sisters). Thanks for sharing. Like others I did not know either of my grandfathers and now try to spend a lot of time with my grandees. The newest should be entering this world today before noon (daughter has been is hospital since yesterday).

Great story and a great photo for posterity. You two are both very fortunate - to have each other!

great job Grandpa. i was fortunate enough to spend lots of summers with my mother's Dad on the 80 acre farm. those memories mean more to me than i am able to express. i have one Granddaughter and looks like she is going to be the only one i'll ever have. she's 14 and we spend a lot of time together. i hope she can look back on our time together with joy. keep up the good work. he will always remember the special time that you share. kenny

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Too good

My grandfather had stopped keeping livestock before I was born as his farm became incorporated. Now it is a suburban neighborhood. I will never forget getting to stay there for summers raising tomatoes, green beans, corn, carrots, cabbage, and a few times asparagus. His flower beds were gorgeous, and the envy of even other "green thumbs". He was a wounded (mustard gas) WWI combat veteran, every few years, I would find an old bottle of the VFW booze that he had hidden during prohibition and forgot about. Yes, I turned them in.He was gruff to most younger family members, but liked me for some reason. Walking me around his friends at the market, pony keg (remember those), hardware store, and the VFW (Here, beer is good gor you) all of whom made me feel like one of the crew. The Great Depression put him wand his family of 5 in poverty as farm prices crashed. In addition to farming, he did odd jobs and sometimes got paid, often got nothing, but he kept the house and everyone fed. He was also a vehicle mechanic, but never owned a car or had a driver's license. Never needed one. I often said that my grandfather did not go through all he did so I could fail. My flower beds now could use some work and retirement is not far off. Maybe some room in the yard for tomatoes? Point is, I think I have a relevant point, that the conversations and memories with my grandfather are priceless and I am sure that your time invested in Carter will be no less priceless to Carter as well. Thanks.

I love the pictures of you and your mules and your kids and grandkids, MulePacker. They always remind me of those special bonds that are built with family in the Great Outdoors, when building memories together amid the grandeur of nature is the obvious and natural thing to do. It's America at its very best, which we can all stand a little reminding of when things are going awry like they have been.

Giddyup!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Good job grandpa!

I bet he is hanging around the barn more and more.

Horses & mules are a great education for so many different reasons.

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On the Oak Savannah

Great story! I think Carter has earned a hat like Grandpa's.

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John. SWCA #1586

Outstanding!
I’m a new granddaddy (that’s what we call it in Jawja) and enjoying every minute of it. I had a wonderful, special relationship with both mine. I’m working hard to ensure that my granddaughter will remember me that way. She is only 17 months, but we are already best buddies.

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Georgia On My Mind

Great memories being made with your grandson. Every kid is different, they don’t all bloom at the same season of life. Carter is in good company riding a mule. A famous man from America’s past, Kit Carson, was partial to mules.

Looks like Carter has a fine role model. I'm not talking about riding horses and mules but about learning about life and realizing your abilities by trying new things and having new experiences.

Way to go Grandpa!

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Real men love cats!

Once he figures the mules out, the horses will be a piece of cake. Someone wiser than me said "mules are just like horses, only more so."

Memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

Congrats to you all.

Great story and great memories for sure!

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Jorge

Never knew my paternal GF, he died when my dad was 5. My maternal GF liked me and when Grandma made him give up his under pillow pistol that fell and went off, of all the grand kids he gave it to me by way of my mother. A H&R 922 that I have to this day. It's been over 65 yrs. and I miss the old boy still. Great photo of the two of you. Just love him and do what you can, he'll have some great memories.