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articles:mule_tails [2019/08/03 17:25] – rrandallarticles:mule_tails [2019/08/03 17:31] – rrandall
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 And when the mule had learned to carry a rider, a third bell was trimmed below the second. So a "three-bell" mule was a dependable, well-trained mule that could be used for packing, driving or riding. And when the mule had learned to carry a rider, a third bell was trimmed below the second. So a "three-bell" mule was a dependable, well-trained mule that could be used for packing, driving or riding.
  
-In this way any cavalryman could easily tell which mules to pick from the corral for the job at hand. If the mule had a shaved tail, you didn't want to take it out for the job. If the mule had one bell, it could pack. If it had two bells, it could pack and drive, and three bells could do any of the three jobs you needed.+In this way any cavalryman could easily tell which mules to pick from the corral for the job at hand. And, while there was no visual indicator for this, a "Bell Sharp" was an experienced mule that knew where to line up and could pick out its own pack.
  
 ^  Visual Indication  ^  Level of Training  ^ ^  Visual Indication  ^  Level of Training  ^
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 |  2 bells trimmed into the tail  |  Broke to pack & drive  | |  2 bells trimmed into the tail  |  Broke to pack & drive  |
 |  3 bells trimmed into the tail  |  Broke to pack, drive, and ride  | |  3 bells trimmed into the tail  |  Broke to pack, drive, and ride  |
 +
 +So... if the mule had a shaved tail, you didn't want to take it out for the job. If the mule had one bell, it could pack. If it had two bells, it could pack and drive, and three bells could do any of the three jobs you needed.
 +
 +This system also easily communicated the skill level to others when a mule was transferred to different commands.
  
 BTW, this is why a new lieutenant (i.e., a 2<sup>nd</sup> lieutenant) was known as a "shave tail".. unpredictable until known better.  ;-) BTW, this is why a new lieutenant (i.e., a 2<sup>nd</sup> lieutenant) was known as a "shave tail".. unpredictable until known better.  ;-)