Two men remained on either side of the leader, with the lassos about its neck, and one man retained the same restraining influence over each of the others.
All being ready, the hold would be slackened and the team started.

The first motion was generally five mules in the air at one time, backs bowed, hind feet extended to the rear.

After repeating this movement a few times the leaders would start to run.

This would bring the breeching tight against the mules at the wheels, which these last seemed to regard as a most unwarrantable attempt at coercion and would resist by taking a seat, sometimes going so far as to lie down.

In time all were broken in to do their duty submissively if not cheerfully, but there never was a time during the war when it was safe to let a Mexican mule get entirely loose.