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                         October 4, 2002

PET POINTER

A weekly pet tip or other bit of information
from Maj. Felicia D. Langel, USMA Veterinarian 938-3817

I have gotten a lot of feedback recently about the mules’ attendance at the home football games. Keen observers noticed the mules leave the stadium by the end of the first quarter.

The answer is simple. West Point recently retired the two mules that had been mainstays here for more than 12 years.

The two new mules, which arrived Aug. 2, are very young and, needless to say, football games are a brand new experience for these guys. The crowd noise, the cannon fire, and all of the visual distractions are difficult for them. In order to make the acclimation to West Point and home football games a pleasant one, we have decided to keep their game day appearances short. As the season progresses, we will extend the period they remain at the game. Hopefully, by Army-Navy time, our new mules will be seasoned veterans.

If you have anymore questions about the mules or the mule riding team, please call or e-mail.