Fast friends Bob Causey (left) and Pig Green put bridles on mules Polly (left) and Molly. (Times photo/Ryan Rogers) [Click to enlarge]

It's no secret that the bonds of friendship tend to form from a shared interest. Whether it starts at a young age as classmates or as adults involved in similar activities or organizations, there often is some shared trait which unites people in friendship.

Such is the case with two local men.

Bob Causey and Pig Green lived much of their lives without knowing each other. When the two first met last November, it was through a working arrangement for Clay County Judge Gary Howell.

Causey, 74, and Green, 68, have lived in Clay County most of their lives. Causey, of Pollard, and Green, of Corning, both were raised on farms. It was through their experience working with mules that the two would ultimately meet.

When Howell had a pair of young mules he wanted trained, he contacted his old friend Causey, with whom he had worked in the past, to help get the mules ready to pull a wagon. Causey was introduced to Green through the arrangement, and soon the two were working side-by-side.

"It's really something if you think about it," Causey said. "Before we started working with these mules, I wouldn't have known Pig from Adam. Come to find out, we're a whole lot alike."

Green echoes the sentiment.

"It's like we've known each other our whole lives," Green said. "We get together and cut up just like old friends."

"I guess you could say we are old friends," Causey said. "We're friends and I'm 74 and he's 68, so I guess you could say we're old friends after all."

For the last several months, the two have usually met at Howell's ranch near Pollard. There they have familiarized the mules, three-year-old Molly and two-year-old Polly, with the ins and outs of pulling a wagon in preparation for both day-to-day rides and parade appearances.

Though many consider it work, Causey and Green say it's something they enjoy.

"If you don't care about these mules, they know it," Green said. "Well, then you're not going to be able to train them."

The training began with the use of an older mule. The men would hitch one of the younger mules to the front of the modified wagon along with the calming presence of the older mule. The other young mule often would be hitched to the wagon's rear. As the ride progressed, the two young mules would switch places, allowing each to adjust to pulling the wagon and taking directions. As time went on, Green and Causey would hitch all three mules to the front before, eventually, using just Molly and Polly to pull the wagon.

To help the mules better adjust to being around traffic, the men would take them out along the gravel county roads. This helped them become better acquainted with passing motorists.

The rides also give the two men the chance to share laughter and an occasional tall tale or two.

"You've got to watch Pig," Causey said. "He can tell some real whoppers."

The two usually meet two days a week out at the ranch and begin their routines. Once they have the mules hitched to the wagon, Green and Causey load up their own lunches and take to the back roads.

So far, their time and efforts have paid off well.

"As far as being broke, they're broke right now," Causey said. "Training them to pull a wagon takes a little longer, but we'll have them ready."

Perhaps the real achievement is how the two men who didn't know each other came together to train a pair of mules and become good friends.