Is that like those musicians you run into all the time when crossing the prairie? Sometimes it's just a harmonica or guitar and other times it's a full orchestra?

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Everything around here is FLAT. And the farthest you can see is a few miles in any direction because of the trees, unless you are on top of a bridge or at the beach or something. And there's not any rocks. Just dirt.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Carbide studs on the hoss shoes. Or mules shoes....or whatever they are. They aren't legal around here because they are hard on the roads.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Thanks. This thread has been truly fascinating to someone who, without first hand experience, has always loved mules and admired their intelligence.

It's nice to know that Cookie is only middle-aged.

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Oh well, what the hell.

One thing you don't ever see is a wire cut mule.

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Eccentric old coot

Great thread, Mule Packer!

I had breakfast a few days ago with a couple of friends who have mules. The mules were to the topic of the day. They love 'em. Smart, big personalities and funny.

Great stuff. Thanks.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Chip,


Summer time pack string training........




Su Amigo,
Dave



.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Dave:

That's a mighty good-lookin' string...five nice Belgian-cross mules...and you're riding a gray mule to boot! A guy can pack a lot of supplies and gear with that crew. You can't beat that!

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Just to reinforce what others have said...what a great thread this is!

Great photos, fascinating mule facts, and really interesting mule stories.

And this whole thing snowballed (no pun intended) from a few winter photographs, some of which feature a guy sittin' on a mule.

Can't forget Francis...



...or Ruth.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

For me horses were always pretty much a trial. Never could really trust the ones I had opportunity to be around. They were a necessary evil though, since some things just couldn't get done without them. The best horses I ever experienced were those that were worked pretty hard every day. Give one a few days off and there's no telling how long it would take to get along with it well. And even though it was a trial, one that wasn't a bit froggy in the cool early morning likely would not be much good late in the day. Some were more easily spooked than others, and some would spook at nearly anything.

I also like most goats and mules! Cow critters can be the most exasperating animals on the earth, especially if you don't understand them well so you know kind of what to expect. (I ain't even gonna discuss sheep critters! My problems with them probably was due to my lack of knowledge and experience with them) It makes a lot of difference whose animals of any kind you are dealing with. Some folks make their animals wild and crazy because of the way they deal with them. Others have much more gentle and tractable animals, whether they have many or a few. But make no mistake, a person's temperment has a very great deal to do with the way that person gets along with animals. The way you talk to animals and the way you touch and handle them makes a really big difference. So I may have been at times more the cause of problems I had with some animals than they were!

I guarantee you that if your mule likes and trusts you, it will also keep you out of a lot of trouble even when you ain't payin' good attention to your business. They will also let you know when that happens. I found that mules usually have more sense about things than I might, and if I trusted their judgement, things usually went much more smoothly.

Mule Packer, your pictures and comments have truly made my day and brought a big smile to my face as well as very good memories! Thank you for taking the time to post them here. I can tell you that reading and viewing this thread has definately been a stress reliever for me this evening!

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So long ... Ken

So true. I wish everyone understood that concept and acted accordingly.

Folks, just a quick note to say how much I appreciate your kind and very thoughtful remarks.

To be honest, I didn't think my little post about summer being over here in the high country would draw so much attention.

I have to admit, life has been good to me, and one of the blessings that I cherish more than anything else is the friendships of the good people I've met and communicated with here on the Forum.

Again, thanks for your kind words.

Your pard,

Chip (aka "Mule Packer")

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Not hard to figure the appeal of mules to this bunch .

Hey, hey, hey!

Or should I say, "Hay"?

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob