Mules & Donkeys

[Big Cholla]

During the early 60s myself and a cousin kept roping horses in the Las Vegas area. We got into a side business of roping young (under 1 year of age) burros from the local outback. We would get them somewhat tamed and sell them for pets from $30 to $50 depending on what the traffic would bear. Once in a while we would be approached by a previous customer on a "Would you buy our burro back". Our answer was always, "No, you will have to pay us to take it back." One couple asked, "How much do you want?" We doubled the price they originally paid us. The guy and gal looked at each other and both nodded 'yes' at the same time. We took the overly fat and spoiled burro back to the same area we had roped her in and turned her loose. I have no idea if she had enough gumption to go to work and make an honest living to survive.

The roping and capture of feral burros off the desert ranges was legal then and they were regarded as an unwanted pest by the ranchers. An aside; there is no such thing as a "wild" horse or burro in the United States. All such "wild" animals are the descendants of domesticated stock lost or turned loose by farmers and ranchers. Therefore they are all 'feral' animals and are an invasive specie on the range.

 

[susieqz]

cholla, are you allowed to just shoot them, or do you have to hide the body?
i sure wouldn't want them eating my grass.
all the ''pet'' ones i've seen look like they are carrying triplets.

 

[Big Cholla]

Not today because of the "Wild Horse Annie Act" which brought free ranging horses under the control of Federal Law and is administered by the BLM. This gave them some form of Federal Protection. Then later on the free ranging Burro was also added to this federal law. Ranchers can apply for round ups of the feral horses by the BLM's contractors on Taylor Grazing Rights federal property. And on occasion special permits can be obtained to allow the Rancher's people to shoot the so-called wild horses if they are especially destructive. The BLM has developed this program into a huge 'make work' situation for them and it is thought by the majority of ranchers that the BLM's management is self serving, misguided, way too expensive and ultra liberal. The BLM is trying to keep low key that they need to kill up to 45,000 horses and donkeys (burros) that are in their holding pens across the West and are considered un-adoptable. The real solution would be to just sell and ship them to the slaughter houses in Europe and Asia. .............

 

[susieqz]

that's what we used to do, as i recall.
i don't see anything wrong with eating horse.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

In 1977 or so, I think I had horse meat at a meal in Japan.

Don't recall what it tasted like.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

My neighbor has a couple of mules. If he sees the cows near his fence line, he'll hang his head over the fence and one of my heifers will come over and socialize with him. I think there may be laws against this in the state of Alabama.

 

[J.R.Bauer]

Aloha,

In 1977 or so, I think I had horse meat at a meal in Japan.

Don't recall what it tasted like.

I know I had Horse meat in Romania in 1980 when I was working there.
John

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Muley Gil]

My neighbor has a couple of mules. If he sees the cows near his fence line, he'll hang his head over the fence and one of my heifers will come over and socialize with him. I think there may be laws against this in the state of Alabama.

Equines are herd animals and generally like to socialize. My mule and donkey will follow the cows around my property and graze. The oddest thing I have seen lately is one of my barn cats rubbing on Betty Boop's legs and even batting at them with his paws. That mule didn't used to tolerate the cats before, not kicking at them, but raising a leg as a warning. Now, she doesn't seem to care.

 

[Bekeart]

I have seen a few Amish carriages being pulled by a mule at a trot.

I figure those men know SOMETHING!

Bekeart

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have seen a few Amish carriages being pulled by a mule at a trot.

I figure those men know SOMETHING!

Bekeart

Interesting! I never saw an Amish Mule.
Most of the Amish I have seen were in Ohio, Indiana and Colorado.
The first Amish folks I ever saw had their horse drawn buggy pulled up to a Dairy Queen in Kokomo, IN.
The last one I saw was going down the highway right of way near Alamosa, CO.
He had a really good looking horse and was moving out!
I will look for Amish mules the next time I'm in Kentucky, guarantee!

 

[the ringo kid]

Gotta love mules.

You remind me of John (Rooster Cogburn) Wayne jumping over that fence in the last part of: True Grit. Couldnt find an image anywhere close to what I wanted but, these two will have to do:

Fence jumping on Steve McQueens "Horse":

Ive limited exposure to Mules or Donkeys but, will take a Mule. A friend of mine has two-they arte well treated etc. I went over a few Saturdays ago and started feeding them some hay. One came over and laid his head on my shoulder.

Sister Sara--also had mules:

 

[gman51]

I live in Texas and it seems people that move out to the country think they have to have a horse or donkey. How much land are you going to buy? The reason I ask is because just one horse or donkey will eat one acre down to the dirt in a very short time which means then you have to be buying a lot of feed for them.
A donkeys bray is very loud and I can hear those that are a 1/4 mile from me. Horse dung stinks something bad and when the wind blows the wrong way I sure can smell them dang horses.
Do yourself a favor and just get a best friend..........a dog. If you want a pet that will protect your property from stray dogs, or critters, or coyotes, or unwanted guests then get a Great Pyrenees dog.
A friend of mine had donkeys when she was a kid and she now wouldn't have one no how. Loud cantankerous critters.

 

[Salty RI]

Have you been married long enough to know what maybe, we'll see, really means.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I live in Texas and it seems people that move out to the country think they have to have a horse or donkey. How much land are you going to buy? The reason I ask is because just one horse or donkey will eat one acre down to the dirt in a very short time which means then you have to be buying a lot of feed for them."

Go to my post # 34 and look at the last two pictures. That's what REAL pasture looks like. My neighbor runs some cows, anywhere from 8 to 20 each year, on my land (20 acres) and I always have plenty of grass.

Bland County, Virginia, which is on the Virginia/West Virginia line and is about 40 miles north of me, has an Amish population. They use horses AND mules there also.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I vote for mules for the best all around. They are smart and as stated above careful of where they go or step. Mules will eat less and about all
they need is a small amount of oats and good pasture or quality grass hay. (note, high protein hay or supplement is not required by a mule, and could do them harm) In NW Arkansas 3 mules are on ten acres require about 50 lbs of oats per week and in the winter a round bale about every 10-14 days with some rye grass pasture in the cool months.
And BTW you couldn't pay one to kick me.

 

[Bekeart]

Amish Mules in KY

Interesting! I never saw an Amish Mule.

I will look for Amish mules the next time I'm in Kentucky, guarantee!

I saw the Amish mules between Hopkinsville and Guthrie.

Around Mayfield - Fancy Farm area I only see the Amish with horses.

All of these locations are in WESTERN KY.

 

[walkinghorse]

I saw the Amish mules between Hopkinsville and Guthrie.

Around Mayfield - Fancy Farm area I only see the Amish with horses.

All of these locations are in WESTERN KY.

Around here, the biggest Amish community west of the Mississippi, Kalona, you do not see any mules used by the Amish. Standardbred for general cart and wagon pulling, and you still see draft horses for heavier pulling. Though that has been declining and it is steel wheeled tractors, including duallies for plowing and harvest work. I have seen steel wheels on riding mowers, and skid loaders! Depends upon what the Bishop says.
A ways north of us, Waverly, they have a very large Draft Horse auction, with horses and some wagons and other pulling gear. They might have mules there, but I do not recall? Our local horse auction does not have mules either, and it is one of the bigger ones nearby.
You do see mules around the trail riding areas.

 

[crazyphil]

I was on KP one time in the Air Force (basic training in Texas) 1952.
We was unloading provisions from a truck an bringing stuff in to the
mess hall kitchen. On one of the boxes I read the big lettering:
100% Government inspected horsemeat. (That's why that SOS was
soooo goooood!)

 

[WardenRoss]

Great thread, thanks gents. My family always had mules (pre 1950 or so...).

Pix of Amish mule teams....

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

After all this........I remember the plowers using mules with the trace lines (leather) tied together and hung over the back of their necks......I also remember all the cussing and swearing at the mules.......I remember.....GEE & Haw......But can't remember which call was for right or left?......Anyone?