For some inexplicable reason I have taken an interest in learning about mules. Maybe it came from viewing Dave Keith's pictures of his pack mules. At any rate I have been surfing the net reading about mules, saddle mules. It seems they have been developing a strong fallowing for some time. I have learned you can do about anything with a mule you can do with a horse, in some cases better. Anybody out there own a mule? What do you do with it? Do you have any pictures? I wonder what a mule out of a TN walking horse mare would be like?
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Anyone ride a mule?
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m1gunner
US Veteran
What was the question?
This is a John Mule out of a Morgan mare. Have owned him for more than 20 years, and have been riding him for almost that long.
Have owned 5 different mules, and IMHO, the best riding mules are those with higher withers. Quarter horse mares, arab mares, and Thoroughbred mares produce high withered mules as does the Morgan mare.
Walking Horse mares usually produce mutton withered mules, making it more difficult to keep the saddle secure.
I always ride with a breast collar, crupper, and SPURS! I never ride a horse with spurs, though.
Mules are exactly like horses, only more so......
Also, if a mule kicks at you and misses, he meant to miss.
I could talk about mules for days, and even rode one to my wedding.
A mule out of a walker would just be a big mule. Growing up, my dad had several different mules but never more than one at a time. He plowed his fields with them. Having them on the farm, I rode them often and don't remember them being any different from a horse, as far as riding. If I ever get out of this miserable subdivision and back in the country, I will have at least one mule. I particularly like the big red ones.
m1gunner
US Veteran
If you are serious about dealing with mules, find a copy of "MULE SKINNERS BIBLE" by Max Harsha. Read it cover to cover, and memorize it (not difficult it is about 50 pages long). It will be the best money and time spent compared to anything else having to do with mules.
I still have my "thinking rope" and have been known to "wad up" a cantankerous mule.
I still have my "thinking rope" and have been known to "wad up" a cantankerous mule.
rburg
Member
I know very little about them. The western novels, Longhorn, were written by folks who liked mules.
For decades, the huge flea market in Mt Sterling, Kentucky was the largest mule market in the world. They still advertise that fact.
For decades, the huge flea market in Mt Sterling, Kentucky was the largest mule market in the world. They still advertise that fact.
m1gunner
US Veteran
This is a 2 year old gaited mare mule I was training. She would be about 15 now, and the Forest Service tried to buy her from me 10 years ago, I sold her to a fellow Ga Boy instead.
I had one I used for coonhunting. As I understand it a mule will not put his foot where he dont think it is safe, as opposed to a horse which is so stupid you can run him right off a cliff...just tell him to go. A little known fact about mules is that they are the reason for covered bridges. A horse will trot right over a bridge but a mule dont like it and wont cross. Cover the bridge and the mule dont know what he's going into. He thinks it's a barn and goes right on across. Why they used mules as work animals back in the day as opposed to horses is beyond my knowledge. I suspect it has somethign to do with the fact that horses just tend to occasionally flip out for no reason. Horses might be better for distance traveling but I think pretty much the mule has them beat for just about anything else. I have seen many cutting mules that were alot better at it than horses but I dont thnk we ever have to worry about seeing a mule win the triple crown {or even the single crown for that matter.}
m1gunner
US Veteran
Pound for pound, a mule can work a horse to death. It is due to the advantage gained from "hybrid vigor".
The mule can carry a higher percentage of his body weight than a horse. Mules are more heat tolerant, and is the reason horses were banned from pulling carriages in New Orleans, they only use mules now.
Mules can thrive on rations and forage that would bring a horse down. And a mule will not eat itself to death like a horse will if he gets into the feed shed.
The mule will tend to avoid poor footing, but if he trusts the rider, will venture beyond what he thinks is safe, but if he falls or gets stuck, it will take a lot of training to gain his confidence again.
My mules don't bat an eye at bridges, covered or not. But a mule will not jump off a tall river bank like a horse will.
Mules are fairly good at cutting, but a good cutting horse will outshine most mules, in my experience.
Mules love to chase hogs and stomp coyotes.
The john mule above will eat every piece of poison ivy he can find, and is fairly good at opening gates.
The mule can carry a higher percentage of his body weight than a horse. Mules are more heat tolerant, and is the reason horses were banned from pulling carriages in New Orleans, they only use mules now.
Mules can thrive on rations and forage that would bring a horse down. And a mule will not eat itself to death like a horse will if he gets into the feed shed.
The mule will tend to avoid poor footing, but if he trusts the rider, will venture beyond what he thinks is safe, but if he falls or gets stuck, it will take a lot of training to gain his confidence again.
My mules don't bat an eye at bridges, covered or not. But a mule will not jump off a tall river bank like a horse will.
Mules are fairly good at cutting, but a good cutting horse will outshine most mules, in my experience.
Mules love to chase hogs and stomp coyotes.
The john mule above will eat every piece of poison ivy he can find, and is fairly good at opening gates.
bushmaster1313
Member
Took a mule ride in Yosemite
Lots of fun
Lots of fun
Rode my buddies mule once and it was a smoother ride than a
horses. Has to do with the way the walk i guess. My buddy takes
his to the state fair every year for jumping competitions. They
put a blanket over a fence and lead the mule right up to it and they rear back and over they go.
Chuck
horses. Has to do with the way the walk i guess. My buddy takes
his to the state fair every year for jumping competitions. They
put a blanket over a fence and lead the mule right up to it and they rear back and over they go.
Chuck
What was the question?
This is a John Mule out of a Morgan mare. Have owned him for more than 20 years, and have been riding him for almost that long.
Have owned 5 different mules, and IMHO, the best riding mules are those with higher withers. Quarter horse mares, arab mares, and Thoroughbred mares produce high withered mules as does the Morgan mare.
Walking Horse mares usually produce mutton withered mules, making it more difficult to keep the saddle secure.
I always ride with a breast collar, crupper, and SPURS! I never ride a horse with spurs, though.
Mules are exactly like horses, only more so......
Also, if a mule kicks at you and misses, he meant to miss.
I could talk about mules for days, and even rode one to my wedding.
Gunner that is one good looking animal. He has an intelligent look to him. I once owned a walking horse and prefer a running walk to a jog. That was the reason for TN mare question. What type mare would you go to for a smooth ride if not a walker?
bobcat
US Veteran
No, but I married one once...
m1gunner
US Veteran
A lot of mules will do what is called a "single foot" gait. It is very similar to the rack done by racking horses, and is a very stable gait for the mule.
It is a very smooth gait, and my mule will slide into it when the path gets a little uneven. Riding my mule at a full gallop is quite exciting. He bounds like a deer. If I need speed, I just kick him up into a fast, extended trot. Most horses have to canter to keep up with that pace. Mules also tend to walk faster than horses, and have a smooth walk.
There are racking mules out there, and if you want a gaited mule, nothing beats looking at what is available. Some have better "saddle backs" than others. Not all Tenn Walkers throw mutton withered mules either.
edit to add: I knew a breeder that had 20+ brood mares, and had a mule crop every year. 8 or 10 of his mares were racking horse mares, and their mule colts were quite popular, usually the first of the crop to sell every year. So, there are some out there if that is what you want.
edit again: Don't know how to tell you what mule gives the smooth ride you want. There aren't as many mules for sale as there are horses, so the search is more involved. I bought my first one unbroke, and broke him to ride. In more than a year of looking, I couldn't find one mule I could test ride before the sale, they just weren't around. There are more these days, but not a huge amount in my area.
I was considering going to the Bishop Bros Mule Auction with a fist full of cash to get what I wanted, but found one local to me first. A large mule auction would be a good place to see a lot of mules in one place, and many times you can ride the animal before they go through the ring.
It is a very smooth gait, and my mule will slide into it when the path gets a little uneven. Riding my mule at a full gallop is quite exciting. He bounds like a deer. If I need speed, I just kick him up into a fast, extended trot. Most horses have to canter to keep up with that pace. Mules also tend to walk faster than horses, and have a smooth walk.
There are racking mules out there, and if you want a gaited mule, nothing beats looking at what is available. Some have better "saddle backs" than others. Not all Tenn Walkers throw mutton withered mules either.
edit to add: I knew a breeder that had 20+ brood mares, and had a mule crop every year. 8 or 10 of his mares were racking horse mares, and their mule colts were quite popular, usually the first of the crop to sell every year. So, there are some out there if that is what you want.
edit again: Don't know how to tell you what mule gives the smooth ride you want. There aren't as many mules for sale as there are horses, so the search is more involved. I bought my first one unbroke, and broke him to ride. In more than a year of looking, I couldn't find one mule I could test ride before the sale, they just weren't around. There are more these days, but not a huge amount in my area.
I was considering going to the Bishop Bros Mule Auction with a fist full of cash to get what I wanted, but found one local to me first. A large mule auction would be a good place to see a lot of mules in one place, and many times you can ride the animal before they go through the ring.
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Mickey D
Member
Nope, but if the miniblinds were open just right, the streetlight made her appear like a Zebra. 
Riding a mule is like dating an ugly woman. It may be ok but I would be ashamed to be seen doing it. 
Larry
Larry
Always a "Want To Be" Cowboy (can't ride, shoot, or sing) I was told that on the western frontier, the Civilian Army Scouts rode mules as the mule could go further than a horse without rest ,food, or water?
Hurryin' Hoosier
US Veteran
I've been out of the equine business for several years, but some of the sweetest riding animals I ever saw were mules with a mammoth jack sire and a Tennessee Walking Horse dam. Jacks are naturally loose-gaited and breeding them to a Walker mare (especially a mare with a lot of Merry Go Boy blood) yields a mule with one Hell of a smooth natural running walk. I don't think that I ever saw one who even needed toe-weight shoes. They'd hit a running walk barefoot!
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keith44spl
Member
I's at a mule sale one time, well a bunchcha times.
Saw this spotted gated saddle mule, that sur nuf could hit a runnin' walk.
It looked smooth enough to drink a bottle of beer off'n and never spill a drop.
The ol man that had it for sale knew his business...He had this purty lit'l gal all dressed up and
sportin a cowgirl hat was a riding that mule around...It brought ten grand right outta the chute.
A good riding mule ain't bad for travlin'...But they ain't much for bustin the brush or punching cows on.
They like taking care of themselves...A mule will most generally look before they leap.
Ya can spur an ol cowpony off'n places ya couldn't lead a mule in a week.
Su Amigo,
Dave
Saw this spotted gated saddle mule, that sur nuf could hit a runnin' walk.
It looked smooth enough to drink a bottle of beer off'n and never spill a drop.
The ol man that had it for sale knew his business...He had this purty lit'l gal all dressed up and
sportin a cowgirl hat was a riding that mule around...It brought ten grand right outta the chute.
A good riding mule ain't bad for travlin'...But they ain't much for bustin the brush or punching cows on.
They like taking care of themselves...A mule will most generally look before they leap.
Ya can spur an ol cowpony off'n places ya couldn't lead a mule in a week.
Su Amigo,
Dave
Nope, but if the miniblinds were open just right, the streetlight made her appear like a Zebra.
that's kinda kinky Mickey.
