Old Bear rides a mule!!

[Mule Packer]

Well, Ms. Judy and I have been enjoying Old Bear's company immensely while he's been out in our neck of the woods visiting. One of the first items on his "Things to Do and See" list was to ride a mule.

He did a great job of it, and by the time the ride was over, he was handling "Cookie" just like an ol' mule skinner.

Old Bear on "Cookie" and me on "Scotty."

 

[bigwheelzip]

Yeeee Hawww, giddy-up Old Bear.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

All he needs is a nice hat.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Lucky mules.

 

[S&W ucla]

Whar's Festus?

 

[Texas Star]

How's his leg injury doing?

BTW, what's the advantage to riding mules instead of horses?

 

[chud333]

Watch yore top knot you two and stay in the saddle.

Looks like fun guys. Enjoy !!

Chuck

 

[Mule Packer]

BTW, what's the advantage to riding mules instead of horses?

A couple of advantages...first, mules are much more sure-footed than a horse which is a real plus when you're up in the mountains. They can go places where a horse just can't go. They're practically like mountain goats when they get into the steep and rocky terrain.

Second, because a mule is built differently than a horse, their ride is much more comfortable. As one ol' guy told me many years ago, "Going from a horse to a mule is like going to a Cadillac after riding in a Jeep." And you know what?...he was right.

On the down side, however, a good saddle mule will cost you about a third more than a good horse. That's the way it was in the 1800's and that's the way it still is. That's also why you don't see many good mules for sale...their owners don't want to part with them.

 

[Iggy]

You don't ever see a wire cut mule.

 

[gregintenn]

A couple of advantages...first, mules are much more sure-footed than a horse which is a real plus when you're up in the mountains. They can go places where a horse just can't go. They're practically like mountain goats when they get into the steep and rocky terrain.

Second, because a mule is built differently than a horse, their ride is much more comfortable. As one ol' guy told me many years ago, "Going from a horse to a mule is like going to a Cadillac after riding in a Jeep." And you know what?...he was right.

On the down side, however, a good saddle mule will cost you about a third more than a good horse. That's the way it was in the 1800's and that's the way it still is. That's also why you don't see many good mules for sale...their owners don't want to part with them.

Number 3: Most mules have sense. Most horses lack this.

 

[walkinghorse]

...

Second, because a mule is built differently than a horse, their ride is much more comfortable. As one ol' guy told me many years ago, "Going from a horse to a mule is like going to a Cadillac after riding in a Jeep." And you know what?...he was right....

I don't know about his one!
A good gaited horse, TWH and foxtrotter, etc. Is like riding in a rocking chair when they are in their gait! Everybody likes a rocking chair!
The other two mentioned, no debate offered!
Now we can get into something non contentious like saddles, bits, other rigging styles versus this and that, feed, slant load versus straight load trailers giving the best ride for the horses, etc.
How was the ride outside the corral, looks like the mules want to get going!
Sure nice country!

 

[model70hunter]

Good photo. It is beautiful there.

Did you tell Fred he was riding a 1 bell Mule?

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

OK, what's "a one bell mule"?

When we move to Texas,

I have to ride a horse and a mule.

Seems that there are a Lot of things I(we) have to do after we move.

 

[lawandorder]

Good for both of you. Hope you have lots of fun.

 

[keith44spl]

Chip, good friends and good mules just go together.



*

I sometimes ride both, horses & mules.....not roman style, jest one at a time

An Iron Grey riding mule, with five blonde sorrel pack mules in training.




.

Someone asked about belling a mules tail.......I used the old Army stand by,

One bell broke to pack,
Two broke to pack & drive,
Three bells, broke to pack, drive and ride....




.

 

[ColbyBruce]

"Someone asked about belling a mules tail.......I used the old Army stand by:
One bell broke to pack,
Two broke to pack & drive,
Three bells, broke to pack, drive and ride...."

I learn something every time I visit this forum.

 

[Mule Packer]

Dave beat me to the punch....as usual. When the army had hundreds of mules, they belled the tails so it would be easy for the wranglers to tell what each mule was used for.

Our mules are essentially used for just riding or packing. I've never hooked them up to harness, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they took to it easily. For the most part, they are pretty good-natured and are willing to do just about anything I ask them to do.

 

[model70hunter]

Several folks jumped on my one belled mule for Old Bear which is broke only for packing.

Don't you just love it when you learn something new each day?

My first rides as a little snot was on Grandpa's razorback mules. We would lure them into the barn, get a rope over their neck and stand on a 5 gallon bucket to bridle them. It was bareback 2 and 3 cousins per mule. If one can imagine sitting on the edge of a 2x4 you have it. The mules were patient, several years went by before we found out they had never been trained to ride. Just pull implements.

 

[walkin jack]

I really enjoyed seein' you fellers in action!! and I have enjoyed this thread and all the "muley" information and comments and pics.

I never have ridden a mule but you make it sound good. I have ridden some horses as a boy and I'll never forget the time I got on a mare named Bonny. She was double gated. If some of y'all don't know what that means I can't explain it except to say that it's a mighty rough ride. And you will feel like you need to pee about every 15 minutes.

Just curious...is there any such thing as a double gated mule? I would hope not.

 

[keith44spl]

I saw a purty good lookin gal riding a spotted gaited mule,
(a mule out of a gaited saddle mare) at a sale barn one time.

The owner sold it before the sale every got started....for 15 grand.

And I don't think the ol' boy that bought it even got a kiss from
that purty girl that was showin the mule off....

.