Mules - are there any specialists out there ?

[Stormin]

I just LOVE those big mules we have all seen pulling the wagons in the old western films. I'd always dreamed of owning one but the only mules I seem to come across are under 13hh ...

What kind of breeds of horse and donkey are popular/ (standard ?) for crossing ?

I know over here they like to cross with a small draft horse which gives a somewhat "chunky" mule.

What are they like character wise ?
Can you do all disciplines that you would with a horse (I know, weird question).

[Big Ears]

most of the UK mules i have come across have been complete sods....

but i may be biased.

what about a Poitou donkey - they are big and have curly coats.

[camel]

I presume they are stubborn ... Lol! I'm sure there is a lady on here who breeds them, I know they have Mule jumping comps in the USA (Have a look on Youtube) I remember seeing a 19hh mule on a USA horse rescue site ..... I know what you mean about them I am a little bit fascinate now too :cool:

xx

[Big Ears]

the ones i have known have been small, more like 13'2 or smaller, and have generally been bad tempered and nasty but they have come into a rescue centre, so they may have good reason to be less than pleased with people.

[Shanik]

I have only ever had the pleasure of riding one, he was a lovely boy who came as a surprise to the owners of a Trail Riding Centre I used to work at. (they bought a pony mare and it became apparent she was pregnant as time went on) He was 4 years old and was an absolute sweetheart, not a nasty bone in his body, he was well mannered on the ground, in his stable and I rode him in the school and out on rides and he never grumbled (the only complaint I had was his screeching which used to almost burst my eardrums when we were on our way back home and he wanted to shout to his mum :D) He was 15hh and a great worker.

[Stormin]

most of the UK mules i have come across have been complete sods....

but i may be biased.

what about a Poitou donkey - they are big and have curly coats.

I know that they like to cross the poitou donkey with a "heavy horse" to produce a heavyweight mule.
(Most poitou donkeys I have seen have nasty unkemp coats which become rastas ... )

Would I be right in thinking that mules have a better reputation / are more appreciated state-side than over here ??

[Stassy]

Mules generally grow bigger than their parents, however as donkeys are small in GB usually no bigger than 11.hh, mules are small too.

Saying that there are a number a larger mules here above 13.hh and are used in a number of disciplines from driving to jumping and long distance riding.

Poitou donkeys would be the obvious cross with a horse to breed a large mule. The British Mule Society have a great website.

[ambatt]

I saw some absolutely stunning mules when i was in Spain ranging from about 14 hh to 15 hh.They were gorgeous, and so they should be when they were half PRE! Really noble good-looking creatures they were, I loved them. Someone here on NR has a PRE-bred mule think they are called Jinglejoys...

[Stormin]

I saw some absolutely stunning mules when i was in Spain ranging from about 14 hh to 15 hh.They were gorgeous, and so they should be when they were half PRE! Really noble good-looking creatures they were, I loved them. Someone here on NR has a PRE-bred mule think they are called Jinglejoys...

Ok, thanks for that one. I'll investigate ;)

[ambatt]

Found this site:

http://www.mulesspain.com/

and some info:

http://mulesuk.blogspot.com/2007/12/mules-spain-albert-vickers.html

[jinglejoys]

Sigh!!!!! MULES AREN'T STUBBORN THEY'RE JUST CAREFUL!:D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Coulddoitbackwards.jpg

Mules in Spain was where I got my boy Malaga from!
(Got your PM Stormin but I'm just on my way out...I'll check in later and leave more detail)

[jinglejoys]

Right I'm Back!
Short version
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WHINNY AND A BRAY

A horse can be dominated by man
a mule can be dominated by none

a horse succumbs to aggression
a mule succumbs to affection

a horse is indifferent to man
a mule is inquisitive to man

a horse moves, then thinks
a mule thinks then moves

a horse looks at you
a mule looks into you

a horse is trained by short punishment and small rewards
a mule is trained by long patience and great logic

To ride a horse well, one must be proud to ride a mule well, one must be humble

The more one understands people, the more one loves animals
The more one understands animals, the more one loves mules!

author unknown


Not a fan of the Poitou I prefer the Andalusian,Catalan or the Mammoth Jack for mules

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Odds%20and%20sods/Bms.jpg
Catalan

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Odds%20and%20sods/jack_horner_jump.jpg
Mammoth Jack

[ambatt]

Aha! It was you with the gorgeous mule! I am not yet senile! Your boy has to be the most noble of all mules, absolutely gorgeous, but I am secretly partial to the long ears.......

[HeeHaw]

Jingle Joys,

Nice to see you on this forum as well....(D'leary Ass ...on the other forum)

Jingle Joys is correct - andalusian, catalan, or mammoth for large mules. George Washington started the mule breeding in the us with a gift of 2 Andalusian donkeys from the King of Spain - a Jack and a Jenny.

Not all US mules are from mammoths though. I have 6 mules from 13.3 - 17 hands. I prefer them around 14-15 hands. They are easier to get on and off, especially on steep slopes in the mountains. And you won't hit your head on many branches. Also, they're very strong for their size.

We just got a 17 hand mule. He's great, but huge and quite a hayburner. I would normally have not sought out a mule so large, but he came to us for free! My doctor's husband paid good money for him then was scared of him because of his size.

His loss is our gain. He got away with lots on the ground with the last owners who never had owned a mule before.

Stormin, where are you at??? You could always have semen shipped if you want to make your own mule. There are some great donkeys in the us that would ship to you. Look at Heart B Ranch in Emmett, Idaho or google mammoth jacks.

I was in Ireland 2 summers ago and was surprised to find lots of donkeys, but no mules.

Dave

[HeeHaw]

Here's a pic or my new 17 H mule, Bubba.

Who knows what he's out of??? I'm sure a mammoth donkey and ??? I don't think draft. Most mules here are out of quarter horses, but Tennesee Walkers are the new fad - trying to get gaited mules.

Dave

[Stormin]

Wow, thanks for all the information !
I'm hiding out in France ;)

I've always had a facination (and respect) for mules but they still seem to be "hard-to-find".
Does a mule take from it's mum's character (I mean some breeds of horses are known to have certain "tendancies" with character or other). I imagine they take from mum's size (as most donkeys seem small ?)

We've all seen the 'horse whisperers' working with zebras and even zorses, not smart enough to work with mules ?? ;) :p :D

[jinglejoys]

"We've all seen the 'horse whisperers' working with zebras and even zorses, not smart enough to work with mules ??"

Why do you think I started using Parelli when Malaga turned into Mad Malaga? It was developed for mules and Pat Parelli formed the American Mule Association:D

http://www.parelli.ch/sweden/html/neue/ppb.php

[greasedweasel]

Hi guys,

Ambatt thanks very much for the link you posted to my blog (glad to know it is coming up on searches and that *hopefully* it holds some useful information!!!!)

I have a mule Treacle - show name "Mule of Kintyre" - Obviously she does star on the blog - http://mulesuk.blogspot.com/ (er twice!!!)

I'd love to hear from anyone with a mule or if you know where I might track some down. They are without doubt very different to horses but I love mine and wouldn't be without her (...most days) I'm hoping to breed one or two in 2009!

My email for anyone that wants to chat "mules" is mulesuk@runhorse.com Thanks laura

[Stormin]

Malaga is really gorgeous and Bubba ... he's HUGE !!!
I thought 15hh to 15.2hh was "reasonable" for me ;)

Just a quick question for those of you who have mules - how/why did you decide to adopt one/(several ?) ?
Do you have trouble "educating" (horsey-) people around you with regards to your mule(s) ?

Oh yeah, one last li'l question (.. well, for now anyways !) - Do you really need to develop arms like Schwarzy to be able to ride a mule or can they be educated to be light and responsive rides too ?
(Sorry to fall upon the stereotypes but seen lots of "harsher" bits and accessories apparently destined for mules ...)

Thanks !

[ambatt]

GreasedWeasel - It was ranked fairly high in good old google and a fab and informative blog btw. I still have a weakness for the long-eared ones, and an Andalusian one would be a joy. Just how comfortable are they to ride? I have severe back problems and may have to give up riding, maybe a mule could be an alternative? Although I have tried my back out on a Luso stallion and that was pretty pain-free.

[greasedweasel]

Ambatt - thats great to know! I have only ever ridden my own mule and she is not particularly comfortable (or should I say she is not more comfortable than our horses) she has a steady "donkey" walk but a huge ground covering trot that comes from nowhere and takes people seriously by surprise! She is very off the leg and I'm afraid she has at the moment no mouth!!! Would be worth trying a gaited mule perhaps (I know someone thinking of importing one!) For sheer comfort try a polo pony trained Criollo - balanced, light, turn and stop like dreams.... er sorry I'm suppost to be promoting mules..... maybe I should try Criollo x donkey......!!!!

Stormin - I had always had a hankering for mules, and donks and we were at Appleby Fair when we spotted her across the crowds. Love at first sight!!! :) I know other people have said they have experienced snobbery from horse people but 99% of the time I've found I get very positive reactions to her. The old Army gents are the best - they just love to see a mule! The only time I havn't felt positive vibes was the day Treacle won a class against about eleven horses - a few people had a sense of humour failure about it!!!;)

Treacle I'm having bit problems TBH - she has no mouth when she wants!!! I'm riding her in a myler combination at the moment and it is basically my fault - I'd been letting her slop along - loads of energy from behind heading straight into the ground at the front end. Project for this year is to really get her going a bit more "togeather" Plenty of people ride their mules bitless in this country and from the people I've spoken to I'd say half and half have mules with perfect brakes vs the slightly deader in the mouth sort! When you look at my mules build she isn't really conformed to be light and athletic and like anything I have to work with her (and my) limitations. Hope that helps a bit!!!

[ambatt]

Thanks for all the info greasedweasel - maybe I should breed my own from my PRE mare..

That would caused some raised eyebrows in BAPSH for wasting a well-bred PRE on mule-production!

If the gaits are not comfortable then I better stick with my nags, however I can still be a mule (and donkey) afficinado from afar.

[greasedweasel]

Ah I'm not saying mules aren't comfy - just that in my experience she's not MORE comfy than a horse.... my girl is also very wide which might not help a bad back, or at least give your hips some thing to complain about!!! I don't know if your ever anywhere near me (Scotland) but if your passing this way any time you'd be welcome to have a sit on her. (or just admire the ears!!!) :)

Now it wouldn't be "wasting" your lovey mare would it?????!!!! :D

[ambatt]

I don't know if your ever anywhere near me (Scotland) but if your passing this way any time you'd be welcome to have a sit on her. (or just admire the ears!!!) :)



Actually I am due to be in Pencaitland very soon...

Can always snog a lovely Long Eared One - and maybe a mule from Cuev would be stunning idea, using a nice Andalusian Giant of course...

http://www.ancraa.org/default.asp

[HeeHaw]

[QUOTE=Stormin;1511622]Malaga is really gorgeous and Bubba ... he's HUGE !!!
I thought 15hh to 15.2hh was "reasonable" for me ;)

Just a quick question for those of you who have mules - how/why did you decide to adopt one/(several ?) ?
Do you have trouble "educating" (horsey-) people around you with regards to your mule(s) ?

We adopted a wild burro (donkey) first. He was only 4 months old. We took him off his mom, drove him home (2 hours) put him in a new pen, and he tamed down in 20 minutes! I was brushing him and had a halter on him in less than an hour. Within a week, he knew whoa, walk and trot. We were impressed by his trust of people and his smarts. As we researched on the internet about donkeys, we learned much about mules as well. We knew that they were for us. There are hundreds of mules where we live now, but many horse people still do not know much about them and their common misconceptions abound. Many think they can't run or jump or even be ridden. One thing that I have found about mules is that they do most things very well where horses tend to be bred for certain jobs or disciplines. When you go to a mule show in the US, you will see the same mule in driving, packing, western, english, hunter jumping, team roping, etc... The amazing thing is that they can do all these disciplines well. We have 6 mules now and 2 donkeys. I will not own a horse! Mules fit our style. We mostly like to go on long rides in our mountains. Our mules are very steady and always deliver a great ride without any drama.

Oh yeah, one last li'l question (.. well, for now anyways !) - Do you really need to develop arms like Schwarzy to be able to ride a mule or can they be educated to be light and responsive rides too ?
(Sorry to fall upon the stereotypes but seen lots of "harsher" bits and accessories apparently destined for mules ...)

No - you don't need heavy hands. In fact, Parelli started as a mule trainer. Mules are very smart and will learn things fast. They also learn how to take advantage of inexperienced riders. If you want to learn more, see if you can get ahold of any Meridith Hodges training videos. Training is the same for a mule vs. a horse. The only difference being that "you must train a mule, the way you should train a horse". Meaning...build trust, don't try forcing anything, give clear directions, quick release for desired behavior, etc...

Also, here's a great book about how the Western US would not have been the same without mules!

http://www.amazon.com/Mule-Alternative-Saddle-American-West/dp/0964066882

Dave

[HeeHaw]

GreasedWeasel - It was ranked fairly high in good old google and a fab and informative blog btw. I still have a weakness for the long-eared ones, and an Andalusian one would be a joy. Just how comfortable are they to ride? I have severe back problems and may have to give up riding, maybe a mule could be an alternative? Although I have tried my back out on a Luso stallion and that was pretty pain-free.

Ambatt,

Each mule is differnt, just like horses. But, some say donkeys are naturally gaited and therefore smooth. So, maybe some of this transfers over to mules. I believe that mine are pretty smooth. Sven, started off having a trot like a jackhammer, but he was young. Now that is seems more collected, he seems smooth to me. We have one mule that has a trot that barely bounces you and covers lots of ground. Our friend, who has been helping keep our mules busy, says that the mule she's been riding is "smoother than any mare I've ever rode". This is from a young lady who grew up on a huge cattle ranch.

I think it's an individual thing. Find one that's smooth for you! The main reason we ride mules is because they lack the drama that you often get when riding horses. You're almost guaranteed a nice ride without any hassles.

Dave

[Harry Hobbes]

...Meridith Hodges training videos. Training is the same for a mule vs. a horse. The only difference being that "you must train a mule, the way you should train a horse". In addition to Meridith Hodges, Brad Cameron provides training products and services exclusively oriented toward the mule: http://www.muletrainer.com/

Cameron received his grounding from Brannaman, hence his methods and toolset are aligned with Brannaman. (I.e., the Dorrance school.)

Best regards,
Harry

[jinglejoys]

"how/why did you decide to adopt one/(several ?) "
They tend to grow on you--Mules are "Moorish":D

"Do you have trouble "educating" (horsey-) people around you with regards to your mule(s) ?"
Don't let it bother me any more! I let my mules speak for themselves.;)

"Do you really need to develop arms like Schwarzy to be able to ride a mule or can they be educated to be light and responsive rides too ? "

Well Parelli rode his famous reining mule Thumper bridless for displays

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Mules%20can%20do/parelliandthumperbw.jpg

and the there's Tim Phillips and Tuff stuff who regularly give displays at shows without bridles.

And unless you know something about the stregth of American children I reckon a mule is as safe as a horse anyday (At least they think before acting:D)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Mules%20can%20do/825a9a8a.jpg

I certainly wouldn't fancy doing sidesaddle on an animal that wasn't safe!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Mules%20can%20do/2007-0522_002SidesaddleBishopMul-1.jpg

but then you get out of any animal what you are prepared to put into it

[K.T]

Im lovin these Mule pictures - I think my Criollo is a little Mule like!! LOL
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/katieclare_photos/IMG_0925.jpg

[greasedweasel]

He is adorable!!! I do love Criollos :D (er and mules....)

[greasedweasel]

Actually I am due to be in Pencaitland very soon...

Can always snog a lovely Long Eared One - and maybe a mule from Cuev would be stunning idea, using a nice Andalusian Giant of course...

http://www.ancraa.org/default.asp

PM if your coming up this way (nr Gretna) and want to visit - she's roughed off for a holiday at the mo' but you could still have a sit on in the round pen if you fancied a shot?