Custom mule warmblood foal?

[ehnzed]

I want to find someone to design my dream forever foal and handle the whole process ending in arranging transport to Canada once weaned and travel ready. My dream forever foal is a splashy colourful warmblood mule. I’m located in Canada, and thus far can’t find anywhere that offers accommodations for such a unique request. I know it’s weird and wonky, but that isn’t anyone’s problem but mine, as I will be the only owner

Where do I begin finding someone who could make a knowledgeable match and has the experience to raise a mule? The closer to the Ontario border the better, but it really doesn’t matter - whatever it takes to make the dream come true!

[4horses]

I suggest you keep looking. Probably looking for a smaller breeder.

Years ago there was someone breeding warmbloods to mammoth jacks here in Florida but I think they are gone now.

I had a friend who wanted an appaloosa mule. She ended up with an appaloosa horse instead. She did find a breeder but they had a filly and she only wanted a colt so passed on buying the mule filly.

[Marla_000]

There’s an aged Appaloosa/Mammoth Jack here in Central Fl on the farm next to me. He is gigantic. I believe the current owners got him as a rescue.

[trubandloki]

A quick google search found this place (I know nothing about this place, I just found them on a google search).

West Elk Equine | Gunnison CO

[Scribbler]

From what I’ve seen there are more mules and mule culture in the USA than Canada.

I would say that wanting a colored WB mule makes things more difficult. The pinto or Appy color will need to come from the mare dam. You could source a pinto from the Art Deco lines or a knabstrupper but neither are anywhere near as common as Paints or Appaloosas. But I don’t think there is much overlap between WB and mule culture. Most people are breeding mules for back country work and they go for draft or stock horse mares. So this may be a harder job completely outsourcing this since the breeder may not be able to source a relatively pricey Oldenburg mare. And I suspect that a WB person wanting to find a breeding lease for their pinto Oldenburg mare might not choose a mule breeder. I also have heard that the Art Deco lines are not super easy horses. My guess is you want the dam to be a very easy going cool girl type if the sire is going to be a literal jackass!

I must say I have been impressed with seeing what mules can do from video and also that the horse mare makes a huge difference. But they aren’t necessarily easy to work with and can’t be pushed or bullied like a horse.

[trubandloki]

My quick google search claimed that the best way to get color is to use a spotted jack. So the OP can use a plain mare and find a spotted jack they like.

[Scribbler]

Oh ok! I did not know they came spotted. That makes it much easier!!!

[endlessclimb]

OP if you succeed in your endeavor please post lots of pictures.

In another life (or in another 10 years) I’d love to have a spotted mule. I want a gaited one, though!

[Simkie]

Just brainstorming, but there have got to be FB groups where mare owners offer their horses for breeding leases, right? Perhaps posting in that sort of group or contacting mare owners directly from there would be a useful avenue to pursue?

Do you have a jack in mind? That’s another piece to pin down. Do many jack owners ship semen?

Location seems like the least important part, tbh. You can ship from anywhere!

[beowulf]

Good luck OP. I second others, when you find it you MUST post pictures.

Years ago I went to a western auction in the south - not the slaughter pipeline kind. Lots of working horses. A pair of Belgian mules just stole my heart - they were so classy and well trained, and were one of the top sales that day. They came out of Georgia, that’s all I remember.

I know very little about mules otherwise, would love to learn more as you go on in your journey. I bet you would get more leads on FB, join a Mule FB group. I know there’s a couple because I’ve had them suggested to me.

[ehnzed]

I am leaning strongly towards Clyde’s Gallant Fox. I was also looking at Lake Nowhere Judah, but CGF’s progeny seem to consistently have a lighter build, which is more what I’m going for.

[4horses]

Ahh. He’s a nice one. Didn’t realize they did western pleasure on donkeys! But he looks like a great all around riding and working animal.

[Jarpur]

I used to have a next door neighbor who bred very large, substantial mules. He had a mammoth jack, and bred to big, stout AQHA mares with the classic roping horse build. Sweet, sweet mules that would come up to the fence that divided our places for me to pull out prickly pear thorns from their muzzles. He used these mules for weeks-long pack trips in the mountains.

If OP is wanting the WB cross mainly to add size (not movement), this kind of cross is another possibility.

[Simkie]

@ehnzed

I am leaning strongly towards Clyde’s Gallant Fox.

He looks quite nice! Have you reached out to his people? That might be another avenue to explore–check in with them to see if anyone is producing what you want!

[DiamondJubilee]

There is a local plowing match on now in Ontario and there are a few mules plowing. Though they are of course draft x’s. One Percheron x and some Belgium x’s.

I have seen some lovely mules and I hope you can find what you are looking for. Please keep us in the loop!

[ehnzed]

It is the movement and type I’m looking for - the plan is to compete in dressage and eventing, play with field hunting and obstacles, and do some trail riding and camping. So I truly need a “jack” of all trades I have a proclivity to WB DQ types, and I’ve always wanted a splashy or super blingy mount.

[Jarpur]

Best wishes for great success in your search!

I assume that you are very familiar with Meredith Hodges, but perhaps others reading along are not:

https://www.luckythreeranch.com/

[NoSuchPerson]

Don’t do it. I owned mules for years. I even bred my own “custom dressage mule.”

In my experience, it’s much more difficult to predict the size, appearance, and temperament of mules than it is when breeding horses, which to me, makes perfect sense once you think about it. My “custom” mule is beautiful, loves me, and made me laugh every day I had him, even when I wanted to shoot him. But his temperament is difficult (understatement), he was never suitable for what I wanted to do with him, and he is HUGE. Plus, he’s a lot smarter than I am.

He’s now living the semi-retired life with a friend of mine, still difficult and still making people laugh.

You are vastly more likely to get what you want by buying a young mule from a reputable breeder.

Now to try and answer your question…Subscribe to “Western Mule” and “Mules and More.” They have lots of good articles and ads and IIRC, one or both have jack issues at the first of the year with ads from breeding farms/ranches.

WESTERN MULE MAGAZINE

Mules and More Magazine

Not sure where you are in Canada, but the Alberta Donkey and Mule Club is/used to be very active. They have newsletters and classified ads.

https://albertadonkeyandmule.ca/