[QUOTE=webbcutey;7406221]
Mules can jump round just fine. But yes, they can also jump from a standstill, so hang on if they stop at a jump, you CAN get them over, but it won’t be comfortable…[/QUOTE]
Jumping an obstacle with height from a standstill can get you carded for dangerous riding. So yeah, it will be pretty uncomfortable back in the barn after XC when the TD comes looking for you!
[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;7406451]
I’ve seen some warmbloods with ears that nearly rival a mule’s!![/QUOTE]
:yes:
I agree with the panty’s in a wad. I rode Army mules bareback (they wouldn’t let us use the saddles) back in the days all around the grounds at West Point. They are fun and awesome. Just this summer I was riding my extremely green 4 yr OTTB at an unrecognized event sponsored by a local pony club and there was a mule competing. NOT. ONE. HORSE. had a problem with it. Seriously. We are eventers. We and our horses deal with it. Let’s get that rule changed.
It seems pretty silly to ban mules from competing just because some horses spook at them. Horses will spook at ANYTHING. They didn’t ban cars parked backwards or plastic Walmart bags, so banning mules is just ridiculous. They won’t get comfortable with mules unless they actually get to see them either!
Where I board, there’s a pasture of Tibetan yaks right next to the outdoor ring. After the initial “blow/snort/stare” from a few, none of the horses have an issue. They don’t even notice the yaks at this point. If horses can get used to big hairy yaks, they can get used to mules.
Edited to add–I forgot, they had an outrider at Fair Hill last year on a big white mule!
[QUOTE=subk;7407029]
Jumping an obstacle with height from a standstill can get you carded for dangerous riding. So yeah, it will be pretty uncomfortable back in the barn after XC when the TD comes looking for you![/QUOTE]
Huh, didn’t know that! See, obviously NOT a jumper in any way, shape or form… Although we’re working on getting to the level of being able to fake it. 
[QUOTE=skipollo;7408024]
Edited to add–I forgot, they had an outrider at Fair Hill last year on a big white mule![/QUOTE]
It didn’t have spots did it? Cause in that case it was my HORSE (j/k, but Spot does have big ears and was outriding).
[QUOTE=Meredith Clark;7409577]
It didn’t have spots did it? Cause in that case it was my HORSE (j/k, but Spot does have big ears and was outriding).[/QUOTE]
No he didn’t have any spots, I don’t think. There was a woman riding him, and they were right next to a big brush ditch jump with a galloping lane after it. It was kind of near the big table with a picnic style blanket on it. He was BIG too–I wonder if he was a draft mule?
Anyway, the woman told us he’s a mule so I don’t think it was you 
[QUOTE=subk;7405511]
If I remember correctly that was a problem and it was the justification for the ruling that banned mules from eventing. Although I’ve always suspected that the rule change came about more because there were some people with their panties in a twist about being beaten on their fancy horses by a mule. [/QUOTE]
I believe your suspicion is more likely correct. Horse shows were limited to HORSES after an Army mule beat all the horses at the National in the big jumping classes. Even though that predated the date on this publication, I’m guessing it stems from the same issue.
You know, while I think the mules are very cute - if they ARE better jumpers than many horses (like the example Ccoronios gives above - mule beating out all of the jumpers), I would rather not have them be a part of recognized competitions.
I know I know. But it isn’t because I would be offended that a “mule” beat my “fancy” horse - its because a mule may have an unfair advantage when it comes to jumping, and I don’t think mules would be my cup of tea. I wouldn’t want to have to ride one to be competitive in a “horse show”!
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7411053]
You know, while I think the mules are very cute - if they ARE better jumpers than many horses (like the example Ccoronios gives above - mule beating out all of the jumpers), I would rather not have them be a part of recognized competitions.
I know I know. But it isn’t because I would be offended that a “mule” beat my “fancy” horse - its because a mule may have an unfair advantage when it comes to jumping, and I don’t think mules would be my cup of tea. I wouldn’t want to have to ride one to be competitive in a “horse show”![/QUOTE]
So ban them from upper levels.
If you’re seriously worried about something, anything, being a “better jumper” than your horse at Beginner Novice, you’ve got other issues. :lol:
Okay then, no upper level mules
I don’t know I guess I come from the land that hosts “Mule Days” and other mule specific shows, but I get the gist that is not true for the rest of the country.
Coon jumping looks really dangerous to me, and it doesn’t seem like the mules are too thrilled to do it.
Mules jumpers are like horse jumpers - some are good and some aren’t. Some are built to be jumpers and some aren’t. And then you have to factor in the other issues that affect performance, i.e. rider skill, training, etc. So, I don’t think anyone has to worry about mules being able to beat all the horses all the time or even most of the time.
In addition, the majority of mule owners I know ride western and only a tiny percentage have any interest in competing. I’ve often wondered if the kind of person who loves mules also tends to be the kind of person who isn’t into formal competitions.
So, even if they did allow mules to event, I don’t think you would be seeing many of them in competition.
[QUOTE=Meredith Clark;7411566]
Coon jumping looks really dangerous to me, and it doesn’t seem like the mules are too thrilled to do it.[/QUOTE]
This just came up in one of the Off Course discussion. I can assure you that mules do not do anything they don’t want to do. If a mule is not thrilled about coon jumping, he simply won’t do it.
Neither is coon jumping particularly dangerous. Mules have an extremely strong self-preservation instinct. If it’s dangerous, they won’t do it. They often have better judgment on this front than the people riding them.
[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;7411610]
This just came up in one of the Off Course discussion. I can assure you that mules do not do anything they don’t want to do. If a mule is not thrilled about coon jumping, he simply won’t do it.
Neither is coon jumping particularly dangerous. Mules have an extremely strong self-preservation instinct. If it’s dangerous, they won’t do it. They often have better judgment on this front than the people riding them. :)[/QUOTE]
Yes, mule owner here, you will not be getting my mule to do anything he does not want to do without asking very politely, and he’s a little 'un!
I don’t understand the statement that coon jumping “looks really dangerous”…I don’t coon jump my mule, but seriously, it’s just a standard with a single pole. How is that any more dangerous than any other form of jumping, particularly eventing where the obstacles are solid?
How would people go about petitioning to get mules back?
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7411657]
Yes, mule owner here, you will not be getting my mule to do anything he does not want to do without asking very politely, and he’s a little 'un!
I don’t understand the statement that coon jumping “looks really dangerous”…I don’t coon jump my mule, but seriously, it’s just a standard with a single pole. How is that any more dangerous than any other form of jumping, particularly eventing where the obstacles are solid?[/QUOTE]
Sounds like the way jumping started! I remember the days of very sparse polage even in ‘real’ jumping classes. And those of us who crossed to the dark (breed) shows - jumping classes consisted of a single pole across two barrels.
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7411657]
Yes, mule owner here, you will not be getting my mule to do anything he does not want to do without asking very politely, and he’s a little 'un! [/QUOTE]
:lol:
Yep. I’ve had 31’’ of NO! before, and he can sure put up a fight. If something like making him go somewhere he doesn’t, he’s small enough that we can force the issue…but anything else? Nope nope and nope. My poor farrier… :lol:
[QUOTE=TheJenners;7412664]
:lol:
Yep. I’ve had 31’’ of NO! before, and he can sure put up a fight. If something like making him go somewhere he doesn’t, he’s small enough that we can force the issue…but anything else? Nope nope and nope. My poor farrier… :lol:[/QUOTE]
Mine is 13.2hh, and when we were still learning about each other (he’s my first mule), he actually sat down, like dogs learn to do when they don’t want to go anywhere. I was just asking him to cross a small stream, he didn’t slip, didn’t fall, just gently sunk onto his butt and flicked his ears at me. :lol: He’s got quite a sense of humor!
Bless him, he is mostly an absolute angel and self-loads, ground ties, stands for vet and farrier, etc. But I do have occasional moments when I wonder why I got a pony AND a mule wrapped up in one package!
(He does now begrudgingly do water crossings, although he’ll make a fuss about getting his feet wet if there’s a dryer alternative. But we did not acquire this skill by me yanking on him, that’s for sure!)
I didn’t know mules were banned either, and I find this rule really strange especially if they aren’t banned in recogn. dressage!
The arguments mentioned, 1) that mules are spooking horses and 2) that mules are “better jumpers than horses”, don’t make sense to me.
I for one would love to ride a mule! And the videos posted show that they are perfectly capable to do all 3 phases of eventing and look good doing it!
