Nice article on the effort to get mules into dressage competitions:
http://luckythreeranch.com/website/wp-content/articles/mulesintheusef2007final.pdf
I have a mule. Proof of mule 1. Proof of mule 2.
I’ve had lots of horses in and out of my place – young, old, intelligent, notsobright – and not one has ever been frightened of him. And his name is Casper.
When I lived in LA, we used to go to a backyardish schooling show series to which one family would bring their mules to compete in h/j stuff. Mules were fancy movers and good jumpers. Again, I never saw a horse react to them.
Maybe it’s the people who spook at mules? I mean, everyone who’s ever driven by here has said to us ‘Is that a mule?’
[QUOTE=beowulf;7411674]
How would people go about petitioning to get mules back?[/QUOTE]
My guess is that you would submit a rule change proposal to USEF. IIRC it has to be done before June 1, and then it gets discussed/ voted on in December. You would contact the USEF Eventing liaison for help/ advice.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;7413091]
My guess is that you would submit a rule change proposal to USEF. IIRC it has to be done before June 1, and then it gets discussed/ voted on in December. You would contact the USEF Eventing liaison for help/ advice.[/QUOTE]
I think those in this thread should do this! I’m looking for a way to contact now…
Add me to the I had no idea they weren’t allowed group! Eh?! I’ve seen them out doing dressage so I agree if the DQ’s can handle it we should be ashamed as eventers to be scared of a little mule! Aren’t we supposed to be the all welcoming cool crowd!? 
I welcome the competition and if my horse is scared of a mule to the point of being dangerous than we have zero right to be at a competition. We’d best get back to training at home to learn obedience. Period. I’d LOVE to see some mules going around XC! And if they are getting a bad rap for “coon jumping” as a possibililty then my pony should be banned too! She’s a TERRIBLE “coon jumper” when she wants to be! She’s young and still learning to just GO no matter what and sometimes she hits the brakes to sniff the fence and then LEAPS over it from a standstill. We’re getting better but every now and again…Coon Jumping McGee! Bring on the mules!! I’ll sign the petition!
Beowulf, it’s Shelagh Costello you need to talk to–https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/allEventing.aspx
She’s really nice-- I had to talk to her every spring for four years about my old horse’s nose net. Here’s the rule change form: http://prc.usef.org/propose.aspx When I proposed the (rejected) change to allow nose nets she pretty much walked me through it.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;7413250]
Beowulf, it’s Shelagh Costello you need to talk to–https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/allEventing.aspx
She’s really nice-- I had to talk to her every spring for four years about my old horse’s nose net. Here’s the rule change form: http://prc.usef.org/propose.aspx When I proposed the (rejected) change to allow nose nets she pretty much walked me through it.[/QUOTE]
Okay… this would be a “standard” proposal rule change, right?
EDIT: anyone want to sleuth the Rule Sub-Chapter and Title/Rule Reference and Title info?
I don’t have a USEF ID# or USEA ID anymore - I stopped competing when I lost my gelding several years ago, and my membership has expired.
I suppose, in retrospect, my opinion might be invalid - considering I am no longer a paying member or contributer to USEA/USEF…
[QUOTE=JER;7413076]
I have a mule. Proof of mule 1. Proof of mule 2.
I’ve had lots of horses in and out of my place – young, old, intelligent, notsobright – and not one has ever been frightened of him. And his name is Casper.
When I lived in LA, we used to go to a backyardish schooling show series to which one family would bring their mules to compete in h/j stuff. Mules were fancy movers and good jumpers. Again, I never saw a horse react to them.
Maybe it’s the people who spook at mules? I mean, everyone who’s ever driven by here has said to us ‘Is that a mule?’[/QUOTE]
I wondered if Casper would make an appearance! But it should be noted he only deigns to grace articles about eventing (and other horse-related sports) - not doing the actual hard work himself. He leaves that to less intelligent creatures.
[QUOTE=beowulf;7411674]
How would people go about petitioning to get mules back?[/QUOTE]
Send in a lot of twisted panties?
Maybe mules aren’t allowed because…they’re mules, not horses? Donkeys and horses are different species, mules are the hybrid off shoot - different number of chromosomes and all that?
I loffs me some mules, but I wonder if this simpler reason, of horse shows being for horses, that they aren’t allowed in recognized shows, not that people’s panties are bunched or they don’t want to be beaten?
I’m one for letting them compete in recognized shows, just need to open up the definition of “horse” show a little bit 
[QUOTE=NErider;7414003]
Maybe mules aren’t allowed because…they’re mules, not horses? Donkeys and horses are different species, mules are the hybrid off shoot - different number of chromosomes and all that?
I loffs me some mules, but I wonder if this simpler reason, of horse shows being for horses, that they aren’t allowed in recognized shows, not that people’s panties are bunched or they don’t want to be beaten?
I’m one for letting them compete in recognized shows, just need to open up the definition of “horse” show a little bit :D[/QUOTE]
That doesn’t change the fact that they’re allowed in recognized dressage shows (DRESSAGE! Let that sink in! If the warmblood folks can let them in, the eventing folks can…;)), as well as literally every western event out there, combined driving, etc, etc, etc.
Basically just the eventers and the hunter/jumpers holding out.
They are also allowed in ADS carriage driving. We have competed against a few and I haven’t seen a problem with horses spooking.
I’ve seen some warmbloods with ears that nearly rival a mule’s!!
And TBs too: https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/537187_10200463078561596_664408149_n.jpg
For comparison, the mule that my instructor had in training last year:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1480722_10202553139491813_1807100952_n.jpg
We’re at a big boarding facility and the mule didn’t seem to get any of the other horses’ panties in a bunch. My horse was initially much more concerned about the Icelandics in our barn. She got used to them too.
Here’s a video I took of a mule doing a derby several years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJFMSrsjsa0
The owner was involved in submitting a rule change proposal a few years ago to allow mules back into eventing but it did not pass because mules would be a disruption to horses during competition.
Apparently they are only a distraction to horses that event and not horses that do straight dressage.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7414498]
The owner was involved in submitting a rule change proposal a few years ago to allow mules back into eventing but it did not pass because mules would be a disruption to horses during competition.
Apparently they are only a distraction to horses that event and not horses that do straight dressage.[/QUOTE]
I think saying mules are a “distraction” is what the USEA board uses as an excuse for not allowing mules. I ride once a month with Brian Sabo and had a conversation with him about his. Apparently there is one long standing board member who is adamantly opposed to mules for some unknown reason. His thought was as long as she was on the board, mules would not be allowed to compete.
It sounds more like prejudice to me.
Twin Rivers Ranch has a schooling HT every year around Halloween and many competitors dress themselves and their horses up in costumes for the dressage phase. It seems to me that if crazy Halloween costumes are okay, an equid with longer ears would be perfectly fine.
[QUOTE=TheJenners;7412664]
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]
I am familiar with that “NO!” I have a small standard donkey (one size bigger than a mini) and “NO!!!” has been his reaction about fly spray since the first day I got him. Many times, I have tried to work on getting him used to fly spray. He is still adamantly opposed. And he can drag me all over the pasture. He doesn’t look like he’d be that strong.
My farrier used to go to a barn that had several donkeys and mules. Whenever he arrived, he would always ask “OK…which of you would like to have your feet trimmed today?” :lol:
I used to go watch the Donkey and Mule show at the state fair. They had a coon jumping class. One man would turn his mule away and cover his mule’s eyes when the other mules would jump. He said he didn’t want his mule to learn bad habits from the others.
We’ve established mules can jump. They can do dressage, too - this is last October. (I’m posting this here because I do like to brag about my boy, he IS wonderful.) We got a ridiculously high score and second place in the class!
I had no idea that people seriously rode mules… or that they looked quite that nice. I haven’t had much exposure to them but WOW I am impressed. Thanks to the OP for starting up this topic. I’ve learned quite a bit.
[QUOTE=rockonxox;7415432]
I had no idea that people seriously rode mules… or that they looked quite that nice. I haven’t had much exposure to them but WOW I am impressed. Thanks to the OP for starting up this topic. I’ve learned quite a bit.[/QUOTE]
Here’s mine, all cleaned up for a show: https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/316722_10150811150505215_1053328640_n.jpg
His little 13h plain bay self gets more compliments than either the big gorgeous grey gelding or the dark bay with chrome mare. When he sheds out in the late spring, he GLOWS.
Tougher to fit a saddle to than any horse, but I just bought him an adorable Bates pony dressage saddle so that we can go out campaigning this year! He’s spent two years out on a lease doing all sorts of western-y stuff, so this year we’re going to try our hand at dressage…you know, since they’ll have us. 
Coming out of lurkdom to share this article about a mule who worked as a pony at Turfway Park. If racehorses can do just fine around mules, why can’t eventers?
