gaited mule saddle suggestions

[jeano]

OK, I KNOW that gaited saddles are hype, except that round skirts go better with short backs, but I am not up on saddles for mules (that just happen to be gaited). Some new neighbors, novices to horses, have purchased gaited mules and will be bringing them home soon. One has a saddle, I think the other does not. I have offered to aid, abet, assist and generally give the benefit of my experience with equines to these folks. I will be their closest horsie neighbor. (And in all likelihood the only person in the vicinity who wont steer them toward a ten inch shank walking horse bit with a chain-saw mouthpiece. We are in redneckland.)

I understand that mule conformation often means cruppers and breastcollars are necessary, so I’m clued in to the fact that a saddle for a mule should have dees and such where those useful accessories can be attached.

Aside from that, any special mule-saddle purchasing tips? Do they tend to do best with special mule bars or is that tantamount to “gaited” bars or trees?

[wireweiners]

Tucker makes several of their saddles with a mule tree. I’ve always wanted a Tucker saddle, they look so comfy, but they are out of my price range for now. If they can afford it, they might look at a Tucker saddle. I think mules tend to be narrower than horses and many are mutton withered.

[Cashela]

Crest ridge saddlery, Debra owns gaited mules. http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/

[katarine]

You just need a mule saddle period, gaited or not they don’t much have withers usually- depends on how horsie the mule is over their back.

[Simbalism]

An internet friend of mine has mules. I think only one that is gaited. She purchased a Wintec 2000 all purpose when she was visiting here in Va from Wisconsin and she uses that with all of her mules. The only time she seems to mention using the britchens(sp?) or crupper is when she and her husband are doing really “rough” trails. Then she also uses a western saddle. From her pictures it seems she most always uses a breast collar.
Crest Ridge Saddlery is great to work with. I wanted an endurance type saddle to trail ride with on my TB mare. Needless to say her withers were an issue with “off the rack” saddles. Debra gave me all the info to measure my horse to get a good fit.

[jeano]

interesting about the wintec, that’s what I trail-ride in. I am planning on doing a test ride on both these critters when they are settled in, to see just how broke they are. One is only four so cant be just a whole lot more than green-broke, I’m thinking. The sum total of my experience with mules, other than admiring them, was hopping on one bareback when I was a teenager and giggling hysterically because the shape of the back was so different. Like a round, upholstered log.

I dont want my newbies to get hurt (or disillusioned). Me either, of course.

[katarine]

Novices with mules? God love them= good luck.

I love mules but that’s just a bad idea all the way around. They’ll find a weakness in those peeps and exploit it terribly. I hope they take some mule-lessons.

[jenm]

[QUOTE=jeano;5054035]

Aside from that, any special mule-saddle purchasing tips? Do they tend to do best with special mule bars or is that tantamount to “gaited” bars or trees?[/QUOTE]

Lots of good mule and mule tack information can be found via this wonderful Yahoo Group:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/MulesOnly/

Lots of fun people with tons of mule experience!

[jeano]

[QUOTE=katarine;5056703]
Novices with mules? God love them= good luck.

I love mules but that’s just a bad idea all the way around. They’ll find a weakness in those peeps and exploit it terribly. I hope they take some mule-lessons.[/QUOTE]

I know, I know… I did my best to explain to them that great horsemen have the potential to make middling mule-skinners. And one of the mules is only 4. I dont know how much help I’ll be but I’m willing to try. At least I can give them “horse lessons” as regards setting limits and not tolerating any nonsense. I’m pretty good at that.

They are young, they promise to use helmets, and supposedly the person who bred and sold the mules will be a resource. He however is at least an hour away while I am just down the street.

They’d been given the name of my parellified neighbor and caught up with me by accident when they saw me riding down the road. I figure its my duty to keep them away from pepperoni if I can.