Mini mules...some questions...

[spacytracy]

Our mini horse passed suddenly a few weeks ago (he was at least 35, so not a big shock).

Now I have two ponies, and they’re being idiots now when seperated.

My friend runs a small rescue (basically plucking one at a time from New Holland, quarantining them/vet/eval and then finding homes). She pulled an adorable mini mule the other day and has nothing but good things to say about him.

Ive googled til my eyeballs pop out, but there isn’t a ton out there regarding mini mules.

Anyone with experience with them want to share their experience?

I would love something to be our new buddy. Our mini horse was a loveable pet and I took him to schools, nursing homes, and anywhere else I could think of. I would love a project to play with.

[UrbanHennery]

I have a mini mule that I got from another COTHer. Shes super smart and super aware of everything. She’s also highly suspicious of everyone because as far as I can tell she never forgets or forgives. She basically lives on air and first cut low sugar grass hay. She’s also adorable and a perfect companion to my gelding. And oh my, those ears!

That said, she can be loud. It’s not really a donkey bray, but along those lines and at that volume.

I wouldn’t hesitate to get another, and I think one that hadn’t had whatever experiences are in her distant past (before myself or Horsepoor had her) would be highly trainable and friendly. Note tho that Mo is not food motivated but she is easy to teach new things (assuming you can catch her).

[spacytracy]

As far as loud - all day loud, or just when she sees you?

My friend says hes pretty quiet, but the noise is a big concern.

[UrbanHennery]

She’s loud at meal times, if she considers them to be late. Although the fact that meal times are a bit irregular lately seems to have mitigated that (it’s that weird time of year where they sometimes get pasture time and sometimes don’t and dinner shifts around as a result).

Shes also loud when JD leaves with me. Although apparently the calling doesn’t last too long any more. None of the neighbor’s have ever complained and several are pretty close.

[spacytracy]

Yea that’s my concern- my neighbors.

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=spacytracy;8615006]
As far as loud - all day loud, or just when she sees you?

My friend says hes pretty quiet, but the noise is a big concern.[/QUOTE]

There is huge variation among mules in terms of how they vocalize and how loud they can be. I had one mule who could only muster an almost inaudible squeak. I’ve got one now who can be pretty loud, but doesn’t feel the need to let loose very often. The other one I have now has a very distinctive “bray,” but it’s not very loud.

[GotMyPony]

Not a mule but I have a gelded donkey that doesn’t ever bray - has only given the full bray once since we got him about 5 years ago; did it the first time he heard a neighbor donkey and never since. So you never know.

Re mules, I attended a seminar with the people who run Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (second largest after the Donkey Sanctuary of the UK), and they said while it’s usually reliable to generalize to a certain extent about horse and donkey behaviors, it’s harder to do with mules because you don’t really know which parent he/she took after most, the horse or the donkey.

That said, we have a huge contingent of mule riders (not minis obviously) in our area and they are fanatics about how wonderful mules are. I’d try one in a minute. Good luck!

[Salty]

My mini mule hardly ever makes any noise, but when he does, it’s really pitiful. Sounds like a sob. It’s not super loud, either.

He is definitely an air plant, & also very suspicious of new people, with a few exceptions. He’s incredibly smart & once he learns xomething, he never forgets it, but he’s also reactive & spooky.

Each mule is such an individual! You should go check this one out & see if it’s your mule.

Adorableness is a given.

[spacytracy]

She said so far he is pretty quiet. So hopefully he stays that way.
I am planning on going to meet him soon - want to give him time to settle in so I can see his true personality.
He’s realllllly cute.
Let me see if I can find a photo.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/12973044_1574608476182665_5098478414889233682_o_zpsv0oqrtbf.jpg

[JanM]

He is totally, absolutely cute!

[Alagirl]

So, somebody crossed a pony and a mini donk, and hoped for a good outcome?! :eek:

[Salty]

He looks a lot like my mule! And someone crossed a spotted pony with a mini donk, hoping for I don’t know what, to produce my mule. Who has a home for life with me!

[LookmaNohands]

I have two. One is appaloosa and one is pinto. Very cute. They are not noisy. If you separate them you might hear one of them but it is no louder than a whinny. The appy is an old soul who had very little handling when I first got him. The other was very badly abused by the Amish and has never come around to be friendly. We have an understanding but you can’t really touch him. You can hand feed him though.

When I first got the scared one, I talked to mule people and was told that mules are slower to trust than horses and if you have one that has been abused–good luck.

That is pretty much it.

Alagirl–a mini mule is just a short mule. Not necessarily out of a mini mare.

[spacytracy]

I dont think anyone will mind as long as its not incessant. My POA mare has a shrill, obnoxious whinny that drives me nuts, so I imagine it is annoying to others. She only whinnies when seperated so its not often.

We will see!!

[UrbanHennery]

He’s cute!

[LockeMeadows]

I have a mini hinny (mini donkey crossed with a mini horse stallion). He was left at a farm that was foreclosed on and was “purchased” by multiple people who were not able to a) catch him b) lead him or c) load him on their trailer. I guess when we went to pick him up, he either liked me or could tell I wasn’t going to put up with his BS. In 15 min, I had him in a stall, haltered, and then on our trailer. Once home, he was horrible to catch even in a stall. We got him dewormed, vaccinated, had his teeth floated, made sure he was gelded, and now I’m pretty sure we will never get our hands on him again. He is feral and is as wild as they come…and CUTE as can be. We love him. He is loud and LOVES the ladies although he isn’t studish at all. We also have a mini donk who is the love of my life. She is a doll baby and loves everyone. I would get more mini donkeys in a heart beat. The more I learn about mules, they are extremely intelligent and quite opinionated. Just my personal experience.

[spacytracy]

Apparently, despite being run through the auction in a herd, then being pulled away from the herd, he led well and hopped right on the trailer. She said he was really scared, and didn’t put a foot wrong.

I really hope that speaks to his demeanor.

I am so impatient to go meet him but my friend is away right now so I have to wait until she gets back to town.

I am hoping he is willing enough to be a friendly pet. Our mini horse was a mascot of sorts. Was sweet and outgoing and loved attention, so we took him lots of places. So many people got to meet a horse for the first time because of him!

Apparently the other donkey they pulled is sick, so she hasn’t had as much time to work with Ferris, and it might be a little longer for quarantine since the other guy has gotten sick (he is being treated).

She sent me a short video last night. He’s so cute.
http://vid3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/202653EF-CE42-4F6C-A4DD-53ABB3A7856E_zpsswe2zfiz.mp4

[spacytracy]

Hi! Back with some updates. Well, I’ve gone out to see him twice. First time went really well, I got to work with him for a few minutes and I could tell he doesn’t know much but he tries his little heart out.

The second time was yesterday, and he was exposed to A LOT in 24 hrs. Being caught, put in a stall, I came, vet came, he got gelded, feet done (while he was out, but still!) and just a slew of stuff was thrown at him. He was a STAR.

The only time he got silly was when he was being led past a herd of ponies he reared a few times but honestly, it just looked like baby behavior to me. he was having a temper tantrum because he wanted to play with them. So my friend led him around the ring and popped him over some jumps to distract him while the vet was prepping all the equipment. Nothing that made me think he was out of control.

Here are some more pics/video!
http://vid3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/BD4C4EB9-0A84-4D65-88B8-171FC9824074_zpswox3lor7.mp4
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/7BAF4104-C076-442A-A879-54A68B20CB60_zpsdcfvvf2s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/597B1155-21C2-4BBC-AD65-0F496A89989F_zpsznafeexy.png
Show jumper!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/spacytracy05/4695DD16-B440-4058-B79C-195F18BD9D5C_zpsemcajt1v.png

[Salty]

So how can you possibly not take him home with you?!

Insanely cute, just like mine, & with GP potential.

[King_Creole]

Go get him. Go get him now.

I love all minis and fell in love with mini mules when I went to a big mule show as a teen. There will be minis of some sort in my possession. I’m so glad DH is on board with that lol.