[URL=“http://www.centerlinescores.com/Horse/Details/1093051”]http://www.centerlinescores.com/Horse/Details/1093051
[URL=“http://www.heart-b-ranch.com/”]http://www.heart-b-ranch.com/
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7797726]
Like another poster said, I imagine most of the bigger ones are out of TBs.
I have a little pony mule we strongly suspect is out of a Morgan. (Came from Amish county, adorable movement, has the Morgan coloring.) See:
https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/316722_10150811150505215_1053328640_n.jpg?oh=49e78995ebb3c32a6f225ce063516fd0&oe=54F7487D
I should get some photos of him under saddle. He really is the fanciest little bugger. I wish I had more time for him because I would definitely campaign him in the local dressage shows.[/QUOTE]
He’s lovely! :love-struck:
[QUOTE=not again;7797008]
Some people will be kissing their entry money goodbye when the mule starts talking. We are in an Amish neighborhood with lots of working mules, and some horses never get over their fear and panic about having to even get near them. Should be exciting to watch though![/QUOTE]
I’ve boarded my mule at two different facilities and taken him to shows and have never had an issue with the horses even caring a little bit. Interesting about the horses in your area!
It’s actually more common than not for horses to freak out abit when mules bray. But I’m sure some are worse than others.
http://www.montanamules.com/About-Us.html
Noticed someone on GOFUNDME just bought a mule expressly for dressage (and jumping – do you guys have any idea how HIGH mules can jump?). Maybe there IS a market for my Weltmeyer Mule.
That would teach my opinionated redhead!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6O6u8P3QA0
Wow kyzteke, what a video!
[QUOTE=jenm;7798359]
I’ve boarded my mule at two different facilities and taken him to shows and have never had an issue with the horses even caring a little bit. Interesting about the horses in your area![/QUOTE]
I saw a couple at a show last year (Laura’s mule was one of them - and he is lovely!), and MOST of the horses were pretty freaked out, especially when they were braying. Most horses were snorting and looking pretty strongly when they had to walk by the mules. They obviously smell different AND sound different. I think most horses will get use to them with time, but most horses seem to be initially bothered by ANYTHING different (and a mule is different).
I can honestly say it is NOT the rider reaction that causes the horses to react, many were w/ experienced riders. My own mare almost fell out of her skin, and I wasn’t expecting any reaction, figured she’s seen cattle and other critters, this would not be an issue.
Thanks for the letting me know what the mule’s momma is, and another WOW for the mule jumping video!
I have shown against Laura but for some reason we have not actually met. Good rider and trainer. Her mules are very well behaved.
But I must admit the braying is difficult to deal with. Moxie, the mule she rides that I am most familiar with, is a wonderful, well trained . . . very, very loud mule. My mare did not care, my gelding (and his rider) were quite undone.
So I wish Laura well and congratulate her on this huge accomplishment. And I agree with the above poster who said several people will kiss their entry fees goodbye lol.
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7797726]
Mine is not the alpha, but he is a perpetual pest to anyone, alpha or not. But I don’t know whether that’s the mule in him, or the pony. :lol:[/QUOTE]
I have a large draft mule who fits this description, as well, so it’s not just the pony.
Some horses panic over pintos; many panic over cows. They get over it.
Many horses panic over things because their riders are convinced they are going to. We have an occasional student who rides a mule. None of the horses have been bothered by her at all, except one gal who JUST KNEW her horse would be terrified of the mule.
The biggest challenge with the mule has been teaching her to jump like a horse. She was “coon jumped” as a youngster so getting her to jump from a trot or canter required quite a bit of riding.
I’ve seen some WBs FREAK over a leopard Appy! I have had two youngsters flip out over a grey/white horse, so yeah horses can get upset over anything that they are not used to why exposing them to as much as you can is great for their confidence.
I have had two donks forever and it usually takes a bit before the horses are comfortable around them. However, we also have moose in the area and it really upsets the horses. There have been more than a few accidents due to moose. They freak horses out more then most preditors.
Just saying the fear of other large animals is not unnatural.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;7798974]
Some horses panic over pintos; many panic over cows. They get over it.[/QUOTE]
Like I said, my mule has gone out and about quite a bit, and horses have really honestly never been afraid of him. Shows, big organized trail rides, etc. The occasional snort, and lots of pricked ears. But he has gone out and about with the trail riding, western, eventing crowds. Not the dressage crowds. 
[QUOTE=vineyridge;7798974]
Some horses panic over pintos; many panic over cows. They get over it.[/QUOTE]
Oh no, they do not all get over it. Cows are clearly evil and should be feared for life.
We walk by a field that used to have cows in it, has not in three years now. My horse still looks at it like she is sure the cows will attack out of nowhere any second now.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;7799035]
Oh no, they do not all get over it. Cows are clearly evil and should be feared for life.
We walk by a field that used to have cows in it, has not in three years now. My horse still looks at it like she is sure the cows will attack out of nowhere any second now.[/QUOTE]
I have a mule AND cows and on the other side of the road is a rusty tractor and the 8’ tall swamp reeds that rustle scarily in the slightest breeze. Might as well be the road to hell.
[QUOTE=stoicfish;7798998]
I have had two donks forever and it usually takes a bit before the horses are comfortable around them. However, we also have moose in the area and it really upsets the horses. There have been more than a few accidents due to moose. They freak horses out more then most preditors.
Just saying the fear of other large animals is not unnatural.[/QUOTE]
When my last sale horse was going through her PPE, they did the lunging test out back next to a pasture of grazing cattle. She had never seen cattle…her passage was extraordinary!:eek:
We’ve had moose pass through the pasture and the horses always gallop a distance away then turn and watch them pass. For some reason the deer don’t bother them at all.
Talk about PIGS!! Oh, the first time my neighbor’s “free range” pigs came over it was a riot! WB hissy-fits in all directions.
Then of course we have llamas. Back “in the day” when I was a polo groom I mistakenly took a set of 4 ponies out for a trot near a road that passed by a llama farm. Still not sure how I even survived THAT rodeo.
Fact is horses are spooked by almost anything new & different…and I really don’t think they recognize mules as other horses. Those long ears make them very suspicious looking…and when they start to bray that REALLY seals the deal!
But they DO get used to it in time…
[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;7797726]
They don’t fight like horses…all teeth and front feet with mules, it’s a sight! [/QUOTE]
You said it! They bite each other’s knees, twisting them, trying to get the other guy to bend a front leg and fall down. You keep watching these equids (thinking “horses”) and can’t believe you are watching this level of “contact sports” in your arena, not out in the wild.
One of my students had a horse that he had pastured with a mule. He swears to me mule taught his QH to jump out of the pasture over super high fences.
I saw a 4H mule project jumping contest. The littlest bugger won.
go mule!
