I am new to the forum and have two mules. They are my buddies. Anyone else feel the same way about longears?
There are several mule owners here. Iāve had mules for years, but still love my horses, too. Right now, Iām down to one of each.
What do you do with yours?
TIER aka whoanellie just took in a new mule from a Texas slaughter pen. Check out Otis now in quarantine who is heading to Calif.
i I rode mules decades ago at my great uncleās farm. Too slow but when I joined Coth I learned about racing mules. . My great grandfather had some who pulled the sugar cane wagon we rode on.
I grew up in the mountains where we farmed with mules mostly.
There were nine mules for every horse.
We happened to have a horse, but our neighbor had mules.
As a kid I got to ride a rare practically white mule.
In those days, most were brown with mealy noses and flanks.
Today mules come in all colors and shapes and sizes and abilities.
I have raised 2 mules and I adore them. I am currently mule-less and just have 2 horses , but the love of long ears never leaves you once youāve had it.
My mule story, growing up where mules were king, I never gave a difference with horses a second thought, all were wonderful equines.
In fact, I was thinking the prettiest color for any of them was the shiny brown with tan highlights of mules and a few lucky brown horses.
New to the West, I am watching a western local show.
There is this brown horse in a sea of other colors, brightly shining in the afternoon sun.
I happily exclaim, as he rides by, āthat horse looks like one of our mules growing upā, meaning his wonderful brown color.
Someone changed the conversation in a hurry and later told me that was an insult to the horse?
Mules were, well, mules, not horses?
That goes to show you, you never know.
I still think mules are just fine as mules, as horses are as horses.
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The barn owner where my horse lived in Arizona had several mules and did NATRC competitive trail rides. I got to ride one occasionally and loved them. I tried to get her to sell me a pony sized mule as a companion when I moved, but she wouldnāt part with her.
Hereās a half-Connemara pony mule that is just adorable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLQQPgPImaE&feature=youtu.be
Thank you all for replying to my mule question. I like to trail ride and have for years with my horses in the past. I rode jumpers and hunters as a child.
I broke two vertabraes and pelvis last Fall and my mules have been great with my handicap. I want to get back into the saddle soon but will be very limited to a round pen (have confidence issues now). Iāll saddle my bay mule and try him first. I have had him since he was two. My red mule, I aquired in a deal gone bad. He has issues but has come a LONG way since he has been with me and gained some trust.
I am so glad you all like mules and have experience too! I just visited a mule forum yesterday on a public Facebook page and there was way too much drama and hate. Itās crazy! The mules must think we are all nuts, horses too! Ha, ha!
I live in Shenandoah County, Va.
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OP, I love mules. I have never owned one but I fell in love with the first one I met years ago in Tennessee. He was dark brown with a mealy muzzle.
I have a little 10 hand mule who is built like a tank. He can do lateral work, lengthen & shorten his stride, &, on the ground, jump whatever you indicate. Heās a little psycho, though, due to bad handling & subsequent neglect. Adorable, however!
And I just got a BLM burro! I canāt believe I survived so long without a burro. I love the longearses.
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Oh, I love it! The links have been great along with the replys. A little phyco? Arenāt we all? I think my mules are more sane than most people I know ( horses, cats and dogs are more sane too) !
My daughter just loves donkies! Good for you to adopt. Get ready for your bray alarm clock!
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Long ago, our local college equestrian director had two personal mules he competed with.
They had mule World titles in reining and roping.
They were very good and extremely well trained.
They were both good sized, brown mules.
He was very proud of them.
Iāve never known a mule in real life but Iāve seen them at many fairs and theyāre neat animals.
Iāve also seen video of some gorgeous hunter type mules that Iād give my eye teeth for!
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You got that right. The only thing I suggest ( and I did not believe) is mules are not the same as horses. Their outlook on life is not the same. They are kinda like myself, āIf it does not make sense to me, I am not going to do itā. Does that mean I am oneray like a mule or just smart like a mule?
Yep, from a distance, I also love mules! Iāve just never had the opportunity to actually have one, but remember distinctly one that I met when I was a kidā¦ just loved him. He was āplainā by todayās standards but I thought he was beautiful.
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I love long ears even though I have never owned one. I am hoping my sister will get one, some day (she has plenty of room and it would be a nice addition to her crew of horses lol )
There is currently one mule at my barn. He is BIG, light chestnut with flaxen tail and mane, and he has the most thoughtful eyes I have ever seen on a equidae. He really looks like he has seen it all, experienced it all, and is so much wiser for it. He makes me think of an old, wise and kind philosopher.
And my flighty fruitloop of a Tb mare is FASCINATED by him. Every time we hack on that side of the property she drags me to his paddock and just STARES at him. She likes the mini-donkeys too, but I can tell she is in love with Albert.
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The first mule I wanted was Ruth, Festusā mule on Gunsmoke. My dad and I watched that show every week. He liked Miss Kitty and I liked Ruth. Go figure. Ruth was actually a john mule in real life. I just discovered that with the internet.
I have ridden horses since I was 5 years old and not until now did I finally buy myself a mule. I am now 65, kinda slow. I love my mules and donāt know why it took me this long to ride one. I am limited right now because of an accident but I do enjoy their friendship and their brays. So dang cute! And those ears! Ha, ha.
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This always makes me cry. Just love it so. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&hspart=adk&p=army+mules+of+west+point+you+tube#id=1&vid=d3e35aaf1081c606e240f6ec3e193500&action=click
I have been busy in this heat but thought Iād post this about Mr. Jackson, first Army mule from Front Royal, VA. to be selected for mascot to West Point. He was an ex Army mule which makes it even better! I live in the next county and glad he was first to be selected. Mr. Jackson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Mules
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I love mules and donkeys! I am hoping to buy a trail mule within a few months, when a Iām settled in my new house/community/state.
