The rights and wrongs of 3 Mules gift

[KBC]

I don’t know if any of you follow 3 Mules on Facebook, I drop in and out depending on what FB is showing me. He’s an older guy who has led a travelling lifestyle for years, with, originally, 3 mules! Life happens, I can’t remember the whole story about losing or retiring his original string, but he ended up with no mules. He bought 2 to continue his journey and has had all sorts of issues with them, culminating in a bad kick to the arm, so he donated said mules to a non profit. As you can read below, his damage is not as bad as he thought, and now he wants one mule back, but they do not want to return her.

The mules donated Leroy and Rosie to the organization pictured about 10 days or so ago what prompted me to decide to donate Leroy and Rosie was Leroy had just broken my arm while I was trying to hold on to his leg to put a shoe on I went to urgent Care to get X-rays and yes my elbow had been damaged my arm was in pain and I anticipated being put in a cast for a long period of time I went to see a bone specialist and he advised me yes the x-rays show you have a damaged elbow but it’s going to heal on its own and my arm is returning to full power full speed because of this changing circumstance I’ve requested this organization which now has possession of Rosie to return her they can keep Leroy but Rosie I can continue the 3Mules journey with. However they seem not to want to return her if you believe they should please contact them and show your support for the 3Mules journey and the absolute necessity that we have a mule to continue that journey the money that was used to buy Leroy and Rosie came from the 9 years of walking up and down the state meeting many people who supported what we were doing and how we were living and gave us small donations along the way we never had to ask for anything the money was given out of respect for this peaceful stellar way of life that we showed all day every day one step at a time

He posted the contact details and as you see has asked people to contact the group to lobby them…

Seems that a few support him and will do so, but a bigger group are in the “you gifted her, you don’t get her back” camp.

Where do you stand.

[Scribbler]

@pick_a_pony

Anyone seeing large price drops on horses for sale in the US West yet? I have been priced out of buying anything with much decent training for almost 2 years now. As much as it sucks for those out West I am kind of hoping the drought and hay prices will translate into some decent priced stock coming available. I don’t want to ship to my home in the Midwest but for the right price I am starting to consider it.

I haven’t been following this at all but if there’s a back story of unfortunate choices I expect the rescue won’t feel ok giving an animal back.

[Warmblood1]

Whew, his written story makes me seriously appreciate commas and periods in a paragraph.

With that said, I’d be curious as to what he agreed to when “surrendering” the mules to the organization. Most organizations have up front wording in their contracts that state whether or not an animal can be returned to the owner. It is customary that rescues and the like do not return animals. I support that decision fully.

To me, it seems as though he is trying to use social pressure to get his mule back when he has no contractual basis to do so and if he has already agreed to certain terms, I think he should honor those terms and stop creating issues for the organization.

[Warmblood1]

I did some digging and it looks like the mule was returned to him. Makes me wonder what organization the mule was donated to?

[BrownDerby]

@Scribbler

I haven’t been following this at all but if there’s a back story of unfortunate choices I expect the rescue won’t feel ok giving an animal back.

He’s been roaming around for 20 years and is now in his 80’s. They might also be concerned for his own safety, as well as that of the mules. At one point he was dragging around a 30 year old mule.

[KBC]

@Warmblood1

I did some digging and it looks like the mule was returned to him. Makes me wonder what organization the mule was donated to?

Can’t remember, he did post the paperwork, I scanned it, didn’t actually see anything about “returns” just how grateful they were for the mules.

It’s an interesting general debate about taking back gifts for sure. As is the question about the suitability of his current mules for his nomadic life style.

[Warmblood1]

Your comment reminds me of a nomadic shepherd I follow on YouTube - 123homefree. He has 3 or 4 sheep that pull a wagon and he lives completely off of his sheep, the wagon and the land. It’s really interesting to watch. I think he is roaming around Europe but I could be wrong. His sheep always look very well cared for.

Edited to add: 123homefree is in the US, not Europe.

If he donated to an animal rescue, it would be very unusual that they returned the mule. It makes me wonder if they would have returned the mule without the added social media pressure by 3Mules.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Without knowing any of the details or backstory, I think he would morally owe the rescue a fee to get the mule back (assuming they’re agreeable to releasing it to him). Otherwise they’ve been spending money on this mule that they’ll never recover. Those funds could have gone to help another animal.

[furlong47]

I would think that once you turn your animal over to a rescue and they agree to take it, it becomes part of their program. Unless some other arrangements/contract were made at that time, if you want the animal back later you should have to go through the adoption process. That would include being approved under whatever rules the rescue has as well as paying any adoption fee. I can’t imagine too many rescues adopting animals to someone who sounds effectively homeless (even if by choice) and doesn’t have a permanent place to house them.

[moonlitoaksranch]

He’s a strange man. I’m sure the rescue wanted to just avoid bad publicity. Perhaps his followers are a scary group. Is he wealthy or poor? Perhaps that’s part of it. Asking for a donation from a guy living on nearly nothing wouldn’t sit well with most people. The rescue did the right thing. With all the publicity he gets, I’m sure people are keeping an eye on him and the condition of the mules in his care.

On a side note, if a mule kicks, there’s usually a reason…

[anon68314200]

I follow him on FB. He’s gathered some active supporters over the past few years. His most common difficulties are law enforcement getting uncomfortable when he travels roads with problematic traffic volume. Or when he finds himself camping somewhere he is spotted, and objections are raised. He does need legal help at time, as he has had his mules impounded and finds himself detained, occasionally…… His supporters help him get his mules tended to, help him with legal troubles, wrangle $$ for him to buy (very, very basic food) etc.

He has a very strong belief in his rights to travel ANYWHERE unimpeded, which has been getting ever more tricky since the coast to coast RR were built.

It is hard to tell what his level of mulesmanship, is. I get the impression he had a good piece of luck with his original pair of mules, and he returned to the road with his new acquisitions with, perhaps, not a lot of acknowledgment that a lot of work would be needed before a similar partnership was built.

I appreciate that members of the knowledge Equine Public have stepped up to help keep his 3 Mules roadshow in working order. He is a horse industry ambassador, whether he wants to accept that burden or not. It seems reasonable that his travels must wind down eventually. Here’s to hoping He will be able to do so gracefully and ethically.