Just encase anyone else would like to know what my day at "Mule and Donkey" days was like, I'll share it here instead of with just Corky in an e-mail
We didn't get there until nearly 10AM so we missed the parade
There were more booths of people selling wares this year. Mainly farm stuff, and clothing relating to farm and mules/donkeys. There was one for a Cowboy Church that had items donated by it's members, the prices were whatever you wish to donate to the church. I got a handmade pin/brooch that I pinned to my hatband. There was a booth selling really nice palmetto palm cowboy hates...the price was a bit more then, my desire to own one.
Was introduced to the my first mules for the day at the crafts booths. Two brothers were visting with friends, one on a jenny who was perfect example of well behaved, and a jack that it's riders said woke up excited about it's day. He was like an ADHA 8 year old.
Husband discovered the National Guard - Army Games and recuiting station and seems to have had a nice visit with the Guardmen/women manning the booth.
I headed to the sheltered arena where the mules are kept by people who reserved the spaces. Even as a young girl I never had any interest in horses, or critter bigger then myself, but there is something about mules that always puts a smile on my face. There were sooo many nice examples of mules - they are each different with different personalities. It was a wonderful hour or so introducing myself to all of those facing the right direction for introductions, and a few who could be turn around so they were face forward.
The best moment was when this huge (mammoth?) jack who was in the far corner of his space when I was walking up, looks back over his shoulder and seemed exciting to meet me. When he get within inches of my face he does this 30 seconds of advance mules sounds that made my ears cringe...but did my old heart a world of good. His owner was bend over laughing and says..."I think he really likes you, I've never seen him to that before."
Then I went and paid the entrance fee to those bleachers Donsgal mentioned, and the preformance arena, because the only restrooms were inside the fence. I'm sure glad I didn't read Donsgal's post earlier because I climbed to the top row where the advertizing signs made nice shade. The lady who invited me to sit next to her, did comment on how scary it was climbing back down.
There was a balloon race (everyone taking part gets a balloon pinned on the back of their shirt) and the last person still on their mule with a balloon wins. Starts off with about 50 mules and riders in the full arena, and the helpers make a line the width of the arena and keep walking forward to make the space smaller and smaller. If your mule crosses this line or your ballon gets popped you are out.
Then there was a sack race. One partner is on a mule at one end of the arena, and the other partner is at the other end with one leg in a gunny sack. At the gun the rides charge down to the partners, jump off their mules and put one leg in the sack and the first to make it across the finish still in the sack and leading the mule wins.
After that was barrel racing, and roping, and others rodeo stuff. Divided up in different age groups.
It's great family fun, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Hugs,
Marlene
Mule & Donkey Days, Ozark Missouri 1-2 September 07
