I looked at some gaited mules

lonelyfarmgirl · #1 08/31/10, 10:36 AM

What a difference from a horse!

I think I am in love..now to convince the husband that we need one.

So we took a trip south for my brothers wedding. I stopped at 2 mule farms on the way, as there is no one that has them up here. The first place, in Missouri, I got to ride one. The guy spurred and whipped the crap out of the thing to get it to gait. I was dissapointed and disguisted at his techniques. He also had his jacks tied in the sun with no water. And his barn was falling apart. It was nice of him to let us ride one though.

On the way back, we stopped at a place called Deep Fork Farms in Oklahoma. I was very impressed. The place was clean, and well kept (unlike the other place). These people dont do their own training, and were very honest about it.

He took us to see the yearling group. they were all 2009 spring babies. There were about 20 animals in this small pasture, un-haltered, and he claimed completely un-trained.
We walked in and they were like a herd of giant puppies! They were in our face, begging to be petted and scratched. They were licking our clothes, and smelling our hair. These animals had a shoulder height of about 4-5 feet.

Afterwords we went to see the youngest ones. These were all born in april, and were in a pasture with the mothers. All were still nursing. They were the same way. A group of a dozen immediately ran straight to us and it was obvious they wanted our attentions. I put my arm around the neck of one and walked away with it. She came with me without balking, they were not jumpy, and none tried to pull away.

One came up behind me and tapped the back of my calf with his foot, kind of like a dog when you are ignoring them. The guy said he's the pushy one. It did not hurt at all.

I was very impressed with the demeanor or those babies. I have never seen horses behave in this manner. When I am ready to purchase, it will be a gaited mule all the way.

CIW · #2 08/31/10, 01:32 PM

Just make sure that the folks that you ride with also have gaited animals. If not that can make it no fun for anyone.
The houndsmen like them because they cover so much country at their elevated walk.

rabbitpatch · #3 08/31/10, 01:44 PM

I have always wanted a gaited mule...preferably a spotted one. When we buy some land so I can keep my horses on my own property instead of boarding them, I fully intend to buy a gaited mule. There are a handful of breeders here locally and they are gorgeous creatures! I will probably shop for one that has already been trained however, as I have always been told mules don't train the same way horses do. Unless I have a LOT of spare time and an excellent mentor, I'm not sure that's a task it would be wise to tackle without experience.

lonelyfarmgirl · #4 08/31/10, 03:32 PM

mules do train differently. my original intent was to buy a fully finished animal, but after seeing finished animals, and handling babies, I think I would prefer a baby. If it is willing to come with me, as in broke to lead, and not balky at all, I think the rest would be easy. The guy told me they dont do anymore than halter break before 3-4 years of age. That would give me 3 years to find a trainer, and 3 years for that animal to learn to love me and our routine, instead of learning someone else's routine and attentions on some other farm. the time span would be the same either way.

I dont ride with anyone. walking a horse up and down the road for no apparent reason is boring. I need an all purpose animal I can do anything with. haul, ride, drag, pack, drive, cut, jump, etc..