Does any one have a mule

eddie0225 said:
What kind of questions?
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My old man had one when I was young, it was a great animal, smart(as most are), gentle, and fit multiple roles on the farm. He always talked about how smart they are and how good of an animal a good mule can be.
Thinking about one(for now) for the farm, I would like it to fill multiple roles like his. My daughter loves to ride, so a saddle broke mule would be preferred, but the old mans saddle was specifically a mule saddle and has a pulling collar on it as well. We’re a little ways out( probably next fall), but I would like to start looking and figuring things out now.
I would like to Maybe visit and see an “up to date” setup, learn some mulemanship, reputable places to purchase, other care and needs. His died when I was young, somewhere between 6-8 and he’s not around for me to pick his brain.
But an animal that will help me get logs out where there is now way I’m getting equipment, work other things around the farm, can be saddled, ect….
Now I may be asking for a lot and I’m sure like most things it’s the amount of effort you put into working with the animal. But mainly something for me to get back into riding, introduce the kids to riding, to be with the goat heard, and a little work in the woods.
 
Cluck Norris said:
I’m not 100% sure it is a real word, but horses are a different animal so horsemanship isn’t applicable I guess.
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It apparently is a real word, and there are multiple hits on Youtube.

Here is a pic of my uncle's favorite home decoration. When he passed away in 2000, my Dad hung it in his mancave. After he passed in 2019 I took it - but I haven't found an appropriate place to hang it. I don't know the full story, but I believe it was a prank Christmas gift to my uncle from one of his fishing buddies, framed and horseshoes added, and my uncle displayed it with great pride. That is a piece of stray in the mule's mouth at the bottom of the pic.

UncleCliffsMule.jpg
 
dmarbell said:
It apparently is a real word, and there are multiple hits on Youtube.

Here is a pic of my uncle's favorite home decoration. When he passed away in 2000, my Dad hung it in his mancave. After he passed in 2019 I took it - but I haven't found an appropriate place to hang it. I don't know the full story, but I believe it was a prank Christmas gift to my uncle from one of his fishing buddies, framed and horseshoes added, and my uncle displayed it with great pride. That is a piece of stray in the mule's mouth at the bottom of the pic.

View attachment 390432
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That is cool
 
Mules are smart and along with smart goes stubborn, I'm assuming you already know this. As far as going with goat herd I'm assuming you mean as a guardian. I know donkeys are good for such not sure on mules. I doubt you'll find one already trained and if you do it will cost a penny or 2. I know mules like horses can be very helpful and loving but don't forget they can be just as mean as a horse. Either way the way you're talking you wish to do a lot with this animal so I'd get one that acts like it likes you somewhat as you're going to be very close to this animal normally if an animal is working harness broke then you'll be close to being able to ride
 
Just curious do you already have animals on what I'm assuming is a farm not being nosey just wondering as I know it doesn't take long for stuff to get away from us while trying to start other things
 
eddie0225 said:
Just curious do you already have animals on what I'm assuming is a farm not being nosey just wondering as I know it doesn't take long for stuff to get away from us while trying to start other things
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Sent you some info about out farm.
 
We had a few when I was a kid. Hard workers, stubborn and need to be incentivized occasionally. Think of them as a tractor with lower gear ratios as opposed to horses or donkeys. Intelligent and strong. When worked in teams they can accomplish heavy jobs. They consume about the same as any animal of equal size. The phrase “kicks like a” and “stubborn as a” certainly apply.
 
They can talk. I saw it in a film.

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Ronnie Sue's Brother has them. He had to put one down this past week. The old saw is : a horse will run until he dies..a mule will Stop when he gets tired.

So there was this old timer that made Rabbit Sausage for his friends. His friend said..This is Delicious. What do you use for filler...the old man said Mule meat....Friend asks...what percentage....old man says 50/50....friend says... well it's wonderful, that 50/50 is the perfect proportion...old man says....Yep, one rabbit-one mule.😀😀😀😀😀
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Ronnie Sue's Brother has them. He had to put one down this past week. The old saw is : a horse will run until he dies..a mule will Stop when he gets tired.

So there was this old timer that made Rabbit Sausage for his friends. His friend said..This is Delicious. What do you use for filler...the old man said Mule meat....Friend asks...what percentage....old man says 50/50....friend says... well it's wonderful, that 50/50 is the perfect proportion...old man says....Yep, one rabbit-one mule.😀😀😀😀😀
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not sure that should be called rabbit sausage maybe just 50/50 sausage
 
Use to be a fellow named Tabor in Settle Kentucky (Allen County) who had some of the finest saddle mules in the country. Not sure if he’s still around. I’d start with a fellow named Danny Tabor (nephew) in Scottsville KY. If they don’t still have mules I’m sure they could put you in touch with someone who does.
I can’t remember the mule man’s 1st name but his brother was Glendal Tabor & he raised fine TN Walkers & also lived in Settle KY.
 
eddie0225 said:
not sure that should be called rabbit sausage maybe just 50/50 sausage
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Sells Much better as Rabbit Sausage...Years back when the Shrimp Season was cancelled here for pollution, Cousin Jerry and I were loading up to leave from The South Island Ferry and a man came up with a 48 QT cooler FILLED with shrimp...Cousin Jerry said...Mister I'm not sure those shrimp are safe to eat...Man replied....I ain't Eatin' 'em..I'm Sellin' 'em! What folks DO wid 'em is dey biddness.....Marketing!!!
 
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We rode at South Mountain and Grayson Highlands this summer, I'd say 10-20% of the animals on the trails and in the stables were mules. Also the one escapee that trotted up when I wandered out at 0200... Anyway, appears a decent amount of NC/VA folks have them, and most love to talk about their animals. A co-worker's dad used to actively trade in them, he's pushing 90, but might still know folks.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have 2 cats Right this minute squared off on the front porch like those in your picture....both here have ONE eye...HATE each other.
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They keep the critters down. Most of ours get along with one another.

Daddy was plowing with mules when he was way under 10 (born in 1937). Still have some of the shoes, and his dad (born in 1986) forged a lot of the hardware on the plows and barns.

And some of those plows were repaired with used license plates from his A-model...
 
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My Great Uncle had a saddle broke mule that we rode when I was a kid. It was much better than a horse in the mountains and hills in WNC. He was sure footed, never spooked.

He would decide to stop sometimes and there wasn’t much you could do but wait until he decided it was time to start again.

My cousins and I had lots of good times riding that old mule. He was a multipurpose animal. He rode, plowed, was handy to use as a log skidder.
 
We’re getting/cutting posts in January, fence in spring and hopefully she will arrive in mid to late November next year.
Yep we are a year out! this deal isn’t set in stone, current owner has a few and is wanting thin the the heard. We will see how it goes but sounds promising
 
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