cyount2009 - 2017-05-23 11:44 AM I have an equipment question! I am running a mule for someone at the Bishop Mule Days on Friday. This is the first year I have ever ran a mule and I am not clear on the equipment rules. The mule is pretty green (but is not entered in any of the green mule classes) and is in a german martingale during training. I like the way she feels in it and I am hoping I can use it when I run this Friday. The way I interpret the rules on equipment I can use martingales in the gymkhana events but my husbands seems to think that I can not. I am using a rope nose ring bit combination with a snaffle mouth piece, I can't find anything that says I can't use it but I just want to make sure. Can someone clear this up for me? 251. Gymkhana General Rules – Open and Youth – (Green mules may enter only with approved snaffles or bosal hackamores, mild-twisted wire or gag snaffles) Martingales, tie-downs and cavessons may be used. No draw reins may be used. (See Rule 106) The time line is NOT to be drawn on the ground. It is indicated by starting poles or automatic timer when referred to in this division.

Southtxponygirl - 2017-05-23 1:05 PM


I dont know anything about this so wont give my 2 cents on this subject but I hope you will report back to us after the show and let us know how you and the mule did I would love to see pictures , running barrels on it right?

cyount2009 - 2017-05-23 1:30 PM


Thank you! Yes, barrels, poles and single steak. We'll see how it goes, like I said she's pretty green but the owner really wanted her entered this year. My husband has branded and gathered on her quite a bit. She doesn't have a whole lot of time on the pattern but I am pretty pleased with where she is at regardless. She's never really "been to town" so I'll be riding with my finger's crossed. I'll try to get my husband to video it, I'm sure it will be good watching

FLITASTIC - 2017-05-23 3:00 PM

My grandparents and parents are FOUNDING MEMBERS of the AMA. They won many many titles at Bishop mule days. THe last year my mom went to the NFR she actually hauled her mule as a back up. THat sucker could run a 17.8-9 on a WPRA standard pattern on less than stellar ground conditions. Please let us know how you do!

streakysox - 2017-05-23 2:51 PM

A doctor who lives here in Marshall had reining mules. As with anything you are going to run barrels with if they are broke right they should be fine on barrels. When we hunted in the Hillcountry the rancher had a mule that had run out $70,000 on the track and she had the nicest handle. She could spin like a reining horse. They roped on her.

cyount2009 - 2017-05-30 5:38 PM My little mule did wonderful this weekend! I was so happy with her given the limited amount of pattern time I actually had on her. We've had her a year but all we've done one her is brand and gather in that time. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago that the owner insisted we enter her and I put her on the the pattern. It is my understanding Bishop Mule Days is one of the biggest mule shows in the nation and she did out standing with all the exposure. She hasn't been to town ever so everything was really new. Friday morning she was a little heavy and non-responsive in the bridle during warm up. In the year we have had her I have never heard her bray but she wouldn't stop hollering Friday morning through the afternoon. There are so many things there to look at and other mules I am sure she probably got wrapped up in the excitement. Friday she was pretty heavy in the bridle and not wanting to respond, of course that was the day of all of our prelims. Our long go runs weren't perfect by any means and there was a lot of things I probably could have done different but I was very happy with her performance over all. In the barrels she had a beautiful first but she decided to use the donkey side of her brain and started a nice turn on her second and then faded way off trying to go back to the gate (or at least that is what I am assuming she was doing.) I really had to slow her down but I got her corrected and she made another beautiful third barrel. We ended up 13th overall missing the short go by 3. Poles was just a hot mess. I really thought she was going to do very well there but she fought me the entire time. We got a time though so I am considering that a win. We made it back to the short in the single stake in 9th. Single Stake short round was Saturday night and she was a total different animal than the day before. She was extremely responsive and really wanted to work. I probably could have pushed her a little harder to the pole but she is young and I knew there was no way we were going to make in the top 5 so I held her back hoping to just make a nice clean run with a good turn. And she did just that! (where was this mule Friday! ) We didn't advance any places but she worked good and hey, SHE MADE IT TO A SHORT GO IN SOMETHING! We had a great time and I think I gained a lot of knowledge. Hopefully she'll be a little better seasoned next year. Prelim Barrels https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.yount/videos/vb.100000590018404/173... Short Go Single Stake https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.yount/videos/vb.100000590018404/173...
Loved this   Thanks so much for sharing. This is a cool looking mule and so cute too, you two looked really good together  

run n rate - 2017-05-31 12:50 PM

That's awesome! I showed one time with mules. One time!!! LOL!!! My brother works for the county, they bought a mule to do a spray job in the creeks, he wasn't much of a packing mule lets just say so my dad bought him to ride but soon learned just because you can ride a horse doesn't mean you can ride a mule, nor should you. I somehow got the job of getting him sold. Took him to Hayfork Mule Days, placed in Reining, survived Trail (those darn bag of cans...LOL) and placed in Western Pleasure and key hole, barrels and poles apparently had run the day before. Got him sold a week or so later to a woman and her husband and they adore him, best part is mule showing days were short and sweet :-)

cyount2009 - 2017-05-23 2:12 PM


That is awesome to hear about your family. And your mom taking a mule to the NFR as a back up! Are there old videos of this mule on line somewhere? I would love to see a mule of that caliber run. I think this mule could make a solid 3D animal with more time and miles at average weekend California Central Valley shows. However I don't think she's going to be burning them up for a while. Unfortunately, she was grossly misrepresented to the lady that bought her (drugged out of her mind I am assuming after watching the videos) so she is at my house to learn manners, get a better handle and have a job. I think if she uses the horse side of her brain we'll do OK.