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 "Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
 
Location: Bennett, CO | In the process of buying hubby a mule for his elk hunting adventures- Apparently he does not like the "life Decisions" my horses tend to make in backcountry....
Have a 13yo john mule located. Rode great for hubbys needs.. certainally not the most responsive thing Ive ever rode- but that isnt the point...
This guy is a little underweight... gal is selling him for the owner----says he isnt any differnt behavior wise when fat...but Ive definitley seen horses become full of themselves when fat and sassy...
Also he has a gravel/abcess blowout on a hoof... not sore or even tender... been a few months ago... Is it a tell tale of hoof issues to come?
What else do I need to know about these guys |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| gotothewhip - 2017-04-24 10:07 AM
In the process of buying hubby a mule for his elk hunting adventures-Â Apparently he does not like the "life Decisions" my horses tend to make in backcountry....
Have a 13yo john mule located.  Rode great for hubbys needs.. certainally not the most responsive thing Ive ever rode- but that isnt the point...
This guy is a little underweight... gal is selling him for the owner----says he isnt any differnt behavior wise when fat...but Ive definitley seen horses become full of themselves when fat and sassy...
Also he has a gravel/abcess blowout on a hoof... not sore or even tender... been a few months ago... Is it a tell tale of hoof issues to come?
What else do I need to know about these guys Â
My grand parents raise high performance working/Racing/Show mules. I have been around them my whole life. Mules have a lot more instinct for taking care of themselves, more sure footed, are " Tougher". Also smarter in my opinion. I trust a mule a lot more than I trust a horse. lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
  
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I am looking for a mule to purchase my daughter to learn on. I have a family friend who raises them and trains them for western pleasure, driving, hunter under saddle, and jumping. I can send him a quick text to find out what his feeding program is like. He would be more than happy to answer and all questions pertaining to mules.
Mules are tougher and smarter than any horse I've ever been around. That makes them harder to train as they can easily outsmart an underducated trainer or rider. they're quirky and loveable. I want one in my barn yesterday!   |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Here is what he said:
Feed: Ex Factor. He feed 3 to 4 pounds over 2 feedings depending on mule. He adjusts accordingly depending on workload.
Supplements: Mineral blocks in pasture, salt blocks in stalls. His performance mules receive ulcer preventatives but he said you will most likely never need to treat him for ulcers. He said he used to feed ADM Gro Strong as a mineral supplement but cut cost by buying the blocks instead.
Worming: Get him wormed per your vets choice immedietly to make sure he will get the full impact of the feed.
Hay/Forage: Square bales. 2 Bermuda and 1/2 alfalfa flake in the mornings with feed. 1 flake alfalfa at night depending on workload. Performance mules get 2 squares.
Abcess: If it is just the hoof wall, which it sounds like it is since he is not lame treat by rinsing abcess, then treat with an iodine based cleaner and wrap hoof to keep debris out. A few weeks of this and you should be good to go. He cleanes them twice a day. He said it is not a telltale sign of lameness. Just poor care.
Training: Once a mule is taught something and picks up on something, leave it. Don't keep teaching and reteaching as they will get bored and become naughty. Once a mule is taught something and learns it once, they learn it for life. They are smart. They will outsmart you if you let them. If you are walking them to the barn and they do something like run into you, run away, run over, nip, bite, etc. Teach them their lesson right then or they will know they can get away with it and become harder to break of the habit. Same with riding. Make them pick up elads correctly the first time and they will do it every time after. Allow them to be on the wrong lead once and they will be on the wrong lead more times than not.
He said the mule should be fine for light riding while the hoof is growing out. He said ride lightly and pack lightly and adjust accordningly.
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2017-04-24 2:40 PM
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"Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
Location: Bennett, CO | Thank you all for the insight. Waiting to hear back if he has ever packed game
before. That will help us make the decision on offer pricing. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| gotothewhip - 2017-04-24 12:07 PM
In the process of buying hubby a mule for his elk hunting adventures-Â Apparently he does not like the "life Decisions" my horses tend to make in backcountry....
Have a 13yo john mule located.  Rode great for hubbys needs.. certainally not the most responsive thing Ive ever rode- but that isnt the point...
This guy is a little underweight... gal is selling him for the owner----says he isnt any differnt behavior wise when fat...but Ive definitley seen horses become full of themselves when fat and sassy...
Also he has a gravel/abcess blowout on a hoof... not sore or even tender... been a few months ago... Is it a tell tale of hoof issues to come?
What else do I need to know about these guys Â
Ha - he doesn't like the "life decisions" your horses make - that cracked me up!! Maybe I need to be looking for a Mule as I have had it with my horses' life decisions too - especially when they act like they have no self-preservation and I'm on board! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | If you have a hide from deer or elk, or the game bags it was packed out in...you should try to see what the mule thinks about the smell. I can tell you that even the most stoic, solid animals will sometimes not tolerate the odor and will not be suited to packing actual game. Elk have an odd smell...and are different to them than deer. I have one that will handle a deer to pack with no problem. The skinned quarters, blood etc. But to get the elk near him you have to wipe his nose with vicks.
If they day he has packed before...see if they have a picture. (These may be folks you know well and can trust...but you know how it is always buyer beware) |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | I am zero help on mules, but Riden I about lost it here at work over the "life decisions" - I will definitely be borrowing that phrase! You crack me up! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | gotothewhip - 2017-04-24 12:07 PM In the process of buying hubby a mule for his elk hunting adventures- Apparently he does not like the "life Decisions" my horses tend to make in backcountry....
Have a 13yo john mule located. Rode great for hubbys needs.. certainally not the most responsive thing Ive ever rode- but that isnt the point...
This guy is a little underweight... gal is selling him for the owner----says he isnt any differnt behavior wise when fat...but Ive definitley seen horses become full of themselves when fat and sassy...
Also he has a gravel/abcess blowout on a hoof... not sore or even tender... been a few months ago... Is it a tell tale of hoof issues to come?
What else do I need to know about these guys Awww mules, wonderful animals. Theres alot of folks around here that have Mammoth mules, they use them to pull wagons they do the trail rides for livestock shows, seems every where I look theres a few mules in pastures. I was around a few up in New Mexico went packing up into the mountains and this one mule that the guides daughter was on I didnt care for he had a mind of his own, he worried the heck out me, lol was always trying to go a different way then she wanted, he was always pulling a Snowy River/Mountain horse, he thought it was always better to go his way because it was a short cut to a different trail, I was on a horse and he was a good boy.. I wonder why the one your looking at is on the thin side? That would conern me a tad bit hope shes being truthful about the same mule even if you do get weight on him. And the gravel/abcess I would not worry about it, it will grow out.
If I ever get one I want a Mammoth, theres alot of the draft crosses around here..
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2017-04-25 10:07 AM
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Member
Posts: 35
| Flittastic who are your grandparents and where are they located? I have been Looking for a race bred mule for forever :) |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I hope you find a mule that will make great decisions. My husband had a hunting mule. Awesome hunting animal. BUT when he was in the pasture it was his daily life's decision to jump out of the pasture and roam the neighborhood. This meant that every single day someone had to saddle up a horse, go hunt him down and rope him to get him home. No way could he be caught when running free. When he flat footed it out of our six foot stud pen he had to find a new residence.
Edited by SC Wrangler 2017-04-25 9:57 AM
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"Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
Location: Bennett, CO | Well- we now own a half assed horse!
got "Amos" bought today. Got to talk to the previous owner. He was on the pack struck he used to hunt deer, elk, bear and Mtn lion. Has even packed out the cape of a bear. He was used for the green riders on the string. We pick him up this week
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | Training: Once a mule is taught something and picks up on something, leave it. Don't keep teaching and reteaching as they will get bored and become naughty. Once a mule is taught something and learns it once, they learn it for life. They are smart. They will outsmart you if you let them. If you are walking them to the barn and they do something like run into you, run away, run over, nip, bite, etc. Teach them their lesson right then or they will know they can get away with it and become harder to break of the habit. Same with riding. Make them pick up elads correctly the first time and they will do it every time after. Allow them to be on the wrong lead once and they will be on the wrong lead more times than not.
This makes me think I own a mule. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Pictures yet??? |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| We have mules they are good in mountains leval headed and they have never been lame.
Edited by myhre 2017-04-30 2:20 PM
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