Would you rather have a horse or a mule? Horses vs mules For mountain riding, we like mules! But if you wanna go fast, or need to rope, maybe a horse would be better 😊
Sometimes. I watched a gaited Jack that beat $50k+ TB's and Warmbloods on a point to point cross country Fox hunt. The maddest horse owners I ever saw. They made him take the trophy and banned any mules in the future.
@@puppetseducer lol I definitely didn’t degrade mules… I just pointed out the stronger points of horses 😊 We love both, but mules are a better fit for us because we don’t need to go fast and we ride in the mountains 😊
In 1976 there was a cross country horse race in the US. It was won by a mule! Also, if you want to ride in the Grand Canyon…it will be on a mule. They are more sure footed & less likely to get spooked. Horses are great, but so are mules!
That’s super cool that a mule won that cross country race- I’ll have to look it up! I bet the horse owners were so upset 😂 and I actually totally agree with you. They both have their own strengths for sure 😊 We have an up-and-coming 3 year old mare, but other than that, we exclusively ride mules 😊 We’re always making videos about how awesome mules are, so we had to change it up and show horses a little love with this one 😊
the stripes on the mules knees...so pretty and cool! My old barn had a random baby born due to a possible fence being jumped and got a little mule. Everyone was in love with him, confirmation wasnt the best (who cares tho!) but he had the smoothest gait and was sweet and so smart!!
Hahaha! “They’re fast and pretty!” 😂 But in all seriousness, you’re spot on. We’ve ridden mules exclusively for the past three years, and we’re constantly bragging on them, so we had to show some love to the short-ear crowd 😊 We have a 3 year old quarter horse that we’re hoping will do alright in the mountains with our mules 🤞🏼
@@MTN_BUILTI’d normally pick a horse over a mule too though. A good well bred horse with proper training can do everything a mule can. My brother has an adopted mustang that he uses as his riding horse, and a Mammoth Jack mule as his pack animal. But depending on the terrain, he’ll swap their saddles so that travel is easy.
@@morganmorris97 that sounds like the perfect setup! I’ve heard those mustangs are pretty similar to a mule in rough country. I’m sure it depends on the individual animal though 😊 That’s pretty cool though!
@@MTN_BUILTyou should check out Jake Harvath here on TH-cam. He’s a horse trainer from Utah whose riding his three mustangs from Utah to the east coast, and back, all within a year. He’s gotten quite the following too, and his whole point is to show people that adopting a mustang instead of buying an overpriced purebred horse ultimately saves you money, gives a home to a horse that is losing its habitat, and you’ll have a hardier animal that is way more durable than some bougie Arabian.
So if you need speed or looks horses are for you but if you need stamina or the need to get into and out of precarious situations more safely a mule probably is more suitable. Also depends on your animal compatibility, horses are generally more widely tolerant of poor riders or accidental missteps in communication while mules are more likely to need a bond of trust to work well with someone. However mules also have a tendency to do some things most horses won't once they have that trust. So it just depends on which is better.
Man, you’re SPOT ON! 😊🙌🏼 We have an up-and-coming mare, but for now we exclusively ride mules. The part about developing trust with them couldn’t be more true, which is part of the reason we love our mules so much 😊 Thanks for the super valuable and accurate comment! Have a good evening 😊
It’s funny you said that because we actually exclusively ride mules for now (we do have an up-and-coming 3 year old quart horse though) 😊 We’re always posting videos about how great mules are, so we decided to make a one highlighting the strong points of horses for a change … and of course this one is going viral 🤦🏻♂️
Oh that’s awesome! And in all seriousness, I would think a good mule would be a GREAT fit for that type of job. We almost exclusively ride mules here in the mountains in Idaho, and they’re incredible. We just happened to make this one video about the strengths of horses and it’s starting to go a little viral 🤦🏻♂️ For the riding we do, mules are the perfect fit 😊
Yes siree. There’s nothing like keeping the mane thing, the main thing. Me? I like mules better. Let’s both just saddle up and keep smilin’, Pardner Giddy up, Trrigger, Whoa dote, King David’s mule! 👍👍 😂😂 ❤️❤️
Haha! I like the way you think!! I wish more people’s comments were as positive as this one 😁🙌🏼 And the funny thing is, we make tons of videos bragging about on mules, so we just made this one to show horses a little love 😊 We almost exclusively ride our mules 😊
@@MTN_BUILT i absolutely love your channel! If you only knew my respect for you. To live your lives in such beauty, and to make it look easy is art in itself! And YES, I do love horses! (But I still love mules … mainly! 😂😂😂). Much love and many blessings your way! ❤️❤️❤️
I think mules are better they have thicker bone mass and density they work harder and longer off less food they can see all four feet a horse can only see his front two feet that's why mules are so sure footed
Us too! 😊🙌🏼 And what’s funny is if we had to choose, we would take a mule, but this video just happened to be the one to take off on TH-cam, so now people think we don’t like mules 😂🤦🏻♂️
A mule isn't "stubborn", they have a massive sense of self-preservation. If a mule says No, figure out why. And for those who think they're tough, start a fight with a mule. A horse will run away, a mule will come forward and say "Bring it!".
Aesthetics are a matter of opinion. Personally I prefer the appearance of a well bred mule. I will give the speed point freely to the horse. Agility is a different matter though, mules can climb cliffs! And a horse will run from predators, but a good mule will kill them. I like mules a LOT
That’s a super good point! And for what we do, we actually prefer mules over horses. What’s funny is that we are always making videos about how awesome mules are, and we just wanted to highlight some strengths of horses in this one… and it just happened to get promoted by TH-cam more than our other videos lol… We almost always ride mules though 😊
I rode a mule STRAIGHT up a mesa and he arrived without one twitchy muscle, not breathing hard. The horses arrived some time later visibly tired. Drawbacks: they DO NOT CARE about human comfort or safety. And they have no rump so saddles need a breast strap for those uphill trips
I noticed in a few of the videos that you didnt use britchen on your saddles. Im curious about your opinion on that as i have had very conflicting advice from mule trainers, experts etc. I live near zero hills, so i have not bought any to use and so far a year later, my custom english style aussie saddle has fit perfectly and does not move. But some keep telling me i am making the worst mistake ever, he will be having back issues in his future, etc etc. I love my mule, but i will say i miss just being able to throw on most any saddle on my OTTB and not have to stress about the fit!
That’s a super good question! And I totally agree- mules are tough to fit a saddle to! But if your saddle isn’t moving at all, I’d say you’re good! 😊 We both use a crupper, and Alyssa really wants a britchen, but that’s only because we ride in alot of steep country. My dun mule has almost no withers, and when we first got her, I went for a couple rides without a crupper, and my saddle definitely ran forward. But if you’re riding the flats and your saddle isn’t moving, I wouldn’t worry about it! 😊
Thank you so much for responding as to what you guys do with your mules as I have been hearing so many different things! I have one more question, my byfrnd just reminded me to ask this haha...he says I NEED to have the 2nd or back girth for him, tightened like you would a front, but keep the front girth loose, basically the reverse from a western saddle on a horse I guess? I ride English, in that custom aussie saddle I have, so I argue with him all the time I don't need that either. I currently use one girth only. Haha sorry for the follow up question...but maybe you could settle this one for us(as long as you say I'm right and he's wrong😂just kidding).
@@kelly33300 hahaha! Well I’m afraid I can’t be the referee on this one because I don’t know anything about English or Aussie saddles. But we ride in western saddles with two cinches and we keep the back cinch pretty loose. Some people really snug it up on mules, but we don’t and so far, we’ve had no issues. It sounds like the back cinch on a western saddle is mostly used when you’re roping and dallying to the horn on the front of the saddle (to keep it from tipping), but we don’t rope, so we keep them pretty loose. Hope this helps! 😊 And just a heads up: I get phone notifications for original comments, but not replies, so I’ll try to check back on this conversation, but I apologize in advance if I miss a response on here 😬
No apologies whatsoever it was very nice of you to send back a reply to my questions!! I love to hear what all the other mule parents do out there with their mules as it makes me think the ones that say "you HAVE to xyz etc..." with a mule or else I guess they explode or smthg haha but there are very strong mule opinions out there and I'm still learning in the transition from decades of horse, to mule. Thank you so much! Also, what you say makes sense too, as my byfd rides western, but really he used his calvary saddles for yrs on his paso but now he used the western saddle on his newer QH. But he is FRIENDS w professional cowboys and ropers and western trainers so I think he leans more toward that style like you say. But I am going to still go with....he's wrong and I'm right with one girth on my mule😂 I'm glad I found your short mule videos and excited to watch more!!
@@kelly33300 hahaha yeah mule people can people can definitely have strong opinions lol Another good resource is TS Mules. He’s a good dude and he treats his mules really well 😊 Have fun with your mule and don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
This is kind of how I think of it. With a horse there can be a cliff and it will jump off that cliff if you tell it to. Mules have a certain amount of care for their life and won’t jump that cliff.
Us too, which is kind of ironic considering this video lol We’re just always making videos bragging on mules, so we had to highlight some strengths of horses in this one 😊
That’s awesome, and I think that’s what most outfitters do around here too… a good mountain equine is good to have regardless of their ear length! 😊 We “packed” (basically empty panniers) our horse for the first time yesterday and led her with our mules and I think that’s what we’ll do most the year.
Although I like horses better mules are proved to be better because they tend to not spook to something like a horse would and have better defense towards something spooky , they are better at going up and down hills / more athletic , there hooves are tougher ,they are more resistant to disease , and they have an incredible sense of self preservation, but is often mistaken for stubbornness.
Sheesh!! You know your stuff! I couldn’t agree more 😊🙌🏼 Although this video highlights the strengths of horses, pretty much all our other videos are about how much we love our mules lol
Haha that’s so awesome!! 😊🙌🏼 My mule likes to pretend that the horse trailer is too big of a step-up for her! 😅 I love watching those coon jumping competitions that they have for mules… SO impressive!
Heck yeah! Us too 😊 I’m actually making a video right now about the strengths of mules … We’re always bragging on our mules, so I just had to highlight the strengths of horses in this one. 😊
Since horses are not indigenous to North America nor are mules it makes you wonder what the indigenous people natives did without them and how once they were introduced how they were so adept at riding them
@@MTN_BUILT well sure those westerns we're post civil war the horses and mules were introduced by the Spaniards 350 years prior to that lol I wondered have you guys ever been to a mule race thanks kray
@@kraymississippi4388 lol that’s a good point 😊 And yeah, we actually have! We went to one in Salmon, Idaho last year, and it was pretty cool! The mules in the race were MUCH faster than my mule!
Yeah, they’re sooo good in rough country! We’re sure thankful for ours! We just had to change it up and show the short-ears a little love in this video 😊
I one time so a mule Skinner take his meal up to a picnic table and the mule jumped over the table from a standstill I was in awe. No horse I ever owned could do that.
That’s a SUPER good point! As far as coon jumping (I believe that’s what it’s called), I think a mule would beat a horse. 😊 And there was a mule named hambone, who was an army mule and he won a bunch of jumping competitions before anyone realized he was even a mule! Lol
Mules are also obstinate asf and don’t gaf about literally anything. This is great because they never spook which makes them good for a whole bunch of things, but something that doesn’t respond to external stimulus won’t respond to external stimulus. That includes a rider. I’m not saying their bad I’m just saying you normally need big bits and whatnot lmao
Yeah, some people really don’t get along with mules. We ride our mules in snaffles and my wife’s mule is super soft 😊 we’re still working with my dun mule though, because she’s similar to what you’re saying… she is improving though! 😊🙌🏼
My mammoth mule spooks at almost just as much as my OTTB did...just, differently. Never heard anyone say mules don't spook or care about anything before. Definitely an interesting perspective...just not mine with the one I own or the severely abused one I care for for someone else. And that one is even bigger than my mule, which is the saddest thing if you push him beyond what he can mentally handle at that moment, for instance, brushing him past his girth area, or attempting to pick up a hind foot, he will look like you are about to kill him with this horrified look in his eyes that I've never seen any equine do, then begins shaking like a leaf all over until you stop what you are doing. I'm positive this mule was a kind and hard worker before whatever happened, happened to him, so if it takes 5 more years to pick up a back foot, we will. They do care, and they can become "broken". My partner and I just continue to work with him as much as we can and show him love too...and he now trusts my partner the most of anyone, will tolerate me a bit, he actually doesn't seem to like women interestingly! But he has learned we don't want to hurt him. Bit still the trauma comes out sometimes if we go a bit too far for him. My personal mule is a big man baby and believes he deserves everything good in life from everyone and has never seen a bad day in his life so he doesnt know how good he has it😂
It seems many people are misunderstanding this particular video...as if you are bashing mules? The creator is showing the positives of both mules AND horses, just different videos. I didnt get the impression you were saying anything negative about mules from this video! In fact many of the ppl who like horses better(my very close friend for instance, who thinks ive completely lost my mind switching to a mule after almost 40yrs of horses, but shes worked in polo most her life so yeah i can see why she thinks that), even I would have to admit...i think id lose a polo game if i rode my mule out there on the field w all those thoroughbreds haha! But i HAVE made suggestions to ppl about creating an all mule POLO TEAM...now THAT would be interesting...and the longest chuckker on record most likely! 😂
Hahaha! This is EXACTLY right! Mule’s and horses are both awesome- and we own both 😊 We actually only ride mules right now because our horse is still a work in progress lol Most are videos are about mules, but we wanted to show horses a little love too, because they’re great for a lot of jobs as well 😊 And we would absolutely try to play mule polo if it was a thing! 😂🙌🏼
No hate I think horses and mules are 50/50 reason #1 mules are more sure footed #2 when a mule trust you it will never stop trusting you #3 mules can be used for pack animals now a horse could too but mules again are more sure footed so I feel they are better for a pack animal
I actually totally agree! If we had to choose, we’d choose mules 100% 😊 We don’t rope and we have no need to go fast. We also ride almost exclusively in the mountains, so mules are just perfect for us! 😊 90% of our Shorts are praising mules so we wanted to show the short-ears a little love in this one.
Mules are more sure-footed there legs are less sturdy .and Body and they don't seem like they pay as clise attention to surroundings As much I'm sure they see predators and lots I like ma hoss.
Yeah, they definitely each have their strengths and weaknesses! We love our mules for mountain riding, but if we ever needed to go fast (which we don’t at this point in our lives), we’d be more prone to take a horse 😊
You don't know what you're talking about. A mule is stronger, smarter. Much calmer than a horse. You won't get hurt riding a mule. He knows where is feet are all the time. You can run a horse off a cliff. Not a mule
lol we have three mules and one horse, so we’re right there with ya! 😊 We just post a ton of videos praising mules, so we figured we’d show some love to the short-ears on this one 😊 Our next short that will come out tomorrow actually highlights three reasons why mules are better than horses! 😊
You’re spot on! 😊 We ride mules almost exclusively (aside from our 3 year old mare, who we hope to get a mule baby out of). We’re always bragging on mules, so we had to give the short-ears some love for a change 😊
lol you’d be surprised to see how many people got upset about this video. Most of our videos reference the strengths of mules and why we ride them instead of horses… I just made this one to show horses a little love for a change 😊
Horses have 63 chromosomes jackases have61 mules have 62 they are nearsighted so they balk at things they don't know what they are that's why you get stubborn as a mule
Yeah horses will go and run faster but I’ll tell you if you have a big horse that’s pretty and your chasing down a guy who has a mule and he goes towards a hill with dress his mule gonna cut through them ditches and trees and steep hills like nothing while you and your big horse are bearly chugging
Haha yeah, that’s probably true! We have a 3 year old horse that we’ll ride in the future, but for now we exclusively ride our mules. They’re amazing animals, and we’re constantly making videos about how great mules are, so we had to show a little love to the short-ears on this one 😊
That would be something to see! And yeah, mules are amazing in the mountains 😊🙌🏼 for now, we exclusively ride our mules because we just ride in the mountains here in Idaho. They’re awesome animals 😊
I am sorry ,mules are smarter and tougher. I have driven mules and horses. Horses go down ln harness, and it is a bloody, panicked mess. Mules fall under harness they just stand back up, and no blood.
It’s so true! Mules are much more prone to stop and assess the situation. They do it here in the mountains too… if they spook on a trail, they may whirl, but they don’t lose their mind and bolt as often as horses do 😊 We love mules, and we actually exclusively ride mules right now- we just wanted to share some strong points about horses because we’re always bragging on the longears 😊
These are all dumb statements. Neither is "better", they are perfect as they are, with strengths and weaknesses that compliment the other. There are also Hinnies abd Donkeys you didn't bring up.
lol you’re exactly right! We actually prefer mules over horses (🤯), but that’s because we like to ride in the mountains and we don’t really ever have a need to go very fast 😊 Most our shorts are about mules, so I wanted to highlight the strengths of horses in this one.
Hahaha! I actually agree with you that mules are better for a lot of things. They’re certainly better than horses for what we do (go slow and steady in the mountains) 😊 We just had to give the short-ears some love for a change- after all, they have their strong points too!
![What Is A Mule? [Their Surprising History and Origins]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/urzZj3HpvgA/mqdefault.jpg)
![What Is A Mule? [Their Surprising History and Origins]](/img/tr.png)
Horses are agile and faster. Mules are more durable and smarter.
I’d say, as a general rule, you are spot on!! 😊🙌🏼
Sometimes. I watched a gaited Jack that beat $50k+ TB's and Warmbloods on a point to point cross country Fox hunt. The maddest horse owners I ever saw. They made him take the trophy and banned any mules in the future.
Smarter?
@@chicho3141
Horses panic and Mules say no.
@@jamescrawford9643 I would say stronger Character. Horses can learn so complex stuff and implement.
Mules still rule, but horses a lovely. I'd like to have both, and a Mammoth Donkey ❤
I TOTALLY agree!! 😁🙌🏼 We love our horse, but there’s just something special about mules (and donkeys seem awesome too)! 😊
Depends not a black and white comparison ❤❤
@@MTN_BUILTso... you like your mule more, but degrade mules in your video? ..what? Lol
@@puppetseducer lol I definitely didn’t degrade mules… I just pointed out the stronger points of horses 😊 We love both, but mules are a better fit for us because we don’t need to go fast and we ride in the mountains 😊
I recommend know a Mammoth before taking one on. A 200 lb donkey is a handful. A 1000lb donkey defines “ass” in an entirely new way.
In 1976 there was a cross country horse race in the US. It was won by a mule!
Also, if you want to ride in the Grand Canyon…it will be on a mule. They are more sure footed & less likely to get spooked.
Horses are great, but so are mules!
That’s super cool that a mule won that cross country race- I’ll have to look it up! I bet the horse owners were so upset 😂 and I actually totally agree with you. They both have their own strengths for sure 😊 We have an up-and-coming 3 year old mare, but other than that, we exclusively ride mules 😊 We’re always making videos about how awesome mules are, so we had to change it up and show horses a little love with this one 😊
Generally True. I was on South Rim Grand Canyon, Recently, Wranglers were Packing Mules and Riding Horses
Mules can ride forever and are more sure-footed on terrain. Mules also make good guard animals
That’s so true! 😊🙌🏼 we LOVE our mules for riding here in the mountains! Plus, their personalities are so fun 😊
How can they guard you or your farm?
@@rosiemarriott7988 they’re pretty protective of their herd, and alot of them are more likely to stomp a canine versus run from it
@@MTN_BUILTthat’s a good trait
Donkeys too. Coyotes don't mess with donkeys.@@rosiemarriott7988
the stripes on the mules knees...so pretty and cool! My old barn had a random baby born due to a possible fence being jumped and got a little mule. Everyone was in love with him, confirmation wasnt the best (who cares tho!) but he had the smoothest gait and was sweet and so smart!!
Oh that’s so cool! Baby mules are the cutest things on earth! 😊
Horses are better for flat land while mules are better for steep terrain. But this video basically says “horses have better curves and nice hair”😂
Hahaha! “They’re fast and pretty!” 😂 But in all seriousness, you’re spot on. We’ve ridden mules exclusively for the past three years, and we’re constantly bragging on them, so we had to show some love to the short-ear crowd 😊 We have a 3 year old quarter horse that we’re hoping will do alright in the mountains with our mules 🤞🏼
@@MTN_BUILTI’d normally pick a horse over a mule too though. A good well bred horse with proper training can do everything a mule can. My brother has an adopted mustang that he uses as his riding horse, and a Mammoth Jack mule as his pack animal. But depending on the terrain, he’ll swap their saddles so that travel is easy.
@@morganmorris97 that sounds like the perfect setup! I’ve heard those mustangs are pretty similar to a mule in rough country. I’m sure it depends on the individual animal though 😊 That’s pretty cool though!
@@MTN_BUILTyou should check out Jake Harvath here on TH-cam. He’s a horse trainer from Utah whose riding his three mustangs from Utah to the east coast, and back, all within a year. He’s gotten quite the following too, and his whole point is to show people that adopting a mustang instead of buying an overpriced purebred horse ultimately saves you money, gives a home to a horse that is losing its habitat, and you’ll have a hardier animal that is way more durable than some bougie Arabian.
@@morganmorris97 oh cool! That sounds like a great channel! We will definitely check it out. Thank you for the recommendation 😊
Mules any day over a horse. Especially on long backcountry trips.
Yesss!!! Couldn’t agree more! We’d rather go slow and steady in the mountains lol
Mule very smart, and they do have common sense not to go through. If there’s a dangers in front, they know I like horses,
It’s really true! Mules are so awesome! Perfect mountain animals 😊🙌🏼
Mules have more sense.!!!❤
That seems like it’s generally true! Gotta love the longears 😊🙌🏼
Best part of riding a mule is them ears provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.
Haha! It’s an added bonus, for sure! 😂🙌🏼
So if you need speed or looks horses are for you but if you need stamina or the need to get into and out of precarious situations more safely a mule probably is more suitable. Also depends on your animal compatibility, horses are generally more widely tolerant of poor riders or accidental missteps in communication while mules are more likely to need a bond of trust to work well with someone. However mules also have a tendency to do some things most horses won't once they have that trust. So it just depends on which is better.
Man, you’re SPOT ON! 😊🙌🏼 We have an up-and-coming mare, but for now we exclusively ride mules. The part about developing trust with them couldn’t be more true, which is part of the reason we love our mules so much 😊
Thanks for the super valuable and accurate comment! Have a good evening 😊
I love both animals..
🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻
Just your opinion !!!
They both excel at different things.
The mule is best of both worlds in many regards.
It’s funny you said that because we actually exclusively ride mules for now (we do have an up-and-coming 3 year old quart horse though) 😊 We’re always posting videos about how great mules are, so we decided to make a one highlighting the strong points of horses for a change … and of course this one is going viral 🤦🏻♂️
Speed… what if you have to go a long distance? aesthetics? Who cares!!! It’s not a competition! Both are beautiful and wonderful!!
Agreed!! 😊🙌🏼 They both have their own strengths and we’re thankful for them!
Mule eat less each day than a Horse and yet work harder and the Mule Life Span is between 27 and 30 years.
And they’re (generally) less prone to colic! 😊 We’d take a mule over a horse every time, but we had to show horses some love too!
I love both, aesthetics aside. Mules helped build this country, too. There are a lot of pictures of working mules in early America. 👍🏼❤
Us too! And yes, that’s so true! The history of the mule is so fascinating 😊
Truly depends on what you're trying to do. I'm getting into equine search and rescue and I'm highly considering a mule for that specific job.
Oh that’s awesome! And in all seriousness, I would think a good mule would be a GREAT fit for that type of job. We almost exclusively ride mules here in the mountains in Idaho, and they’re incredible.
We just happened to make this one video about the strengths of horses and it’s starting to go a little viral 🤦🏻♂️ For the riding we do, mules are the perfect fit 😊
Yes siree. There’s nothing like keeping the mane thing, the main thing. Me? I like mules better. Let’s both just saddle up and keep smilin’, Pardner Giddy up, Trrigger, Whoa dote, King David’s mule! 👍👍 😂😂 ❤️❤️
Haha! I like the way you think!! I wish more people’s comments were as positive as this one 😁🙌🏼 And the funny thing is, we make tons of videos bragging about on mules, so we just made this one to show horses a little love 😊 We almost exclusively ride our mules 😊
@@MTN_BUILT i absolutely love your channel! If you only knew my respect for you. To live your lives in such beauty, and to make it look easy is art in itself! And YES, I do love horses! (But I still love mules … mainly! 😂😂😂). Much love and many blessings your way! ❤️❤️❤️
I think mules are better they have thicker bone mass and density they work harder and longer off less food they can see all four feet a horse can only see his front two feet that's why mules are so sure footed
That’s awesome! I actually totally agree with you 😊 We just finished a ride on our mules, and I love ‘em! No need for speed here! Lol
I love both
Us too! 😊🙌🏼 And what’s funny is if we had to choose, we would take a mule, but this video just happened to be the one to take off on TH-cam, so now people think we don’t like mules 😂🤦🏻♂️
@@MTN_BUILT you must like your Animals. They look well .
A mule isn't "stubborn", they have a massive sense of self-preservation. If a mule says No, figure out why.
And for those who think they're tough, start a fight with a mule. A horse will run away, a mule will come forward and say "Bring it!".
That’s really true! We’ve found that our mules really like to think through a situation without pressure 😊
Aesthetics are a matter of opinion. Personally I prefer the appearance of a well bred mule. I will give the speed point freely to the horse. Agility is a different matter though, mules can climb cliffs! And a horse will run from predators, but a good mule will kill them. I like mules a LOT
That’s a super good point! And for what we do, we actually prefer mules over horses. What’s funny is that we are always making videos about how awesome mules are, and we just wanted to highlight some strengths of horses in this one… and it just happened to get promoted by TH-cam more than our other videos lol… We almost always ride mules though 😊
Now That's What I'm Talking About 🎉 , That is Fair, They are Different, Thanks,
Yesss! 😊🙌🏼 Different strengths, and both awesome!
Horse's are great , but being from the south . We just have and affection for Mules . I think Mules are awesome .
Agreed! They both have their strengths, but there’s just something special about the longears 😊
I rode a mule STRAIGHT up a mesa and he arrived without one twitchy muscle, not breathing hard. The horses arrived some time later visibly tired. Drawbacks: they DO NOT CARE about human comfort or safety. And they have no rump so saddles need a breast strap for those uphill trips
That’s awesome! And you’re spot on! Mule’s can do some serious work- especially pound for pound compared to horses
Breast collars, brechen, center cinch.
I noticed in a few of the videos that you didnt use britchen on your saddles. Im curious about your opinion on that as i have had very conflicting advice from mule trainers, experts etc. I live near zero hills, so i have not bought any to use and so far a year later, my custom english style aussie saddle has fit perfectly and does not move. But some keep telling me i am making the worst mistake ever, he will be having back issues in his future, etc etc. I love my mule, but i will say i miss just being able to throw on most any saddle on my OTTB and not have to stress about the fit!
That’s a super good question! And I totally agree- mules are tough to fit a saddle to!
But if your saddle isn’t moving at all, I’d say you’re good! 😊 We both use a crupper, and Alyssa really wants a britchen, but that’s only because we ride in alot of steep country.
My dun mule has almost no withers, and when we first got her, I went for a couple rides without a crupper, and my saddle definitely ran forward.
But if you’re riding the flats and your saddle isn’t moving, I wouldn’t worry about it! 😊
Thank you so much for responding as to what you guys do with your mules as I have been hearing so many different things! I have one more question, my byfrnd just reminded me to ask this haha...he says I NEED to have the 2nd or back girth for him, tightened like you would a front, but keep the front girth loose, basically the reverse from a western saddle on a horse I guess? I ride English, in that custom aussie saddle I have, so I argue with him all the time I don't need that either. I currently use one girth only. Haha sorry for the follow up question...but maybe you could settle this one for us(as long as you say I'm right and he's wrong😂just kidding).
@@kelly33300 hahaha! Well I’m afraid I can’t be the referee on this one because I don’t know anything about English or Aussie saddles. But we ride in western saddles with two cinches and we keep the back cinch pretty loose. Some people really snug it up on mules, but we don’t and so far, we’ve had no issues. It sounds like the back cinch on a western saddle is mostly used when you’re roping and dallying to the horn on the front of the saddle (to keep it from tipping), but we don’t rope, so we keep them pretty loose. Hope this helps! 😊
And just a heads up: I get phone notifications for original comments, but not replies, so I’ll try to check back on this conversation, but I apologize in advance if I miss a response on here 😬
No apologies whatsoever it was very nice of you to send back a reply to my questions!! I love to hear what all the other mule parents do out there with their mules as it makes me think the ones that say "you HAVE to xyz etc..." with a mule or else I guess they explode or smthg haha but there are very strong mule opinions out there and I'm still learning in the transition from decades of horse, to mule. Thank you so much! Also, what you say makes sense too, as my byfd rides western, but really he used his calvary saddles for yrs on his paso but now he used the western saddle on his newer QH. But he is FRIENDS w professional cowboys and ropers and western trainers so I think he leans more toward that style like you say. But I am going to still go with....he's wrong and I'm right with one girth on my mule😂 I'm glad I found your short mule videos and excited to watch more!!
@@kelly33300 hahaha yeah mule people can people can definitely have strong opinions lol Another good resource is TS Mules. He’s a good dude and he treats his mules really well 😊
Have fun with your mule and don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
This is kind of how I think of it. With a horse there can be a cliff and it will jump off that cliff if you tell it to. Mules have a certain amount of care for their life and won’t jump that cliff.
That’s really true! Sometimes I can’t even get my mule to cross a muddy stream, let alone jump off a cliff! 😂
I’ll take a mule any day over a horse.
Us too, which is kind of ironic considering this video lol We’re just always making videos bragging on mules, so we had to highlight some strengths of horses in this one 😊
I love horsey
They’re awesome! 😊
My mule has Good withers.
That’s so nice! Our white mule, Clyde has good withers, but Reata’s back is as flat a a 2x4 lol
@MTN_BUILT my wife's mule is flat also.
I love my horse but if I needed an equine in a survival situation, I’m picking a mule or mammoth donkey
Us too!! If we had to choose, we’d go with mules… but thankfully we get to have both! 😊🙌🏼
We pack with both in tandem and always get are hunting camp in and are game out..?
That’s awesome, and I think that’s what most outfitters do around here too… a good mountain equine is good to have regardless of their ear length! 😊 We “packed” (basically empty panniers) our horse for the first time yesterday and led her with our mules and I think that’s what we’ll do most the year.
Except:
Mules have lovely smooth gaits.
They take care of themselves therefore you'll probably get home safely.
Yesss! Thats exactly right! I actually just made a video talking about how mules are the best animals for trail riding 😊🙌🏼 Gotta love the longears!
Mules are so tough.
But horses have gone through millennia of selective breeding which is impossible with mules.
It’s really true! They both definitely have their strengths 😊
Depend for mountain mules are better
Yesss!! Totally agree 😊🙌🏼
Although I like horses better mules are proved to be better because they tend to not spook to something like a horse would and have better defense towards something spooky , they are better at going up and down hills / more athletic , there hooves are tougher ,they are more resistant to disease , and they have an incredible sense of self preservation, but is often mistaken for stubbornness.
Sheesh!! You know your stuff! I couldn’t agree more 😊🙌🏼 Although this video highlights the strengths of horses, pretty much all our other videos are about how much we love our mules lol
My mule jumped in the back of the pick up truck with gate up at a stand still bec he wanted to.
Haha that’s so awesome!! 😊🙌🏼 My mule likes to pretend that the horse trailer is too big of a step-up for her! 😅 I love watching those coon jumping competitions that they have for mules… SO impressive!
I had one you couldn't tie to a fence post or hitch rail, he would jump the fence or rail while tied.
Had him 15yrs, barn walls or trees only.
Mules can see all four of their feet at the same time making them better on rough terrain...exempt of course the Appaloosa
I bet some of those Appaloosa mules are amazing in the mountains! 😊
Mules have better footing than horses, plus I like the attitude most of them seem to have. But horsey so fast so pretty
Yes, that’s really true! We love our mules AND our horse! They all have their own strengths 😊
A mule won’t hurt itself, a horse will walk off a cliff.
They do really well keeping themselves and their riders safe 😊
That depends on the job. If I'm going to ride across contactnel deviet I'll be on a mule
Heck yeah! Us too 😊 I’m actually making a video right now about the strengths of mules … We’re always bragging on our mules, so I just had to highlight the strengths of horses in this one. 😊
Mules are all around better. Thin horses and a mule will not let a man kill him by overworking him.
That’s a good point! I know if I had to choose, I would definitely go with a mule! 😊
Since horses are not indigenous to North America nor are mules it makes you wonder what the indigenous people natives did without them and how once they were introduced how they were so adept at riding them
That’s a good point! It’s weird to think about Indians without horses… all the westerns I watched as a kid showed them with horses 😊
@@MTN_BUILT well sure those westerns we're post civil war the horses and mules were introduced by the Spaniards 350 years prior to that lol I wondered have you guys ever been to a mule race thanks kray
@@kraymississippi4388 lol that’s a good point 😊
And yeah, we actually have! We went to one in Salmon, Idaho last year, and it was pretty cool! The mules in the race were MUCH faster than my mule!
@@MTN_BUILT I've never been but I read that they fun short distances 200 yds up to 800 not anything like horses
@@kraymississippi4388 yeah! The one we watched was probably around 400
I'd rather have a mule going up and down tricky trails.... Just let em pick their own way.
Yeah, they’re sooo good in rough country! We’re sure thankful for ours! We just had to change it up and show the short-ears a little love in this video 😊
@@MTN_BUILT I love em both!
Mules win because they are smarter.
They really are thinkers! There’s not much cooler than watching an equine problem-solve or work through something in their mind 😊
I one time so a mule Skinner take his meal up to a picnic table and the mule jumped over the table from a standstill I was in awe. No horse I ever owned could do that.
That’s a SUPER good point! As far as coon jumping (I believe that’s what it’s called), I think a mule would beat a horse. 😊 And there was a mule named hambone, who was an army mule and he won a bunch of jumping competitions before anyone realized he was even a mule! Lol
You might have the best mule in the world, in the end, it's still a mule.
Hahaha! 😂 There are some awesome ones out there!
What has looks got to do with it??
Haha! Not much 😊 Our best equine is a big-headed white mule (I won’t say he’s ugly though, because he’s my wife’s mule 😬)
Mules are better in certain terrain.
Yep! That’s a great way to put it! 😊 It just depends on what your goal is for the day.
Mules are also obstinate asf and don’t gaf about literally anything. This is great because they never spook which makes them good for a whole bunch of things, but something that doesn’t respond to external stimulus won’t respond to external stimulus. That includes a rider.
I’m not saying their bad I’m just saying you normally need big bits and whatnot lmao
Yeah, some people really don’t get along with mules. We ride our mules in snaffles and my wife’s mule is super soft 😊 we’re still working with my dun mule though, because she’s similar to what you’re saying… she is improving though! 😊🙌🏼
@@MTN_BUILT that’s cool!
My mammoth mule spooks at almost just as much as my OTTB did...just, differently. Never heard anyone say mules don't spook or care about anything before. Definitely an interesting perspective...just not mine with the one I own or the severely abused one I care for for someone else. And that one is even bigger than my mule, which is the saddest thing if you push him beyond what he can mentally handle at that moment, for instance, brushing him past his girth area, or attempting to pick up a hind foot, he will look like you are about to kill him with this horrified look in his eyes that I've never seen any equine do, then begins shaking like a leaf all over until you stop what you are doing. I'm positive this mule was a kind and hard worker before whatever happened, happened to him, so if it takes 5 more years to pick up a back foot, we will. They do care, and they can become "broken". My partner and I just continue to work with him as much as we can and show him love too...and he now trusts my partner the most of anyone, will tolerate me a bit, he actually doesn't seem to like women interestingly! But he has learned we don't want to hurt him. Bit still the trauma comes out sometimes if we go a bit too far for him. My personal mule is a big man baby and believes he deserves everything good in life from everyone and has never seen a bad day in his life so he doesnt know how good he has it😂
This is awesome! 🙌🏼 And great perspective 😊 Our dun sounds very similar to the abused one you’re talking about- she’s coming around though 😊🙏🏼
Yes speed and athleticism....but you know what I think about the rest. Haaaaa. Manes too long and ears too small.😂
Hahaha!! Different strokes for different folks! For what we do, I’d take a mule 😊🙌🏼
It seems many people are misunderstanding this particular video...as if you are bashing mules? The creator is showing the positives of both mules AND horses, just different videos. I didnt get the impression you were saying anything negative about mules from this video! In fact many of the ppl who like horses better(my very close friend for instance, who thinks ive completely lost my mind switching to a mule after almost 40yrs of horses, but shes worked in polo most her life so yeah i can see why she thinks that), even I would have to admit...i think id lose a polo game if i rode my mule out there on the field w all those thoroughbreds haha! But i HAVE made suggestions to ppl about creating an all mule POLO TEAM...now THAT would be interesting...and the longest chuckker on record most likely! 😂
Hahaha! This is EXACTLY right! Mule’s and horses are both awesome- and we own both 😊 We actually only ride mules right now because our horse is still a work in progress lol
Most are videos are about mules, but we wanted to show horses a little love too, because they’re great for a lot of jobs as well 😊
And we would absolutely try to play mule polo if it was a thing! 😂🙌🏼
Mules
We love our longears! 😊🙌🏼
Thanks y'all. Now I want a mule🙄
Hahaha! Perfect! 😊🙌🏼
@@MTN_BUILT not so much as I have 2 ponies I feed already. And limited barn space. But one can dream. Thanks for the awesome video.
@@Andrea-HeIsKing hopefully in the future, when the timing is right 😊
You wouldn’t buy a Ferrari for a construction site would you
Nope! 😁 That’s why we have three mules and only one Ferrari lol We prefer slow and sturdy 😊
Mules are better for work horses are for play
That’s a really good way to put it! …except working cows, I suppose. 😊
Well if your working cows in Texas or a flat arena, that is graded they are great, but for mountains a mule is king. 🔥
Thay both have pros and cons and things thelat they are better at. THen tge ohter
That’s exactly right! I actually just published a different short video this morning about why mules can actually be better than horses 😊
No hate I think horses and mules are 50/50 reason #1 mules are more sure footed #2 when a mule trust you it will never stop trusting you #3 mules can be used for pack animals now a horse could too but mules again are more sure footed so I feel they are better for a pack animal
I actually totally agree! If we had to choose, we’d choose mules 100% 😊 We don’t rope and we have no need to go fast. We also ride almost exclusively in the mountains, so mules are just perfect for us! 😊 90% of our Shorts are praising mules so we wanted to show the short-ears a little love in this one.
Mules are more sure-footed there legs are less sturdy .and Body and they don't seem like they pay as clise attention to surroundings As much I'm sure they see predators and lots I like ma hoss.
Yeah, they definitely each have their strengths and weaknesses! We love our mules for mountain riding, but if we ever needed to go fast (which we don’t at this point in our lives), we’d be more prone to take a horse 😊
Some people can't afford Ferrari
That’s definitely true! 😊
You don't know what you're talking about. A mule is stronger, smarter. Much calmer than a horse. You won't get hurt riding a mule. He knows where is feet are all the time. You can run a horse off a cliff. Not a mule
lol we have three mules and one horse, so we’re right there with ya! 😊 We just post a ton of videos praising mules, so we figured we’d show some love to the short-ears on this one 😊 Our next short that will come out tomorrow actually highlights three reasons why mules are better than horses! 😊
Mules are better. Ask any farmer. More steady.
Yeah, mules are awesome! We exclusively ride mules right now 😊 We just had to change it up and make a video highlighting the strengths of horses
Not true! Mules are more sure footed, better thinkers, and can handle weather better.
You’re spot on! 😊 We ride mules almost exclusively (aside from our 3 year old mare, who we hope to get a mule baby out of). We’re always bragging on mules, so we had to give the short-ears some love for a change 😊
Well no shit we know that already
lol you’d be surprised to see how many people got upset about this video. Most of our videos reference the strengths of mules and why we ride them instead of horses… I just made this one to show horses a little love for a change 😊
Horses have 63 chromosomes jackases have61 mules have 62 they are nearsighted so they balk at things they don't know what they are that's why you get stubborn as a mule
Interesting! 😊
Reason #4 - they can reproduce
lol that is a big positive! 😊
Yeah horses will go and run faster but I’ll tell you if you have a big horse that’s pretty and your chasing down a guy who has a mule and he goes towards a hill with dress his mule gonna cut through them ditches and trees and steep hills like nothing while you and your big horse are bearly chugging
Haha yeah, that’s probably true! We have a 3 year old horse that we’ll ride in the future, but for now we exclusively ride our mules. They’re amazing animals, and we’re constantly making videos about how great mules are, so we had to show a little love to the short-ears on this one 😊
Horses team👇👇
We love horses AND mules! They just have different strengths 😊 Heck, we’d love to have a donkey too if we had a little more property! 😊
A good mule can out run a horse also mules can see danger in high country
That would be something to see! And yeah, mules are amazing in the mountains 😊🙌🏼 for now, we exclusively ride our mules because we just ride in the mountains here in Idaho. They’re awesome animals 😊
I am sorry ,mules are smarter and tougher. I have driven mules and horses. Horses go down ln harness, and it is a bloody, panicked mess. Mules fall under harness they just stand back up, and no blood.
It’s so true! Mules are much more prone to stop and assess the situation. They do it here in the mountains too… if they spook on a trail, they may whirl, but they don’t lose their mind and bolt as often as horses do 😊
We love mules, and we actually exclusively ride mules right now- we just wanted to share some strong points about horses because we’re always bragging on the longears 😊
ALMOST being the key word in athleticism, musculature and if you have balls, withers are over rated.
Haha!
Mules can carry a heavier rider
That’s true! 😊 I actually just finished a video about mules and I mentioned that… it’s not published yet, so it’s funny that you mentioned it 😁👍🏼
@@MTN_BUILT An older heavy smaller rider may find a mule a better for trail riding than a horse the same size.
I bet that’s true! I know that’s definitely true when you compare our horse to my mule 😊
These are all dumb statements. Neither is "better", they are perfect as they are, with strengths and weaknesses that compliment the other. There are also Hinnies abd Donkeys you didn't bring up.
lol you’re exactly right! We actually prefer mules over horses (🤯), but that’s because we like to ride in the mountains and we don’t really ever have a need to go very fast 😊 Most our shorts are about mules, so I wanted to highlight the strengths of horses in this one.
@@MTN_BUILT That's fair.
No !
lol I actually prefer mules myself, but if I was roping or ranching, I’d probably go with a horse 😊
Non sono migliori ma diversi
That’s the BEST way to put it! 😊 As a matter of fact, I just released a different short yesterday explaining how mules are “better than horses” lol
No
We love longears too 😊 Just pointing out some strengths of horses in this one 😊
pure bs
Hahaha! I actually agree with you that mules are better for a lot of things. They’re certainly better than horses for what we do (go slow and steady in the mountains) 😊 We just had to give the short-ears some love for a change- after all, they have their strong points too!