My grandparents broke ground with mules in early 1900s in western Canada. Seems they recognized them for how hard they worked very much! As.stubborn as an ol mule, exists for a reason!
There’s a mule day in Bishop Ca as well my grandfather left me about 20 or so Mule day belt buckles from each year If he didn’t make it a close friend would get him one to not miss a year.!
My granddaddy used mules to plow his fields. He was going that the day he had a heart attack and died. When his body was found that night, the mules were waiting beside him. Thanks for the information; now I know why he preferred mules and how its different from a donkey.
Wow! Thank you for sharing. I’ve always really admired folks who used mules for agricultural work- it sound like he had built a good relationship with his mules 😊
I absolutely loved this video on mules. I grew up with my daddy owning a pair of mules that he loaded a log truck with. He used them for years and always said nothing would pull their hearts out like them.If you’ve never seen a pair pull a huge log up, you’ve missed out on something very special!
My wife and I were just discussing mules not too long ago, how they're bred, etc. Her father always said mules are smarted than horses. Their stubbornness was more a sign of intelligence than stupidity. I've seen them out pull draft horses at a draft horse show. Great video!
I was lucky enough to get the USMC mountain warfare training in which I spent a month learning how to pack and take care of mules. Margret, you were a good mule! Semper Fi
Very interesting video! I know of a mule that learned to jump cattle guards and the horses with him learned from him so they all jump cattle guards now.
If the cattle guards you refer to have welded steel tubes with spaces between so livestock can't get a grip and get scared off, then they're what we call Texas-gates up in Alberta 🇨🇦. Clever mule!
This is fascinating! My great grandfather raised mules for the US cavalry for World War I and my uncle hunted deer on the back of the mule. I took it for granted as just being normal . Now that I’m over 50 and living in a city I appreciate how unique it all was.
That’s so awesome!! We have a whitetail hunt on our channel called “wilderness whitetails” we took our mules and they helped us pack out all the meat from our bucks! ☺️ it was so awesome to spend years training them and finally gave them in hunting camp and helping us out in the mountains! 😃
Awesome! That’s so impressive! I hope you get a mule someday too, but I bet the horse you’re working with will be just awesome… it’s pretty special to form a relationship with a horse at such a young age… I can only imagine the miles you’ll cover and the experiences you’ll have together in the next 20 years. That’s super cool! Stay safe and keep up the great work! 😊😊
I love mules. I was born and reared on a one-mule farm in the Southern U.S. I remember Belle, our trusty mule plowing fields with my grandpa and dad. All our neighbors also owned mules - at least, the ones who had not yet advanced to tractors! I am a historian, and fondly recall the old newspaper ads for hiring out jacks for breeding. Nicely done video!
Good explanation . My grandfather was the government road builder in the dakotas between 1898 and 1919. He moved his equipment to Kilgore Texas in 1920 and built the first graded road between Shreveport and Athens texas when the oil boom hit in Kilgore and stayed there. Largest dirt contractor in east texas and never owned a diesel engine. He retired in 1934 and sold 2,000 mules and three chuck wagons
Wow! This is awesome! Thank you for sharing! Your grandfather sounds like an amazing man. 2,000 mules is pretty incredible- that’s my kind of enterprise! 😊🙌🏼
@@MTN_BUILTI believe she was originally bought to train and sell. I thought from day one, she's not going anywhere. I'm still of that opinion, time will tell. Enjoying her another of your great videos
Enjoyed that, it was 9 1/2 minutes well spent, you've got yourselves a great life out in the mountains.Thanks for taking the time to share some of your enthusiasm.
My great Grandfather was a mule skinner, He had a team of twelve that were used mostly to move oil field equipment around the turn of the century in Oklahoma. He used whistling to control them, a different number of whistles for each command. Very smart and loyal animals.
Sounds like my great grandfather (1893-1973) in Kansas. I remember him telling me when I was very young that mules were far smarter and easier to train when compared to horses.
@@mikehopkins8350the example I heard Tom Green (yes, that one) give is how when presented with a snake on a switchback mountain trail, a horse will rear back while a mule stomps out the snake.
My great grandparents had a transport business in Manchester uk and had mules.They passed down many tales of the antics of mules.They have a special place in my memories.
I rode a mule on a 2017 colorado elk hunt. He was way more sure footed than the horses the others were riding. Got into a sketchy situation when one of the horses started acting up, but the mule never acted up once. Way better than any horse I've ever ridden
I’ve been in a similar situation with a mule, it was the first time I had ever ridden a mule in the mountains and after that I was sold! When we paid off our debt and got a place with pasture we decided to buy mules and I’m so thankful we did! Was it a successful hunt? 😃
We’ve seen folks us them for all kinds of ranch work, even roping off of them, sorting pens, dragging calves to the branding fire… you get the right mule and they really can do a great job with cattle! ☺️
My great-grandfather was a mule driver, earning his living transporting goods on mules through the mountains of Epirus, Greece. Thanks for the amazing video and all the memories of his stories that came with it.
I’m now 67 years old and have been fascinated by mules most of that time. I’ve owned ponies and horses most of my life, but never a donkey or mule (or hinny for that matter). Two things have stopped me from owning a mule as an adult: 1. I weigh over 200lbs., and 2. I am afraid I’d fall in love with a mule enough to let him kill me. My Amish friends use the draft variety of mules all the time. Even they are super cautious and sustain injuries from them. In the next life, there is a sweet tempered, strong backed mule waiting on me. Until then I’ll give them my admiration and respect. Thanks for this video.
A big draft mule could definitely support you! In the video when they touch on weight, they are speaking in the terms of “dead weight” like that lumber, that’s just hanging and moving against the mule as it traverses the trails. But a well balanced rider that is moving with the animal is much much different and they are able to pack a heavier rider than they would a load of gear. If you get a well minded mule and always work on issues as they arise, they really are amazing animals. The biggest thing is just building that trusting relationship with them. ☺️ thank you for watching!!
@@MTN_BUILTthere was a well-known mule breeder/ trainer and cowboy poet in Fallon, Nevada named Ernie Fanning ( RIP). Ernie was a big dude and I’d estimate he was at least 300 pounds. Excellent video but one thing you didn’t mention is that it can take a horse rider a little time to adjust to a mule, at least for me. It feels like they hop on spring loaded legs more than they buck, and their withers are looser so they feel a little wobblier (maybe I just didn’t tighten the cinch enough😁). Amazing animals!
We’ve had our two mules for almost thirty years. Our biggest girl could’ve always handled your weight and she’s never put a foot wrong. And she’s a gentle giant who wouldn’t hurt a horsefly.
1- horses and pony are over 200lbs 2- horse or pony could unalive you JUST as Easy. So congrats you discriminated based on bias. Thenn gaslight the mule that it’s their fault. Then say one is waiting for you in the next life. U are ALL over the place 😂
@@fastinradfordable I’m sorry I was unclear. I haven’t always weighed over 200 lbs., in fact I was much lighter at birth. Not sure what you mean by “horses and pony are over 200lbs” but every adult horse and pony I’ve owned has weighed significantly more than 200lbs. Further, my reluctance to own a mule is based on my own limitations. First I have no experience with them, so I wouldn’t know what to look for unless it’s obvious to everyone. Second, I have always heard (and believed) that a mule deserves better than to be ridden or driven four times a year with expectations of gentle behavior. So, I shall remain a huge and devoted fan of all things mule without owning one. We probably both know of someone who bought an inappropriate breed of dog they expected to be just fine when left alone in a small apartment for 10 hours at a stretch. Not at all fair to the dog. Even if it shreds a leather couch from boredom.
I live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Many farms here use “guard donkeys” to protect their herds (sheep, goats, livestock) from predators (coyote, fox). Although typically gentle, when trained they are very protective of the herd, and with their strong kick and loud braying keep predators nicely at bay.
A mule or a donkey will grab a dog or coyote by the nape of the neck and shake it so hard it breaks its neck. I hear the llamas are good livestock guards, too.
You bet, donkeys aren't scared of running down a coyote and grabbing it with their mouth like you said by the neck or top of the back. Then it's unalived in a quick damn hurry! Llamas always make me picture a submarine with the periscope up scanning for danger as they patrol amongst the flock.
"Hinnies are smaller than mules." My hinny, Monty Zooma, took that statement to heart and tops out at a whopping 27". I refer to him as my pasture demon. One of his favorite pastimes is to stand outside the doggie door and play whack-a-dog. Because of this, Shy Anne, the 70lb Boxer/Red Bone, has decided that sometimes it's safer to just play Hide-The-Turd-In-The-Basement. Monty's other source of great amusement is to wait until Dayzee, the Setter mix, is in full hunker-down-to-potty position and then try to bowl the dog over. She now looks for something to hide behind to relieve herself. Everybody needs a little ass in their life. A half-ass is better than none. 😁
Hi, from the UK and only just recently found your channel subscribed and loving it. At 65 years my dreams are slipping away and would love to visit the USA and ride some trails on a mule. Rode horses in my 30's in some beautiful places, but now living the dream on your channel, thanks for the adventure looking forward the next one.
Wow! Thank you so much! 😊🙏🏼 I really hope you get the chance to come over and do a mule ride! A ride into the Grand Canyon on mules is on our bucket list… seems like it would be such an incredible experience 😊 Thank you for watching and for taking time to leave such a nice comment! Have a great day 😊
Hello, I love all your videos, I always look forward to your new ones! Lots of great info and beautiful scenery, you both are so down to earth , you are just wonderful people , so nice to see in this crazy world these days, keep up the great work, love the mules and the dogs too!! ❤ Sally
Thank you so much!! 😊 we really appreciate you watching and for the kind words! We sure are thankful for our mules, dogs, each other and where we get to live!! ☺️
It’s always great to learn something new. I knew 3 things about mules before this, that they were a mix between a male donkey and a female horse, that they couldn’t breed and that the Roman emperor Vespasian’s family were mule breeders. Colour me impressed.
@@MTN_BUILT I worked in horse stables one summer and learned that some horses are assholes; just like people. And some are angels; just like people. Mules are so intriguing. Even if I can’t own one anytime soon, I will probably look into mile riding lessons and get some hands-on care and training experience. Nice to have your channel!
@@NoeticEidetics hopefully you’re able to find someone who has a nice mule you can go ride and hang out with! They are like big dogs, we love them! We appreciate you watching!! ☺️
They are pretty awesome! We decided to buy a couple after I had worked with a few when I was working at a training center… and we would have no problem going to all mules in our pasture ☺️👍🏼
Thanks for sharing. i subscribed. Growing up we had a mule that My dad broke and trained when he was a teenager. It would sit, roll over, shake hands and a bunch of other stuff. He was a big mule, don't know how many hands high he was but he was taller than our Morgan Mare. He would be used in the woods to bring out logs and would respond to GEE and HAW in addition to lines. His lope was like being in a rocking chair with one rocker broken. He'd tuck his head down and away you would go. He was the most gentle creature you could imagine. we would put 6 kids on his back with the last having to use his gambles and tail to get up on his rump. He was an escape artist too. No barn door could keep him in and the only way a fence would keep him in was if it was electric 3 foot off the ground and he had a light chain through his halter. he was amazing at jumping it without the chain around his nose. He could easily clear a 4' corral. Thanks so much for reminding me of those wonderful moments i shared with Jocko our family mule. Thanks for sharing.
Haha Jocko sounds like a character! And an amazing mule! Your story tells of how much time your dad put into him and their relationship. ☺️ mules are a special thing, when you get a good one they just stay with you always ☺️ thank you for subscribing and for sharing such a neat story! We love hearing that sort of thing
I didn’t understand what Hinnie was so I Googled it. Then I dove deeper - Jackass vs Jennie vs Burro etc. didn’t realize how much I didn’t know. 69 1/2 years old & still learning. Thanks iPhone & content providers like you.
We appreciate you taking the time to research it! We don’t mind answering questions but so many people ask us instead of googling it real quick and it’s time consuming for us to answer the same questions over and over. So we appreciate you taking the initiative to research and learn! Happy to spread the knowledge of these amazing animals ☺️ thank you for watching and for commenting!!
Nice profile! I have an experience from years ago - and not from a knowledge base. I was out on a fly fishing ride in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana with a guide. I was riding a mule (as I'm more stout than I should be) and following my guide who was on a horse. We came to a swollen part of the Sun River. His horse was hesitant to cross, but my mule moved down the bank and chose a different passage. I hollered to the guide and asked what to do, and he said to give the mule her head, and he was going to follow me! I learned quickly that the mule had a better sense of sure-footedness than the average horse.
They really do! And a lot of times when they refuse it’s because it is dangerous or they think it is. There was a weird beach like crossing on the edge of a lake that my mule did not want to cross. I realized that it looked like quick sand. (It wasn’t it was safe) but he cautiously tip toed and eventually crossed. On the way back it wasn’t a problem. Had it been quick sand, I would be so thankful that he took a minute to check it out before just walking in! That sounds like an amazing trip! I bet that was some BEAUTIFUL country! We have yet to ride in the Bob but it’s on our list. More importantly, did you catch lots of fish??
Watched Clint Eastwood's "A Fistful Full of Dollars" recently where in one scene he tries to get some hooligans to apologize to his mule, then I come across this. Very informative, thank you and greetings from CO!
Good video! My grandfather (1895-1966) swore by mules. He always had a team of mules on his Tennessee farm, up until his death. His reasons for preferring mules...hard working and sure-footed. I grew up riding mules, bareback...not horses. I fondly remember his last team. Jack, a very mean guy and Kate, a very gentle girl. Needless to say, as a kid, I got to work with Kate. Again, fond memories! Thanks for the video!
Since I've discovered your channel, I'm loving mules more and more! I've only known horses but I think I'm more suited to mules. Thank you for your videos, I enjoy them so much.
Love your channel. Combining your 2 channels was the right way to go for sure. Youre hitting the right balance of hunting , homestead and your Mules. Serious question now🤔....You ready for this(Alyssa)? Whats steadier? A mule? Or Crocs in 4 wheel drive? Lol😂. Great channel keep it up exactly as youre doing. Lots of respect coming from some mountains in Ireland..
Keep doing exactly what and how you guys are doing it. Most enjoyable channel on TH-cam in my book. Serious question for you though are Mules also better than horses at sensing dangers such as mountain lion,bear and wolves, or are they on a par?
@@sabresix7933 thank you so much 😊 we really appreciate that! Well we can only speak for our herd, but our mules will pick up any kind of wildlife way faster than our horse (or even us sometimes) those big ears really frame right where it’s at too! Haha we call it their sonar 😂😂
Firm believer that "stubborn", when it comes to equidae, is another way to say "highly intelligent yet independent." My Father's last (and greatest horse, imo) was an Appaloosa with long ears and facial markings that helped my Pop refer to him as Mule" whenever they disagreed. They both were "stubborn as a mule". Such a great horse. Sam Scratch, miss you buddy. Hope you and Pop are still arguing while exploring heaven together.
Great tutorial on mules, Jason. I have had horses but prefer mules. How is the homestead doing? Pasture rotation still going well. Looking forward to your next video.
Thank you! Alyssa had to do a lot of editing to make my thoughts flow decently well 😂 The homestead is awesome, thank you for asking. We’re so thankful for this little place 🙏🏼 I accidentally overgrazed our little pastures, so we’ve pulled the mules off for a couple weeks, and the grass is coming back really well (live and learn, I suppose) 😊 I’m thinking 4 hours a day will probably be max grazing for our little pastures, and we’ll rotate pastures every three days. Hopefully that will be the sweet spot 🤞🏼
Awesome, well thought out video. Only time I rode a mule was in and out of the Grand Canyon. Experience was great fun and relaxing considering some of the trails. I had Arabs at home and the difference is quite noticeable. Eagerly awaiting your next ride…
@@reb4898 thank you so much! Thats super cool that you got to ride into the Grand Canyon! Thats a bucket list adventure for us, for sure 😊 Thank you for watching and taking time to leave such a nice comment
Horses and mules run in my family. My grandmother loved mules. When I retired, I got my first mule. I love them too. How the mules and I love each other is different than the horses. I love the horses just as much, just differently. Mules are better in mesquite brush. They willingly follow me in. Their sense of humor is equally unique. Great post- thank you .
That’s so cool! We are so thankful that we got our mules 😊🙏🏼 We’re the same as you- we absolutely love horses, but mules are just different. They’re a great fit for us and the riding we do here in the mountains. It sounds like you’ve got an awesome family heritage, and hopefully we’ll learn as much about mules as you probably know one day 🙏🏼😊 Thank you for watching and taking time to leave a comment! It’s really fun for us to hear about other folks’ experiences.
Quotes from my Father . Who rides a mule? “Preachers and Teachers “ “Someone to proud to ride a cow, but to poor to ride A horse “. I will say that in the rough country you will fare much better on a good Mule!
Old man said... As a child in the country.....about an hour before school time... The old family mule would stand sideways at the porch... The kid would easily climb on bareback... Prepare for the 45 minute ride to school and often go to sleep laying across the mules neck ... When the mule slowly walked to school... Would stop next to a tree in the scboolyard... Within the hour...the old mule would walk back home... At 3 pm....when school was out.... The mule would be standing back under that same tree for the ride back home....
Well said! Well done video!! Both my horses are experiencing heaves right now due to the dust and probably the stuff in some last years hay I've been throwing them which now I'm having to soak..but..my mules? ...They are fine. Thank God! Not saying they can't get heaves but they seem to be just a bit less sensitive. A great feature!
Oh no! I’m sorry your horses are sick- hopefully they get well quickly! 🙏🏼 Our experience has definitely been the same… mule aren’t completely immune to that type of thing, but they sure seem less prone to be affected 😊
I like Mules alot. I really Loved this Video about Them. That White And Brown Spotted Mule was so Beautiful. I'll watch this again. I really enjoyed it!! ❤🫏🫏❤️❤️
For me mules and horses are war heroes and victims just like humans . They took part unwillingly in every war since God knows how long ago and they died in incredible numbers.
Growing up in Indep.mo my foster parents would hire a fellow with a 4 mule team to plow under and disc their garden every fall. It was something to watch at the end of role he didn't much room to work with to backup and forward to turn the mules around to go down the next role. That fellow with hands full reins was amazing.
Oh that’s interesting! I’m thankful he’s good when he’s saddled at least… that makes riding much more enjoyable lol I wonder why he’s bad on the ground… is he pushy? (I apologize in advance if I don’t see your reply- they don’t show up in our notifications a lot of the time)
@@karenr67 it really just depends on what you want to do with them ☺️ for us we like the athleticism and build of quarter horse mules. (Or similar) Clyde, our white mule and Reata, our dun mule are both out of quarter horse mares. Josey, our leopard appy is out of a foundation Appaloosa mare and Cedar, our little red mule is out of a half draft mare ☺️
Mules are awesome, I love riding my friends, his trot feels smoother than a horse and his canter was amazing. I love and ride horses as well, but if I’m in rough terrain, I’ll ride a muke if I can!
That’s awesome! We’re the exact same way… horses are amazing animals, but we’ve sure developed a soft spot for mules 😊 Thank you for watching and taking time to leave a nice comment 😊
I live close to Columbia, TN which has a Mule Day festival that originally started in the 1840's. My grandad always got excited when when it was time for Mule Day. Amazing critters.
In 1865, my 14-year old grandmother ran away from her family farm in Arkansas. She loaded her survival gear in bags onto the large, white mule she'd raised and trained since he was born. She had throwing hatchets and Bowie knives, which she was an expert at tossing, pistols and a rifle. Her mule carried her all the way to Portland on the Oregon Trail. Sometimes she'd hook up with wagon trains and other times she'd strike out on her own. Several times, she'd had to defend her life against hostile men and her mule stood by her side, faithful as always. Forty years later, after she'd married and had 7 children, Buffalo Bill brought his wild west show to Portland and she was invited to be a guest performer, throwing hatchets at swinging targets from the back of the mule she had at the time. My dad was 14 then and got to assist her from behind the scene. He was privileged to meet all the well-known Western legends who were part of the show and thought he was the luckiest young man in the world. He'd grown up riding mules himself and became an expert at shooting slingshots from their backs. He'd ride a mule, which is an excellent mount for hunting along forest trails and pick off grouse on low limbs and take them home for dinner.
@@unkownhistory7660 If their grandmother was 14 in 1865, she would have been born about 1851. She might, then, have had children born from about 1868 to 1888. The next generation might have offspring born roughly between 1888 to 1918 (if the mother), or perhaps 1888 - 1938 (if the father). The claim is somewhat plausible, supposing the info to be correct.. It might be, however, that the poster forgot to add the 'great-' before 'grandmother'...
Mules always make me think of the mule "Blue" on the 70s TV show "The Waltons". I read that when they wanted to get Blue to run away when they tried to put a saddle on him, they knew that he was afraid of camels. So, to get him to run away from the saddle, they brought a camel on the set. You can see his eyes get real big when he sees the camel in that scene. And he runs off down the road.
@@julienielsen3746 I remember that episode, but don't remember part of the plot being that Blue was hard to saddle. It's been years though. Clever tactic though to get the right "performance" out of him.
@@NavvyMom Here's a video of Judy Norton ( Mary Ellen) telling about that episode, and about Blue running away from the camel. th-cam.com/video/7FZq_utZjzg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you! We sure love our mules and the adventures we go on with them, they help us in so many ways! Packing meat out of the mountains, helping us get into remote areas. They truly are amazing! 😊❤️
My favorite animal is the mule. He has a lot more horse sense than a horse. He knows when to stop eating. And he knows when to stop working. -Harry S Truman
I met some men in Utah once when I was camping. They were taking theirs into the back country. It was fascinating to watch them pack everything up. They weighed everything and even took spare mules with them. We didn't see them come back all week. I also had a friend who owned a couple. When he passed his mules pulled his casket to the cemetery ❤ I love them, wish I had a fence.
@MTN_BUILT It was fascinating, and we had some good conversations. They took their time, so it was a couple of hours by the time they were ready to go. We were camped across from where they left their rig, and they had plenty of beer and supplies like I said they were still gone when we left. My friends funeral procession was pretty cool. He loved those mules. Someone stole them from their pasture not long afterwards. Sad
watched a video some time ago about Donkeys. They are very protective. The video showed an unfortunate coyote who got too close to some sheep a donkey was watching/friends with....killed the bugger in a heartbeat...WOW! Very interesting video. When I think of mules it's always the "20 mule team" hauling tons of Borax out west. Thanks!!
Yeah haha burros and donkeys can be very aggressive towards dogs, coyotes etc! Some mules can be too! Our dogs were taught not to go in the mule pen when we aren’t around just to be safe ☺️
The ancient mules have fabulous bloodline from the African wild donkeys. The Barb horses of North Africa were also recorded in producing mules. Somali Wild Ass are highly endangered btw...zoos use them for select preservation breeding programs. To keeping this ancient equid from becoming extinct. Now today's mules.....Im looking at your uploads ❤❤❤
New subscriber. I learned not to be so judgmental about mules from this video as I had always put them in the stubborn, mule kick category. Raised on horses but now I'm looking forward to learning more about mules. Thanks for this informative video!
Thank you so much for watching! Mules have definitely had a lot of rumors spread about them and tend to get a bad rap. They are pretty cool ☺️ there are good and bad ones just like horses or anything else, but if you get around a good one I guarantee you’ll think they are neat ❤️
Thanks for educating me about mules ;your contact was enjoyable and I definitely will watch more shows. Never gave much thought to a mule,knew they were sure footed when I took her ride one ,40 years ago in Mexico A few hundred miles past Ensenada Baja California to some ancient wall Drawings!! thanks again😊
We should have mentioned it, I only briefly showed a picture of one, but modern day mules are created with the breeding of mammoth Jack donkeys. These donkeys are anywhere from 14-17hands tall (a hand is 4 inches) so 56”-68” inches at the shoulder. So same size as horses. (Thats why hinnys are usually so small, because they are the accidental breeding of a pony or mini horse with a standard or mini donkey.) hope this made sense and cleared that up lol! Great question that we failed to touch on! ☺️👍🏼
Thank you. Love learning about your mules. Any time you are inclined to bring more info, would enjoy it. Interested to learn how comfortable they are to ride at trot and canter compared to horses as I would am thinking about one in the future.
An old soldier told me a story about mules, he said back in WW2 they were given mules for a special job. Well one of the soldiers was a cruel ignorant man and was treating his mule badly, the mule put up with this for so long and then one day when the soldier was bent down behind the mule, it kicked out and got him clean on the forehead killing the soldier stone dead. He said that is a true story and we were all convinced that, that mule, was just waiting its chance to get even .
Lots of people think mules will “wait” but equines brains don’t actually work that way. Most likely the man had whooped on the mule enough, when he bent down the mules thought he was going to inflict pain and reacted by kicking out. It was a reaction in the moment, not a long thought out and planned revenge. That being said, if your hard on mules they don’t handle it like horses and can get skittish or even mean because of harsh handling. They don’t tolerate that treatment! ☺️
Great video. I did find one thing that was missing in it. Maybe you could do a video on this subject. George Washington, the King of Spain, and how Washington came to acquire some of the finest donkeys to breed mules. Really good info in your video, keep up the content.
Yes! Royal gift 😃 we have a short on that story, but we did leave it out of this video. There is so much more we would like to talk about but we didn’t want the video to drag on for folks haha!
If you enjoyed this video, please hit like and subscribe to our channel! It helps us a bunch! :)
I have a legitimate question. Do mules inherit the donkey instinct to instinct to smash anything canine? LIke dogs, wolves, foxes, etc.?
@ they definitely can. Not all mules are that way and over known horses who would also try to paw down a dog. Just depends on the individual ☺️
It’s time mules get more recognition for the incredible, versatile, amazing equines they are.
@@markwatson3135 we agree!! 😃😃
Now I want one. 😅
My grandparents broke ground with mules in early 1900s in western Canada. Seems they recognized them for how hard they worked very much! As.stubborn as an ol mule, exists for a reason!
Mules get their own day (Mule Day) in Columbia TN.
There’s a mule day in Bishop Ca as well my grandfather left me about 20 or so Mule day belt buckles from each year If he didn’t make it a close friend would get him one to not miss a year.!
My granddaddy used mules to plow his fields. He was going that the day he had a heart attack and died. When his body was found that night, the mules were waiting beside him. Thanks for the information; now I know why he preferred mules and how its different from a donkey.
Wow! Thank you for sharing. I’ve always really admired folks who used mules for agricultural work- it sound like he had built a good relationship with his mules 😊
Sounds like a herd of dogs, man's best friend. Bless you 🙏 ♥️
He died 'in harness."
What a way to go!
@@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649 As opposed to comfortably?
I absolutely loved this video on mules. I grew up with my daddy owning a pair of mules that he loaded a log truck with. He used them for years and always said nothing would pull their hearts out like them.If you’ve never seen a pair pull a huge log up, you’ve missed out on something very special!
That is SO COOL! Those big working mules (and their handlers) are really special 😊 Like you’re saying, watching them work is really something special.
Donkey crossed with Belgian horse for Super Mule
My wife and I were just discussing mules not too long ago, how they're bred, etc. Her father always said mules are smarted than horses. Their stubbornness was more a sign of intelligence than stupidity. I've seen them out pull draft horses at a draft horse show. Great video!
She’s spot on! Thanks for watching☺️ so glad you both enjoyed!
I was lucky enough to get the USMC mountain warfare training in which I spent a month learning how to pack and take care of mules. Margret, you were a good mule! Semper Fi
That’s awesome!! 😃 and thank you for your service!!
I salute you soldier! ❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉mules make THE BEST partners! Once you gain their trust.
Going up 9494?
Ah I don't know about that...
That was great explanation of Mules.
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching ☺️
I agree!….love how the video illustrated how wonderful mules are…Subscribed.
Very interesting video! I know of a mule that learned to jump cattle guards and the horses with him learned from him so they all jump cattle guards now.
😂😂😂 that sounds like a mule!! I swear ours watch us lock the gates and try to figure it out LOL
Saw a special on PBS about mules, showing them jumping. Dam good jumpers very impressive 👏 👍 😊
Very cool to see tuco here. Big fan of yours.
If the cattle guards you refer to have welded steel tubes with spaces between so livestock can't get a grip and get scared off, then they're what we call Texas-gates up in Alberta 🇨🇦.
Clever mule!
This is fascinating! My great grandfather raised mules for the US cavalry for World War I and my uncle hunted deer on the back of the mule. I took it for granted as just being normal . Now that I’m over 50 and living in a city I appreciate how unique it all was.
That’s so awesome!! We have a whitetail hunt on our channel called “wilderness whitetails” we took our mules and they helped us pack out all the meat from our bucks! ☺️ it was so awesome to spend years training them and finally gave them in hunting camp and helping us out in the mountains! 😃
I'm only 14 and breaking a colt and hope to get a mule some day
Awesome! That’s so impressive! I hope you get a mule someday too, but I bet the horse you’re working with will be just awesome… it’s pretty special to form a relationship with a horse at such a young age… I can only imagine the miles you’ll cover and the experiences you’ll have together in the next 20 years. That’s super cool! Stay safe and keep up the great work! 😊😊
I love mules. I was born and reared on a one-mule farm in the Southern U.S. I remember Belle, our trusty mule plowing fields with my grandpa and dad. All our neighbors also owned mules - at least, the ones who had not yet advanced to tractors! I am a historian, and fondly recall the old newspaper ads for hiring out jacks for breeding. Nicely done video!
Thank you so much!! Those are some amazing memories! And we appreciate that greatly coming from a historian. ☺️
Yehaw❤
Mules are amazing animals and underrated, they deserve more recognition, for centuries they have been helping humans, strong beautiful animals.
Agree completely!! ☺️
Good explanation . My grandfather was the government road builder in the dakotas between 1898 and 1919. He moved his equipment to Kilgore Texas in 1920 and built the first graded road between Shreveport and Athens texas when the oil boom hit in Kilgore and stayed there. Largest dirt contractor in east texas and never owned a diesel engine. He retired in 1934 and sold 2,000 mules and three chuck wagons
My father's family had 60 mules that were used for share cropping. Then the Depression hit.
I'm impressed👍
Wow! This is awesome! Thank you for sharing! Your grandfather sounds like an amazing man. 2,000 mules is pretty incredible- that’s my kind of enterprise! 😊🙌🏼
And yes it is false that 2 mules can't rip apart Levi's THEY CAN WITH EASE 😂
Thank you . That is a cool piece of history!
That spotted mule is beautiful 😊
Thank you! She’s a special one for sure ☺️❤️
@@MTN_BUILTI believe she was originally bought to train and sell. I thought from day one, she's not going anywhere. I'm still of that opinion, time will tell. Enjoying her another of your great videos
I thought that was the prettiest too!!! 😍😍😍
I've known one mule in my life, when I was a child and I will never forget him.
Awww☺️❤️
Enjoyed that, it was 9 1/2 minutes well spent, you've got yourselves a great life out in the mountains.Thanks for taking the time to share some of your enthusiasm.
Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave a kind comment! So glad you enjoyed and thank you so much ☺️
My great Grandfather was a mule skinner, He had a team of twelve that were used mostly to move oil field equipment around the turn of the century in Oklahoma. He used whistling to control them, a different number of whistles for each command. Very smart and loyal animals.
That’s so amazing! 12 mule team is NO joke!!
"
Sounds like my great grandfather (1893-1973) in Kansas. I remember him telling me when I was very young that mules were far smarter and easier to train when compared to horses.
Yes sir re-bob ! Very smart..
@@mikehopkins8350the example I heard Tom Green (yes, that one) give is how when presented with a snake on a switchback mountain trail, a horse will rear back while a mule stomps out the snake.
My great grandparents had a transport business in Manchester uk and had mules.They passed down many tales of the antics of mules.They have a special place in my memories.
Haha they are character! That’s awesome ☺️☺️ thank you for sharing!
I rode a mule on a 2017 colorado elk hunt. He was way more sure footed than the horses the others were riding. Got into a sketchy situation when one of the horses started acting up, but the mule never acted up once. Way better than any horse I've ever ridden
I’ve been in a similar situation with a mule, it was the first time I had ever ridden a mule in the mountains and after that I was sold! When we paid off our debt and got a place with pasture we decided to buy mules and I’m so thankful we did! Was it a successful hunt? 😃
Back in my ranching days, wish I knew this! A mule would have been much safer than a reactive horse!
We’ve seen folks us them for all kinds of ranch work, even roping off of them, sorting pens, dragging calves to the branding fire… you get the right mule and they really can do a great job with cattle! ☺️
The joy the mule received while getting his ears scratched reminded me of our GSD. He turns to mush when he gets his ears scratched.
Haha it’s so cute how much our mule love it!! There little eye lids twitch 😂❤️❤️
@@patsabol8699 He acted like he's a big dog. 🥰 He is really cute, just like a dog.
Mules are the perfect transportation for this situation. They are sure footed and hard working!! Thank you!!
My great-grandfather was a mule driver, earning his living transporting goods on mules through the mountains of Epirus, Greece. Thanks for the amazing video and all the memories of his stories that came with it.
That’s amazing! How cool! You are so welcome, thank you for watching!!
I’m now 67 years old and have been fascinated by mules most of that time. I’ve owned ponies and horses most of my life, but never a donkey or mule (or hinny for that matter). Two things have stopped me from owning a mule as an adult: 1. I weigh over 200lbs., and 2. I am afraid I’d fall in love with a mule enough to let him kill me. My Amish friends use the draft variety of mules all the time. Even they are super cautious and sustain injuries from them. In the next life, there is a sweet tempered, strong backed mule waiting on me. Until then I’ll give them my admiration and respect. Thanks for this video.
A big draft mule could definitely support you! In the video when they touch on weight, they are speaking in the terms of “dead weight” like that lumber, that’s just hanging and moving against the mule as it traverses the trails. But a well balanced rider that is moving with the animal is much much different and they are able to pack a heavier rider than they would a load of gear. If you get a well minded mule and always work on issues as they arise, they really are amazing animals. The biggest thing is just building that trusting relationship with them. ☺️ thank you for watching!!
@@MTN_BUILTthere was a well-known mule breeder/ trainer and cowboy poet in Fallon, Nevada named Ernie Fanning ( RIP). Ernie was a big dude and I’d estimate he was at least 300 pounds.
Excellent video but one thing you didn’t mention is that it can take a horse rider a little time to adjust to a mule, at least for me. It feels like they hop on spring loaded legs more than they buck, and their withers are looser so they feel a little wobblier (maybe I just didn’t tighten the cinch enough😁). Amazing animals!
We’ve had our two mules for almost thirty years. Our biggest girl could’ve always handled your weight and she’s never put a foot wrong. And she’s a gentle giant who wouldn’t hurt a horsefly.
1- horses and pony are over 200lbs
2- horse or pony could unalive you JUST as Easy.
So congrats you discriminated based on bias.
Thenn gaslight the mule that it’s their fault.
Then say one is waiting for you in the next life.
U are ALL over the place 😂
@@fastinradfordable I’m sorry I was unclear. I haven’t always weighed over 200 lbs., in fact I was much lighter at birth. Not sure what you mean by “horses and pony are over 200lbs” but every adult horse and pony I’ve owned has weighed significantly more than 200lbs. Further, my reluctance to own a mule is based on my own limitations. First I have no experience with them, so I wouldn’t know what to look for unless it’s obvious to everyone. Second, I have always heard (and believed) that a mule deserves better than to be ridden or driven four times a year with expectations of gentle behavior. So, I shall remain a huge and devoted fan of all things mule without owning one. We probably both know of someone who bought an inappropriate breed of dog they expected to be just fine when left alone in a small apartment for 10 hours at a stretch. Not at all fair to the dog. Even if it shreds a leather couch from boredom.
I live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Many farms here use “guard donkeys” to protect their herds (sheep, goats, livestock) from predators (coyote, fox). Although typically gentle, when trained they are very protective of the herd, and with their strong kick and loud braying keep predators nicely at bay.
Haha yes and I’ve seen guard donkeys even go after people 😅😅😅
Guard Donkeys? So cool… I’m actually visiting the Shenandoah Valley later this week. Can’t wait
A mule or a donkey will grab a dog or coyote by the nape of the neck and shake it so hard it breaks its neck. I hear the llamas are good livestock guards, too.
You bet, donkeys aren't scared of running down a coyote and grabbing it with their mouth like you said by the neck or top of the back. Then it's unalived in a quick damn hurry!
Llamas always make me picture a submarine with the periscope up scanning for danger as they patrol amongst the flock.
Donkeys kill wolves
"Hinnies are smaller than mules."
My hinny, Monty Zooma, took that statement to heart and tops out at a whopping 27". I refer to him as my pasture demon. One of his favorite pastimes is to stand outside the doggie door and play whack-a-dog. Because of this, Shy Anne, the 70lb Boxer/Red Bone, has decided that sometimes it's safer to just play Hide-The-Turd-In-The-Basement.
Monty's other source of great amusement is to wait until Dayzee, the Setter mix, is in full hunker-down-to-potty position and then try to bowl the dog over. She now looks for something to hide behind to relieve herself.
Everybody needs a little ass in their life. A half-ass is better than none. 😁
🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for sharing that. Monty sounds like a hoot!
Bahahaha! This is a fantastic comment! From his name, to his attitude, Monty sounds like a hilarious little guy 😂🙌🏼
MI9th@@MTN_BUILT
@@NavvyMom unless you’re a dog
😂😂
Best looking mules I’ve seen. That ain’t exactly what Festus used to ride.
Haha! Thank you so much! Mule’s have come a long way, but ol’ Ruth was a great mule too! 😊😊
Festus for the rest (of) us.
@@gregmiell3037 Festus was sheriff Matt Dillon's deputy on the show Gunsmoke. Festus was a character & rode a mule named Ruth.
Hi, from the UK and only just recently found your channel subscribed and loving it. At 65 years my dreams are slipping away and would love to visit the USA and ride some trails on a mule. Rode horses in my 30's in some beautiful places, but now living the dream on your channel, thanks for the adventure looking forward the next one.
Wow! Thank you so much! 😊🙏🏼 I really hope you get the chance to come over and do a mule ride! A ride into the Grand Canyon on mules is on our bucket list… seems like it would be such an incredible experience 😊
Thank you for watching and for taking time to leave such a nice comment! Have a great day 😊
Save up hard and go! Make friends in the community and see if theyll put you up for free for a few days in USA
Great video & very instructional and informative!
Taught me a lot!
Thank You!
Thank you so much for watching! We are glad you enjoyed it ☺️
Enjoyed the video and Information
Thank you! It was a fun one to make! We’re sure thankful for our little herd of longears 😊🙏🏼
Hello, I love all your videos, I always look forward to your new ones! Lots of great info and beautiful scenery, you both are so down to earth , you are just wonderful people , so nice to see in this crazy world these days, keep up the great work, love the mules and the dogs too!! ❤ Sally
Thank you so much!! 😊 we really appreciate you watching and for the kind words! We sure are thankful for our mules, dogs, each other and where we get to live!! ☺️
It’s always great to learn something new. I knew 3 things about mules before this, that they were a mix between a male donkey and a female horse, that they couldn’t breed and that the Roman emperor Vespasian’s family were mule breeders. Colour me impressed.
Thank you so much! We are so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to leave a nice comment! ☺️
I love this. Mules are fascinating. I want one…
Thank you! They really are a fascinating animal … we’re sure thankful for our little herd. Hopefully you can get one of your own! 😊🙏🏼
@@MTN_BUILT I worked in horse stables one summer and learned that some horses are assholes; just like people. And some are angels; just like people. Mules are so intriguing. Even if I can’t own one anytime soon, I will probably look into mile riding lessons and get some hands-on care and training experience. Nice to have your channel!
@@NoeticEidetics hopefully you’re able to find someone who has a nice mule you can go ride and hang out with! They are like big dogs, we love them! We appreciate you watching!! ☺️
Thank you for the information.mules have an incredible memory..I use to have mules in the mountains of Guatemala..
Wow what a neat place to ride mules! 😃
Never had much experience with mules, but I have to admit you have me thinking about it.
They are pretty awesome! We decided to buy a couple after I had worked with a few when I was working at a training center… and we would have no problem going to all mules in our pasture ☺️👍🏼
😂 same here. Maybe better option for the family farm then a donkey 🫏 and cheaper then a horse 🐎
Don't know how I happened upon this video, but it is excellent ! Thank you very much !
Thank you for watching!! ☺️ so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing. i subscribed. Growing up we had a mule that My dad broke and trained when he was a teenager. It would sit, roll over, shake hands and a bunch of other stuff. He was a big mule, don't know how many hands high he was but he was taller than our Morgan Mare. He would be used in the woods to bring out logs and would respond to GEE and HAW in addition to lines. His lope was like being in a rocking chair with one rocker broken. He'd tuck his head down and away you would go. He was the most gentle creature you could imagine. we would put 6 kids on his back with the last having to use his gambles and tail to get up on his rump. He was an escape artist too. No barn door could keep him in and the only way a fence would keep him in was if it was electric 3 foot off the ground and he had a light chain through his halter. he was amazing at jumping it without the chain around his nose. He could easily clear a 4' corral. Thanks so much for reminding me of those wonderful moments i shared with Jocko our family mule. Thanks for sharing.
Haha Jocko sounds like a character! And an amazing mule! Your story tells of how much time your dad put into him and their relationship. ☺️ mules are a special thing, when you get a good one they just stay with you always ☺️ thank you for subscribing and for sharing such a neat story! We love hearing that sort of thing
Buffalo Bill Cody rode a saddle mule during his scouting days with the U.S. Cavalry.
That’s awesome!! 😃 it’s so fun to learn about history like that!
Great video! I enjoyed it!!! Very interesting!!!!❤❤
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching ☺️
I enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing your beautiful little herd with us!
Thank you so much! We’re happy to have the opportunity to share 😊
Our Los Angeles Woodrow Wilson High School Mascot is a Mule (Seymour). "Once a Mule Always a Mule!"
☺️🙌🏼
I didn’t understand what Hinnie was so I Googled it. Then I dove deeper - Jackass vs Jennie vs Burro etc. didn’t realize how much I didn’t know. 69 1/2 years old & still learning. Thanks iPhone & content providers like you.
We appreciate you taking the time to research it! We don’t mind answering questions but so many people ask us instead of googling it real quick and it’s time consuming for us to answer the same questions over and over. So we appreciate you taking the initiative to research and learn! Happy to spread the knowledge of these amazing animals ☺️ thank you for watching and for commenting!!
@@MTN_BUILT Also a short popped up in my feed about George Washington’s in breeding after someone in Spain gifted him one, so interesting.
@@saradavis6505 isn’t that cool? That’s one of our videos as well ☺️👍🏼
I remember my grandfather plowing his garden with his mule…. (early 1970’s)
Haha that’s awesome!
On a 25-mile pack trip I rode a mule. What a treat on 4 inch rock trails! I relaxed and let Johnny do it.
Aren’t they awesome! They just pick their way along ☺️
Nice profile! I have an experience from years ago - and not from a knowledge base. I was out on a fly fishing ride in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana with a guide. I was riding a mule (as I'm more stout than I should be) and following my guide who was on a horse. We came to a swollen part of the Sun River. His horse was hesitant to cross, but my mule moved down the bank and chose a different passage. I hollered to the guide and asked what to do, and he said to give the mule her head, and he was going to follow me! I learned quickly that the mule had a better sense of sure-footedness than the average horse.
They really do! And a lot of times when they refuse it’s because it is dangerous or they think it is. There was a weird beach like crossing on the edge of a lake that my mule did not want to cross. I realized that it looked like quick sand. (It wasn’t it was safe) but he cautiously tip toed and eventually crossed. On the way back it wasn’t a problem. Had it been quick sand, I would be so thankful that he took a minute to check it out before just walking in!
That sounds like an amazing trip! I bet that was some BEAUTIFUL country! We have yet to ride in the Bob but it’s on our list. More importantly, did you catch lots of fish??
Thanks!
Thank you so much! We really appreciate that! ☺️☺️
Watched Clint Eastwood's "A Fistful Full of Dollars" recently where in one scene he tries to get some hooligans to apologize to his mule, then I come across this. Very informative, thank you and greetings from CO!
Haha I wanted to use that clip in this video 😂😂👍🏼
@@MTN_BUILT Oh you should have, shame on you!
Good video! My grandfather (1895-1966) swore by mules. He always had a team of mules on his Tennessee farm, up until his death. His reasons for preferring mules...hard working and sure-footed. I grew up riding mules, bareback...not horses. I fondly remember his last team. Jack, a very mean guy and Kate, a very gentle girl. Needless to say, as a kid, I got to work with Kate. Again, fond memories! Thanks for the video!
That's awesome! Mules are truly special, I can't imagine growing up riding mules bareback! That’s so cool! What great memories 😊
I absolutely love mules and donkeys. A good mule will keep you out of trouble that a horse won’t recognize.
Agreed completely!! ☺️☺️
I'm glad I stopped by! Thank you, this was interesting...
Thanks so much for watching! We are glad you enjoyed it ☺️
Love the video I learned all this stuff from you guys great narrative are you ready that thanks kray
Thank you, Kray! 😊 We love spreading the good word for mules lol
I was glued to the screen the entire time! Fantastic job! 👍
Wow thank you so so much ☺️
I always thought that mules and donkeys were the same thing, thanks for this video.
You are so welcome ☺️ thank you for watching!
Since I've discovered your channel, I'm loving mules more and more! I've only known horses but I think I'm more suited to mules. Thank you for your videos, I enjoy them so much.
Thank you so much for watching!! ☺️ we sure love our mules and want to share how cool they really are 😃
My mule doesn't like when people laugh. He gets the crazy idea they're laughing at him.
So now if you all apologize 😂
Entertaining, informative and great to watch. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much!
Love your channel. Combining your 2 channels was the right way to go for sure. Youre hitting the right balance of hunting , homestead and your Mules. Serious question now🤔....You ready for this(Alyssa)? Whats steadier? A mule? Or Crocs in 4 wheel drive? Lol😂. Great channel keep it up exactly as youre doing. Lots of respect coming from some mountains in Ireland..
Thank you so much 😊 Bahaha! 🤣 Now THAT is a tough question… I’d have to still go with a mule, but crocs in 4WD are a close second 😂🙌🏼
Keep doing exactly what and how you guys are doing it. Most enjoyable channel on TH-cam in my book. Serious question for you though are Mules also better than horses at sensing dangers such as mountain lion,bear and wolves, or are they on a par?
@@sabresix7933 thank you so much 😊 we really appreciate that! Well we can only speak for our herd, but our mules will pick up any kind of wildlife way faster than our horse (or even us sometimes) those big ears really frame right where it’s at too! Haha we call it their sonar 😂😂
Not sure why TH-cam suggested this video to me. But I'm glad it did! Reminds me of when we would visit my grandparents in Mexico. Beautiful creatures.
That’s awesome! Thank you so much for watching and taking time to leave a nice comment!
Have a great day! 😊
Firm believer that "stubborn", when it comes to equidae, is another way to say "highly intelligent yet independent."
My Father's last (and greatest horse, imo) was an Appaloosa with long ears and facial markings that helped my Pop refer to him as
Mule" whenever they disagreed. They both were "stubborn as a mule". Such a great horse.
Sam Scratch, miss you buddy. Hope you and Pop are still arguing while exploring heaven together.
I totally agree! And that’s awesome… thanks for sharing 😊 It sounds like they were a perfect match! lol
Great video! My Grand father had 16 mules for farming, in 1950 sold them and bought a tractor.
lol!
Great tutorial on mules, Jason. I have had horses but prefer mules. How is the homestead doing? Pasture rotation still going well. Looking forward to your next video.
Thank you! Alyssa had to do a lot of editing to make my thoughts flow decently well 😂 The homestead is awesome, thank you for asking. We’re so thankful for this little place 🙏🏼 I accidentally overgrazed our little pastures, so we’ve pulled the mules off for a couple weeks, and the grass is coming back really well (live and learn, I suppose) 😊 I’m thinking 4 hours a day will probably be max grazing for our little pastures, and we’ll rotate pastures every three days. Hopefully that will be the sweet spot 🤞🏼
Awesome, well thought out video. Only time I rode a mule was in and out of the Grand Canyon. Experience was great fun and relaxing considering some of the trails. I had Arabs at home and the difference is quite noticeable. Eagerly awaiting your next ride…
@@reb4898 thank you so much! Thats super cool that you got to ride into the Grand Canyon! Thats a bucket list adventure for us, for sure 😊
Thank you for watching and taking time to leave such a nice comment
Great history about mules, I was always fascinating where they came from, good job thank you.
Thank you so much!! We really appreciate that ☺️
Keep up the great videos :) ❤❤❤
@@ramblingheart6625 thank you! We’re going to try 😊 making videos has been a super fun learning experience for us so far!
Horses and mules run in my family. My grandmother loved mules. When I retired, I got my first mule. I love them too. How the mules and I love each other is different than the horses. I love the horses just as much, just differently. Mules are better in mesquite brush. They willingly follow me in. Their sense of humor is equally unique. Great post- thank you .
That’s so cool! We are so thankful that we got our mules 😊🙏🏼 We’re the same as you- we absolutely love horses, but mules are just different. They’re a great fit for us and the riding we do here in the mountains.
It sounds like you’ve got an awesome family heritage, and hopefully we’ll learn as much about mules as you probably know one day 🙏🏼😊
Thank you for watching and taking time to leave a comment! It’s really fun for us to hear about other folks’ experiences.
Quotes from my Father . Who rides a mule? “Preachers and Teachers “
“Someone to proud to ride a cow, but to poor to ride A horse “.
I will say that in the rough country you will fare much better on a good Mule!
Haha well that fits about right! 😂😂👍🏼
We sure do love our mules, they are pretty awesome ☺️
I just started reading Blood Meridian and this pops up in my recommended 😆 great timing!
Old man said...
As a child in the country.....about an hour before school time...
The old family mule would stand sideways at the porch...
The kid would easily climb on bareback...
Prepare for the 45 minute ride to school and often go to sleep laying across the mules neck ...
When the mule slowly walked to school...
Would stop next to a tree in the scboolyard...
Within the hour...the old mule would walk back home...
At 3 pm....when school was out....
The mule would be standing back under that same tree for the ride back home....
Haha that’s awesome☺️
Well said! Well done video!! Both my horses are experiencing heaves right now due to the dust and probably the stuff in some last years hay I've been throwing them which now I'm having to soak..but..my mules? ...They are fine. Thank God! Not saying they can't get heaves but they seem to be just a bit less sensitive. A great feature!
Oh no! I’m sorry your horses are sick- hopefully they get well quickly! 🙏🏼
Our experience has definitely been the same… mule aren’t completely immune to that type of thing, but they sure seem less prone to be affected 😊
I like Mules alot. I really Loved this Video about Them. That White And Brown Spotted Mule was so Beautiful. I'll watch this again. I really enjoyed it!! ❤🫏🫏❤️❤️
Thank you so much for watching and taking time to leave such a kind comment! We really appreciate it 😊
You've styled yourself after the dude in the thumbnail! I love it! 😂
@@CranberryHollow haha! We made a joke about that ourselves 😂😂😂 when I saw that picture I had to choose it for the thumbnail… it was too perfect 👨🏻😂👍🏼
I don't know how this showed up, but I subbed because this is kind of cool!
Haha thank you so much! 😂☺️
For me mules and horses are war heroes and victims just like humans . They took part unwillingly in every war since God knows how long ago and they died in incredible numbers.
Some of the old war photos are just heartbreaking 💔
Growing up in Indep.mo my foster parents would hire a fellow with a 4 mule team to plow under and disc their garden every fall. It was something to watch at the end of role he didn't much room to work with to backup and forward to turn the mules around to go down the next role. That fellow with hands full reins was amazing.
That’s amazing! Its so fun to watch a good team of mules or horses work together ☺️
I sure love my mule but he is sooo bad on the ground but once in his saddle he’s great ❤
Oh that’s interesting! I’m thankful he’s good when he’s saddled at least… that makes riding much more enjoyable lol
I wonder why he’s bad on the ground… is he pushy? (I apologize in advance if I don’t see your reply- they don’t show up in our notifications a lot of the time)
Another brilliant video! You’ve outdone yourself once again. 🌟
Thank you so much! 😊
Do you know the mare breeds of your mules? In your opinion, which mare breed is the best to make a good mule?
@@karenr67 it really just depends on what you want to do with them ☺️ for us we like the athleticism and build of quarter horse mules. (Or similar)
Clyde, our white mule and Reata, our dun mule are both out of quarter horse mares.
Josey, our leopard appy is out of a foundation Appaloosa mare and Cedar, our little red mule is out of a half draft mare ☺️
Great video. My perspective covers over 65 years with both. Love "Liven The Dream".
Thank you so much! 😊
Mules are awesome, I love riding my friends, his trot feels smoother than a horse and his canter was amazing. I love and ride horses as well, but if I’m in rough terrain, I’ll ride a muke if I can!
That’s awesome! We’re the exact same way… horses are amazing animals, but we’ve sure developed a soft spot for mules 😊
Thank you for watching and taking time to leave a nice comment 😊
I live close to Columbia, TN which has a Mule Day festival that originally started in the 1840's.
My grandad always got excited when when it was time for Mule Day.
Amazing critters.
We’ve heard great things about those mule days there!! ☺️
In 1865, my 14-year old grandmother ran away from her family farm in Arkansas. She loaded her survival gear in bags onto the large, white mule she'd raised and trained since he was born. She had throwing hatchets and Bowie knives, which she was an expert at tossing, pistols and a rifle. Her mule carried her all the way to Portland on the Oregon Trail. Sometimes she'd hook up with wagon trains and other times she'd strike out on her own. Several times, she'd had to defend her life against hostile men and her mule stood by her side, faithful as always. Forty years later, after she'd married and had 7 children, Buffalo Bill brought his wild west show to Portland and she was invited to be a guest performer, throwing hatchets at swinging targets from the back of the mule she had at the time. My dad was 14 then and got to assist her from behind the scene. He was privileged to meet all the well-known Western legends who were part of the show and thought he was the luckiest young man in the world. He'd grown up riding mules himself and became an expert at shooting slingshots from their backs. He'd ride a mule, which is an excellent mount for hunting along forest trails and pick off grouse on low limbs and take them home for dinner.
Wow that’s crazy!! 😃 very awesome story!!
Bro how old r u born in the 1930ss? Plz explain
@@unkownhistory7660 If their grandmother was 14 in 1865, she would have been born about 1851. She might, then, have had children born from about 1868 to 1888. The next generation might have offspring born roughly between 1888 to 1918 (if the mother), or perhaps 1888 - 1938 (if the father).
The claim is somewhat plausible, supposing the info to be correct.. It might be, however, that the poster forgot to add the 'great-' before 'grandmother'...
@@Lucius1958 thanks man
I love the way how you present the subject!!!
Thank you so much!
Mules always make me think of the mule "Blue" on the 70s TV show "The Waltons". I read that when they wanted to get Blue to run away when they tried to put a saddle on him, they knew that he was afraid of camels. So, to get him to run away from the saddle, they brought a camel on the set. You can see his eyes get real big when he sees the camel in that scene. And he runs off down the road.
Haha I don’t remember that part of the show! But that’s funny! I bet ours wouldn’t be too fond of camels either 😂😂😂
@@MTN_BUILT It was "The Thoroughbred" I think, when John Boy enters Blue in the local horse race.
@@julienielsen3746 I remember that episode, but don't remember part of the plot being that Blue was hard to saddle. It's been years though. Clever tactic though to get the right "performance" out of him.
@@NavvyMom Here's a video of Judy Norton ( Mary Ellen) telling about that episode, and about Blue running away from the camel. th-cam.com/video/7FZq_utZjzg/w-d-xo.html
@@MTN_BUILT This video shows that happening in that episode. th-cam.com/video/7FZq_utZjzg/w-d-xo.html
I love that White with Brown splashes it looks really beautiful. And thanks for the insight into Mules.
Thank you! We sure love our mules and the adventures we go on with them, they help us in so many ways! Packing meat out of the mountains, helping us get into remote areas. They truly are amazing! 😊❤️
My favorite animal is the mule. He has a lot more horse sense than a horse. He knows when to stop eating. And he knows when to stop working. -Harry S Truman
Good quote! Haha
Excellent presentation! I learned a lot. Thank you!
Thank you so much! We really appreciate you watching! ☺️
I had a big Molly mule I was trying to sell at an auction, a lady came up and asked if she was a full blood mule.
😂😂😂
I met some men in Utah once when I was camping. They were taking theirs into the back country. It was fascinating to watch them pack everything up. They weighed everything and even took spare mules with them. We didn't see them come back all week.
I also had a friend who owned a couple. When he passed his mules pulled his casket to the cemetery ❤ I love them, wish I had a fence.
It’s so fun to watch really skilled packers load their stock ☺️ sorry to hear about the loss of your friend but what a neat way to be carried ❤️
@MTN_BUILT It was fascinating, and we had some good conversations. They took their time, so it was a couple of hours by the time they were ready to go.
We were camped across from where they left their rig, and they had plenty of beer and supplies like I said they were still gone when we left.
My friends funeral procession was pretty cool. He loved those mules. Someone stole them from their pasture not long afterwards. Sad
Thanks. ✌🏻👊🏼
Thanks for watching!! ☺️
watched a video some time ago about Donkeys. They are very protective. The video showed an unfortunate coyote who got too close to some sheep a donkey was watching/friends with....killed the bugger in a heartbeat...WOW!
Very interesting video. When I think of mules it's always the "20 mule team" hauling tons of Borax out west. Thanks!!
Yeah haha burros and donkeys can be very aggressive towards dogs, coyotes etc! Some mules can be too! Our dogs were taught not to go in the mule pen when we aren’t around just to be safe ☺️
The ancient mules have fabulous bloodline from the African wild donkeys. The Barb horses of North Africa were also recorded in producing mules.
Somali Wild Ass are highly endangered btw...zoos use them for select preservation breeding programs. To keeping this ancient equid from becoming extinct.
Now today's mules.....Im looking at your uploads ❤❤❤
That’s so cool ☺️ those Somali wild asses are sure neat looking! Our dun looks like she should be sired by one of them lol
New subscriber. I learned not to be so judgmental about mules from this video as I had always put them in the stubborn, mule kick category. Raised on horses but now I'm looking forward to learning more about mules. Thanks for this informative video!
Thank you so much for watching! Mules have definitely had a lot of rumors spread about them and tend to get a bad rap.
They are pretty cool ☺️ there are good and bad ones just like horses or anything else, but if you get around a good one I guarantee you’ll think they are neat ❤️
King David preferred mules over horses and they were his chosen mount
That’s right! If they’re good enough for king David, they’re certainly good enough for me 😊🙌🏼
Thanks for educating me about mules ;your contact was enjoyable and I definitely will watch more shows. Never gave much thought to a mule,knew they were sure footed when I took her ride one ,40 years ago in Mexico A few hundred miles past Ensenada Baja California to some ancient wall Drawings!! thanks again😊
That was probably an incredible trip!! Thank you so much for watching! ☺️
I'm puzzl d how a shorter donkey can breed with a mare considering the height difference?
We should have mentioned it, I only briefly showed a picture of one, but modern day mules are created with the breeding of mammoth Jack donkeys. These donkeys are anywhere from 14-17hands tall (a hand is 4 inches) so 56”-68” inches at the shoulder. So same size as horses.
(Thats why hinnys are usually so small, because they are the accidental breeding of a pony or mini horse with a standard or mini donkey.) hope this made sense and cleared that up lol! Great question that we failed to touch on! ☺️👍🏼
Very good video. Thanks for your knowledge
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment ☺️
Where did the saying " I'll beat you like a rented mule" , come from ??
I’m not sure, I wouldn’t beat a rented mule 🤷🏼♀️😂
Fascinating video, I learned a lot! Great presentation.
Thank you so much!! 😊
Thank you. Love learning about your mules. Any time you are inclined to bring more info, would enjoy it. Interested to learn how comfortable they are to ride at trot and canter compared to horses as I would am thinking about one in the future.
Awesome!! Thank you! We get that question a lot and a video on that would be great ☺️👍🏼
An old soldier told me a story about mules, he said back in WW2 they were given mules for a special job. Well one of the soldiers was a cruel ignorant man and was treating his mule badly, the mule put up with this for so long and then one day when the soldier was bent down behind the mule, it kicked out and got him clean on the forehead killing the soldier stone dead. He said that is a true story and we were all convinced that, that mule, was just waiting its chance to get even .
Lots of people think mules will “wait” but equines brains don’t actually work that way. Most likely the man had whooped on the mule enough, when he bent down the mules thought he was going to inflict pain and reacted by kicking out. It was a reaction in the moment, not a long thought out and planned revenge. That being said, if your hard on mules they don’t handle it like horses and can get skittish or even mean because of harsh handling. They don’t tolerate that treatment! ☺️
Great video. I did find one thing that was missing in it. Maybe you could do a video on this subject. George Washington, the King of Spain, and how Washington came to acquire some of the finest donkeys to breed mules. Really good info in your video, keep up the content.
Yes! Royal gift 😃 we have a short on that story, but we did leave it out of this video. There is so much more we would like to talk about but we didn’t want the video to drag on for folks haha!