Mules jumping where horses can't

[Sourdough]

You guys know I have sometimes talked about hunting Coon and Foxes at night back in Tennessee.  We rode mules to follow the hounds, and we came upon many fences.  We would place a blanket or feed sacks across a bobwire fence and a mule would jump it.  No way you would ever get a horse to jump that.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Q14GfTVbY
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6rlTnAFjIg

[blind ear]

Had a neighbor many many years ago that had a coon mule. He never could get the mule to jump fences as it was supposed to. That guy had a politicall rally at his place. He killed and dressed the mule and bar-b-qued it and fed it to the guest. He often laughed about feeding that stupid ass mule to the stupid ass politicians. I don't think that he ever named the mule. Might be why he couldn't get it to work. ear

[SHOOTALL]

mules is smart critters , most won't let you make then hurt themselves.

[FPH]

I've have had horses that will take a fence, but I've always been able to lead a mule to were his chest just touched the top strand of wire and the mule would go up and over.

[Oldshooter]

I have been threatening to get a mule to pull my Ranger if the SHTF. Everyone thinks I'm carazy. Mules are interesting and handy! I dunno if I wanna be on a mule that jumps a fence... prolly wont be on it long anyway! 

[FPH]

I'm never on with a high fence.....and neither are my gun.

[Ranger99]

almost every mule i've messed with
would jump. my buddy bought one
and didn't know it would until we
tried it out. when you put your coat
on the top fence wire, they can see
it and pretty much instinctively will
top it. it works better when you place
your coat then lead them up to the fence
kinda brisk like. never had to train one
to do it.

[Ranger99]

i should have said also that we've
done that leading , not riding

[Dee]

Been around horses a mules most of my life. Want ta ride a mule with a saddle? Better use a britchen. Mule dont have withers. Pack of dogs will run a horse thru a fence. A mule wont run most of thetime. He'll most likely kill the dogs. Horse will eat till it founders. A mule wont. You can run a horse to death, but not mule. Smart? You darn right they are.

[Ranger99]

if there's a piece of wire sticking
out of a fence, or a nail, you can
bet a horse will find it. load him up.
to the vet we go. again.

[streak]

Years ago hunting here in Colorado always prefered a mule for riding in these mountains on these stupid narrow paths! Mules were alot more surefooted and seemingly alot more cautious or smarter in this type of terrain!

[Sourdough]

Streak:  A mules eyes set outside his skull, a horses set deep inside his skull.  The mule can see it's front feet, a horse can not.

Oldshooter:  We always got off and lead the mule to the fence.  The power a mule uses making that jump, no one could stay on anyway.  You will note a mule jumps almost straight up, and it would jump right out from under you.

I used two big mules working wild cattle in the pens.  If an old cow charged, the mule would turn and strike her in the head.  Steel shoe usually killed the cow.  A horse would try running, and get gored.

When I was going to shoeing school in Phoenix we had a Rancher bring in a Mule for shoeing.  This Mule had been running with the Mares since birth, and never fooled with.  We were unable to do anything with it.  Old Delroy, the school owner took the job.  Delroy had us drag it to the work area, throw and hog tie it on the ground.  Delroy selected one front foot.  He trimmed, cleaned out the frog, and leveled the foot.  Then he shaped the shoe, nailed it on, and clinched the nails.  Once Delroy was done with the first foot he had us untie the Mule.  Mule got up and raised it's foot checking out the new shoe.  He stamped his foot a few times, then got interested in the feed he could smell.  Delroy put a feed bag on him and finished the other three feet in a normal fashion.  Delroy explained that once the Mule knew what was going to happen, and that it was not going to hurt, he was OK with it.  And he was right.   

[mulemanhayes]

   Hello Guys. I live near a little town called Lathrop in nortwest Missouri that is the [Former Mule Capital of the World] ,   I have been lurking here for a few years,   this new internet thing seems to be really catching on so I guess I might as well join in if you'll have me.    I can share some info about the mules and mule men in that first video, it was taken at the Missouri state fair about 03' or 04',   those 3 mules are some of top competitors in the nation.   The man with the white hat is my good friend Mike Call with his mule Radar,  next is my nephew Kenny Friend with his mule Big Red,  last is the best muleman I have ever met, my father inlaw who we lost in 06' to cancer    T.W. Friend with his big black mule "Mr T".  all of these mules jump in the 72 inch range on a good day,  we  have plenty of top competitors here in Missouri ,  so if you ever want to see a "Mule Jump" let me know,  we have several each year, or better yet bring your ole bag of bones with ya and put him in the box,  I guarantee you'll have fun,  we're just a bunch of hillbilly's but we'll treat you so many ways you'll like some of em           Regards

[Sourdough]

Welcome aboard Mulemanhayes. 

I grew up in Tennessee, where we farmed with Mules and Horses.  Couldn't get a tractor up to them little Tobacco Patches up them hollers no ways.  Learned at an early age Horses gets stupid when they are scared.  Mules are reliable.

[FPH]

Jee and Ha hey....us too.......you need to try a good TX cow horse.......there ain't no scared in them when working cattle.  Heck, I've got to train mine not to take a hunk out of a steer.

[Oldshooter]

this new internet thing seems to be really catching on so I guess I might as well join in if you'll have me. 

   
 
Well welcome Pardner, You can be expect to be treated several ways here as well. Hope you like one of em!
 
Thanks for the info on the guys in the videos.  72" thats a jump!
 

[streak]

Sourdough,
 Thanks for the detailed info on mules!

[Sourdough]

FPH:  I rode Texas Quaters, many of them King Ranch Quaters.  A few of them West Texas Bull Dog Quaters too.  (As cutters they can't be beat)   But when in a pen with WILD cattle that have never been worked or driven before, give me a mule, a big mule.

[FPH]

FPH:  I rode Texas Quaters, many of them King Ranch Quaters.  A few of them West Texas Bull Dog Quaters too.  (As cutters they can't be beat)   But when in a pen with WILD cattle that have never been worked or driven before, give me a mule, a big mule.

    No way.....I ride Col. Freckles bred Qts....I'l  take one QT. to your 6 mules.....and I have a friend from Bishop Calif. who trains mules out  there and I seen what they can do.  No comparison.  Thats why Mules are a Novelty when it comes to cattle.  You can't beat instinct with B Mod.

[hillbill]

years ago prob in the early 80 s me and my dad coon hunted a lot and we had horses for working cattle. i didnt mind walking a few miles while hunting but my dad worked very hard all day long on the farm.he came up with the idea we should ride horses to chase the dogs.wellll that didnt work out so well.the horses would freek when a branch hit them in the belly or they stepped in sum unseen wire in the dark.
 
i really wanted to breed one of my moms mares to a jack, they were some of the finest quarter horses you had ever seen. she would just react with disgust!so i never got my coon hunting mule lol!

[powderman]

SOURDOUGH. Thanks for the vids, I could almost smell the manure.
MULEUMAN. Welcome aboard Sir. POWDERMAN. 

[mechanic]

Yep, mules can jump, and they can almost walk on top of a barb wire fence they are so sure footed.  On uneven or unsteady ground, or where critters might be lurking I'd much rather have a mule.
My grand dad would hook his up to the wagon, turn him left out of the drive way and then take a nap while the mule walked to the store..about 3 miles or more.  The mule would stop at the highway intersection, look for cars then proceed, all without instruction.
 
Ben

[Dee]

I'm gonna have to go with FPH on cow horses. I used to ride a big gelding that was CrotonOil on the top out of a TaterBar mare. He was a little over 16 hands and weighed about 1000lbs. You could walk him into the box and turn around, and he would screw himself into the corner. You had to hold in until a good fresh brama calf was out of the chute or he'd break the barrier rope. I always had to tuck my rope and grab the horn with both hands or he'd leave without me. While I was tryin to get a rope on the calf, he was tryin to chew his tail off. If all went well, he'd wreck a calf. You could use him to pen bulls and he'd take up for himself. Folks used to say he had somuch cow sense he outta have horns. There's never been a mule with that much drive.
I will say that in rough country, and at night I'd choose mule. In a tough spot a hand raised mule usually won't quit you either. Best night hawk ther is in camp.

[FPH]

I love a good riding mule for hunting(sure footed), and I prefer a good pack mule to a horse.  However,  mules are in no way bred as well for cow work as a good cow horse.  You wont't find mules in any professional remuda picked for round up.  Mules compete against mules for a reason, put a mule up against 49 good cow horses ad the mule comes in 50th.  All my horses are broke....you can cut a tree limb off with a chansaw while standing in the saddle.....there is no scared in any of them......no cow intimidates them.

[mulemanhayes]

   Thanks for the welcome guys,  I guess you all know   " A Mule Won't Kick You Unless You Need It "   

[Oldshooter]

       

[Ranger99]

i wouldn't try to gather cattle
with a mule. it's way too easy
to drive out with the tailgate down
and rattle some feed sacks around.
just like kiddos with a birthday cake

[FPH]

i wouldn't try to gather cattle
with a mule. it's way too easy
to drive out with the tailgate down
and rattle some feed sacks around.
just like kiddos with a birthday cake

Diving from water hole to water hole works well too.

[FPH]

i wouldn't try to gather cattle
with a mule. it's way too easy
to drive out with the tailgate down
and rattle some feed sacks around.
just like kiddos with a birthday cake

I've been on round ups where you aren't going to be able to drive your truck......saddle up pard.

[Ranger99]

i'm just drawing on what i've done.
i can do that on my place if it's not
dry. i can do that at my b.i.l. in abilene,
and like as not, there'll be six or seven deer
waiting for the truck to pull away. if
you give cattle a reason to fear when you
roll up, it's a bitch to get 'em trailered.
i like the lazy way, and i don't need
to nursemaid any ponies.