BigGameHoundsmen.com

For a few years I was the farrier for one of the nations premier Andalusian barns in the US. These guys imported stock directly from the Spanish riding schools and high end bull fighting stock. These horses are absolutely BAD TO THE BONE...gaited, cowy and as athletic as ANY horse I have ever seen....and, they moved incredibly well. The videos alone of the bullfighters using them is unreal.

My question is this, I would love to get a real nice Andalusian mare from him and breed it to a nice gaited jack...anyone riding mules like this>?

I don't know but I bet they would be great. I have seen them guys do all that fancy stuff with them fighting cattle on them horses and it will just blow a cutting horse person's mind to see how they can move. Totally different but as Brady said BAD TO THE BONE!


I remember old Clint Eastwood riding them Spanish Gaithes high headed horses in them spaghetti westerns. allways looked a little weird but I heard old Clint was right fond of them easy movers.

All I know is you don't take a flat land mule or horse into rock or mountain country. Unless you want to end up on your backside

Have a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkV-q7Wpkkw

I am sure most people have seen this but I thought would post anyhow. I need one of these every July when I start picking up bulls.

Brady, I think you will find what you are asking is a european issue. By the time one of those horses gets here they are too expensive to make a mule out of. I read that after the war Lippizans and Andalusians were hard to find because so many mares were used to produce A/L mules. The mule men that worked them said they were the finest mules ever.

Wicked horse flesh...will be one hell of a mule.

Absolutely awa inspiring video. Getting the blood boiling doesn't even come close, that is mind blowing!

Seems like it would be well worth the effort to give a cross like that a go.

Awsome is all I can say! Brady you make that cross put some pics up, Thats interesting,

Brady,

You can get semen from some Great Spanish "Catalonian" Jacks form an Equine AI Outfit in California. Be realy picky in the Jack that you use! Stay away from the Andalusian Jacks that are out there as they tend to make mules that are too fine boned. Almost all donkeys are gaited in some form. The true Gaited Jacks are rare indeed.

The Andalusian/Catalonian Mule was the desired Mount of EU nobleman in bygone days. They swapped to their Destryiers when they got to the Fight or Tournament!

The few that I know of here in the States and Mexico are very very nice! You will be hard pressed to do better!

CJC

CJC - where can a guy see some of these and learn more?

Liontracker,

When I get back to AR, I will post some Mule Info that we have picked up over the years. In the 80's ans 90's My Wife and here dad kept 20+ mares and several Jacks and raised nice Saddle Mules.

Brady,

The Catalonian Jacks will be in the 56 inch range, which is plenty tall enough. They have the best bone, loin, feet, and most of all BRAINs of the Donkey breeds. The Andalusian Jacks are taller but will not get you any taller Mules tahn the Cat Jacks. The French Poteau Jacks are nice but will surely throw you a Hairy Mule.

The Domestic Jacks around have some nice individuals. Some of the "Gaited Jacks" that we have seen just did not have the bone or Brains that we wanted in our Mules.

Mules and More Magazine is a great resource as is the lady in Longemont, CO. Merrideth Hodge (sp). She has books and videos, she is a little different and likes Thorough Bred and Warm Blood Cross Mules. She Show Jumps and Shows Dressage and competative Drives her Mules.

Hope this helps a little!

CJC