Horse vs Mule

[Mike Leonard]

Sound like a fun ride. Here is a clip on Pasos

http://www.paso-finos.co.uk/pages/videopaso.html


I never rode any Peruvians but liked their build a lot better they look pretty stout.

There was a gal that use to live here that trained a lot of Paso Fino champions and I rode a few of her horses and they are no doubt the smoothest in the world. I think they call it the Paso Larga when they set a glass of champagne on their hate and ride and not suppose to spill it. That's smooth!

[STUNTMAN]

Doc- Cant wait to see her. Get a camera lazy ass and put a pic up. You keeping at your place for now or over at Capps?

[hunt14]

Anybody had any experience with the Waler or Australian Stock Horse?

My grandfather and a good friend of his went to Aus. to hunt water buffalo a few years back and while they were there ol Terry (grand dads friend) entered himself into a team ropin at a local rodeo there. One of the locals lended him his Australian Stock mount and he really fell in love with that horse. He roped a few steers on him and really spoke highly of him. Terry rides more than most and knows what a good horse is. They say the Waler and Stock horse are good in the mountains as well.

I dont hear much about these horses here and wondered if anybody had any experience with them.

[lmorgan]

I've never ridden an Australian Stock Horse, but I've got a couple of friends Down Under and of course they speak highly of them. One of the guys knows which end of a cow gets up first, so I trust his opinion of the ASH. From everything I hear and read, they're pretty good mounts. There is some debate over there about the connection between the Walers and the ASHs. Some say different strains of the same breed, some say completely different. I've got a nice QH mare that I'm going to AI breed to my buddy's Australian Stock Horse stud via frozen semen. I'll have to keep you posted on how the colt turns out if she takes.

[hunt14]

Larry please do keep me posted. Im sure they are like any other breed of animal where you'll find good and bad in all of them but I hear they are, for the most, a real using horse and they hold up well.

[UphillDoc]

Here she is...sure enjoy her and she has made cruisin the hills a pleasure for sure.

Take care.

[Hagerman]

I understand Benny G's problem with mules...It's like marriage.
Opposites attract and...
Mules are opinionated.

[Benny G]

Mr. Hagerman,
How would that work? If opposites attract, and BOTH mules and I are VERY opinionated, we shouldn't EVER be around each other! Although I might be a little more opinionated than my mules!


Oh, and by the way, Doc...nice looking mount! I like the color contrast of the britchen also. (Just my opinionated thoughts!)

[Hagerman]

Kinda what I was referring to Benny!
Just couldn't make myself say it outright.

[slowandeasy]

[Spencer]

Nice looking horse. Enjoy!!!

[Machias]

Nice looking horse, I think your britchen is a bit low, just a thought.

[lmorgan]

I think whether someone prefers horses over mules is sort of like people who argue Ford over Chevy. Both are good and bad rides, but you like what you like. So much of it is a state of mind as well. I currently own four horses and one mule, but I consider myself a mule man. I have a great friend who has had almost as many mules through the years as me, but he's a dyed in the wool horseman. Its the state of mind.

[Mike Leonard]

One thing I have found out about mule men is they are much more superstitious than are horse folks.

Case in point: I found this real nice red molly mule here about a week ago. She 9 years old about 15 hands and gentile as can be. She rides, packs trailers, good with handling her feet and such and looks to be easy to catch. Ok the guy said he needd to sell her so I said well how much and he told me. I said that is a pretty good price I don't really need a mule right now but I will check around and see if I can find a sale for her. Well I contacted a few hunters that I know are mule people and each one said the same thing.

How much trial do I get on that mule? In other words they wanted to take the mule ride it for a few weeks or months and then make up their minds. Now in horse dealing generally you go check out the animal ride think about it and then make the deal and haul the horse to your house and that is it. Not so with mule guys I have found so I guess I can't help him sell her because if it were a horse I would worry that who ever took it could screw it up good and proper before screaming uncle and hauling it back. LOL!

[lmorgan]

Mike,

I wish someone had given me a trial on some of the mules (and horses for that matter) that I've wasted money on over the years. Every mule I ever bought, I bought the hard way, just like you described. It's probably better that way. If they'd have given me two weeks to see if I liked them, then I'm sure I'd have found enough faults to give it back. The other way, I didn't hae a choice but to try and tough it out and make the animal work.