Mule question

[Mike Leonard]

I notice most mule men voice a preference for Molly or female mules. As a horse guy I have always preffered geldings for my day to day work and hunting. I guess just not having to put up with the hassle you get from some mares around other horses. I will admit some of these best horses I have ridden were mares or fillys but I still lean hard towards a solid gelding.

So why do you mule guys lean towards the Molly rather than the John mule?

[coldnosed1976]

In my opinion most of the Johns i've had they are proud cut.To the point that a john will keep my jack away form the mares.A john will also kill newborn mules in the pasture if they are around. Dont have the problems with molly's I also think the mollys dont have quite the go but it could depend on the animal.

[Benny G]

For me Mike, it's still all about temperment. You just answered the question about the difference between mares and geldings, well it's the same way reversed for mules. Not the squealing and fussing so much, but the overall attitude. Mollys tend to be a bit more laid back than johns. My experiences are limited, so I may get lined out by others, but johns tend to be the hard cases in the mule world. I hope that no one takes this to mean that mollys are always easy, but overall, mollys have sweeter dispositions -- just like my wife is easier to get along with than me. Isn't that right Kiel?

[dwalton]

Mike; I raised mules for years and been around them for over 40 years. Molly are better temperament than most johns. A lot easier to get along with, but have seen some good johns, they are usually tougher. Dewey

[Big Mike]

I personaly have Johns. Ive had only 1 molly and she was a freakn idiot so i dont have much to make an opinion on. Molly's piss all over the breechn which I dont like. Seen some really good molly's others have owned though.

One trait I like about Johns is the fall in love with mare's. So when packing in the wilderness if we take 1 mare and keep her tied we can turn all the mules loose to graze and they wont go far from that mare. Dont know if a molly would act the same?

[Mike Leonard]

Very instuctional! Yes I have heard the mothered up factor in John mules I guess it is good in a dude string but it is one thing that will drive me right up the wall.

The little bit I have messed with mules and trust me it ain't much by choice I have noticed John mules being a bit pushy and wanting to get in your space, I don't cotton well with that it is sort of a dominance thing I guess. These are good some others put in on this. I think it also tells a lot about the mule man himself...

[Brady Davis]

I've seen good and bad of both sexes. I personally prefer a big nice john mule and they seem to do better when ridden good and hard. My mule I'm riding now has turned out to be a "best buddy", tough as hell, and reliable.

Maybe it's my personality like you said Mike but I guess I tend to lean towards males in most animals, dogs, horses and mules. ....At least I'm not that way with humans!!!! LOL...I like my WIFE

[Montana Hounder]

I guess I'v seen good and bad in both. We have about 75 to 80 mules in hunting camp in wyoming. We keep all the mules at camp with a bell mare, mules have a stronger mothering instinct then horses. So they don't let that mare to far out of sight. Only thing i will say, when the boss sells his mules at the mule days the mollies always sell alot better.

[kolob2034]

When I first started in mules everyone said get a mollie. 23 years later all we have are johns. The 3 johns we have now won't quit. They each have their own personality and they all love to work. The more work they get the happier they are. There is no having to break them again if you have laid off them for a few months. The johns we have are very consistant. If we have accidently galled one or some other injury they work through the pain. They have been very loyal companions. They don't weave all day in the corral the way the mollies did. I would not consider another molly.

[Benny G]

kolob2034,
Next time I find a "good john" I'll call you. In the meanwhile, I still don't have that phone number. I'll be out of pocket for another week - it's time to go fishing in Colorado. After that I'll be laying around the house for a couple of weeks. If I don't hear from you, I'll try calling you on the only number I have. We need to get together on the Strip this winter.

[Bdog]

I have both and in my limited experience they are just like dogs as you get good ones where you find them. My molly goes crazy when left by herself and my John dont care. My John is more like a pet but will go anywhere I ask him to go and the molly thinks she knows and will tell me where she wants to go, kinda like another species I have around the house:)