What breed of horse cross you folks prefer for mountain mule

[cat and bear]

Just curious of opinion here folks, quarter, drafts, walkers?

[Benny G]

Mine are quarter horses and they seem to do just fine. However, the older I get the more I'm thinking about trying a pony cross just to get on! LOL I believe that the main thing in a mule is DISPOSITION. Before I rode my first good mule I rode several pieces of s#@&! Those first mules gave me a hatred for mules for decades. It's only because I was finding it harder and harder to find good geldings that I looked into mules. It also helped that I finally rode a good one. I acknowlege that a good mule is hard to beat, but I still prefer a darn fine gelding. Look for a soft eye in the animal-- that's a good start.

[cat and bear]

Ha, a pony cross, I couldnt keep enough boots with me, I'm 6'3. Folks see my wore out boot bottoms, think I was really doing something, not knowing they were dragging the ground ))). I'm blessed,I researched mules, the best I could, found one in the paper, went to look at him. Terrible home, ribs showing, long feet, worms, looked like hell. I got on him, and said if you ride at all, I'm taking you home, kids in the yard with an old motorbike no muffler, dogs barking, I climbed on, and a short ride, was love at first sight, or ride. Took him home, got him healthy that summer, and that son of a guy is my best friend, best ride I ever had, pups jump on his face, and he dont pay no attention. Broke to death, he is only 12, per vet. I"ve heard stories of bad ones also, as i said, i'm blessed to get a good one the first time, a horse doesnt interest me now.

[Big Mike]

I prefer draft crosses. they have great disposition, heavy boned, good size, walk all day long.

I have a thorobred cross who has a lot more go than the drafts, but not as level of a head. He took a little longer to settle donw but he's turning 8 now and is the mule I ride most

[Brady Davis]

I think any cross can work, however, I know a lot of guys who have had great success with QH and gaited horse crosses (TWH, etc)...

I am working on doing an Andalusian mule that I beleive will be the ticket for me anyhow...

[liontracker]

Someday you guys will have to show me (not from Missouri) the benefits of a mule over a top quality mountain horse.!LOL

[Brady Davis]

[pegleg]

I am a horse guy to. I guess I can't see the benefits of a mule past the faults I've seen. but never say never, I may end up on a mule yet.

[liontracker]

I've always wanted a good mule, just haven't been around one yet.

[Big Mike]

If you ride a good one for a few days and leave all the ego stuff at the trailer you will like a mule better for chasing hounds around the mountains.

I was the same about 8 years ago i had the ego I wouldnt ride a dam mule. Then i rode a good one and i havnt sat on a horse in 6 years, nothin but mules for me.

[liontracker]

Seriously, not an ego thing. I have always wanted one.
Why are they better than a horse for chasing hounds?

[Big Mike]

IMO chasen hounds always takes you to places you really shouldnt be going. And when your in the bad stuff is where a mule shines over a horse.

Each have and advantage over and some of it is just personal preferance

I'll have to bring one of mine up one of these days so you can judge for yourself

[liontracker]

I guess you are talking about level headed and sure footed. More so than a horse?

[pegleg]

ego hardly enters into it. everyone swears ride a mule in them mountains, they can't be beat! problem is every mule I have been on was a bad trip for me. so I have sort of given up on finding one. I have found that temperament will get you through the rough spots pretty well so I have kinda stuck with the lines I know work. I know people swear mules have more personality but I've met some interesting horses. If I found a mule that worked for me I sure wouldn't turn my nose up at it. in my experience it's not real hard to find a good calm intelligent horse that was bred in the rocks . finding a real reliably trained mule seems harder.

[cat and bear]

i had horses all my life, around here, grew up on them. Here is some things I noticed, a mule is very athletic, they can kick, forward, sideways or backward, but riding them in tough terrain, blow downs etc, their joints become a benefit, to manover, yes, sure footed, donkey feet, I dont shoe, and they done crack. also, bran cameron out of mt, muletrainer.com, i got his video's, and he said the brow makeup of a mule they can see four feet at once, not two like a horse. the stride is longer, they rarely colic, easy keepers, very intellegent, they truely want to be your best friend. They live on average 10 years longer then horses. I have never found the bottom on mine. If I leave mine tied, and leave, he is braying for me, working on that one))).

Here is a big one, a horse is fear or flight, to run when in danger, or scared. No matter the breed, mules stand to fight, or most, get it from the donkey side. A horse can pull 3 times its weight a mule 10. The more I learn about them, the more amazed, I Become. I run walkers, if you run english, it ok with me, your feeding them, same with mule or horse. LOL