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My husband and I are moving to an area that is undeveloped. We will have some timbering to do but the terrain is very hilly and not great for a tractor to haul the wood… (someone once was killed hauling wood with a tractor after the chain got caught on a stump) I was looking into Fjord Horses for the working aspect but have since heard that mules are really good at this type of work.
I’ve mostly worked with quarter horses and ponies, never mules. I am curious if there is a breed of horse that breeds better to make a good working mule.
Is it better to get one younger? I’ve read they are very intelligent and bond strongly with their humans. How are they with kids?
Mules are incredibly individual animals, it will depend entirely on the individual mule you look at if they’re good at what you need, but what you’re asking for is a lot of any (modern) equine — especially if you aren’t experienced in this type of work. GOOD, proven mules are also worth more than an equatable horse, if budget is a concern.
They’re trickier animals, and they aren’t horses. They don’t eat the same, they don’t give to pressure the same, they don’t respect fences or livestock the same, they don’t have the same fight/flight response. Horse farriers won’t touch them for the most part (you’re in TN tho, you may have more luck here) and neither will horse trainers. People either love them or hate them but there’s no in between. They’re very much an investment relationship.
Personally I’d go with a tractor over a mule — and we have both lol. Just use caution and proper tools (you can use ratchet straps, a strong enough rated chain with no rust, or angle the tractor differently, or simply push stumps out, or hire it out - a chain can still snap and fly back at you and the mule with an equine)
Is there any reason why exactly? Like I said, the risk imo is higher rather than smaller with an equine vs modern machinery.
RB averaged for 14k this year. Top riding sellers were 48k.
Only 25% of the select consignments were under a $4,000 average. They were mostly weanlings.
In that case, the best advice I can give you is “have a big budget” and be patient in finding the right one, and the right equipment. Mules are no easier than horses — they’re often trickier in most husbandry and training aspects.
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Our donkey jack (on the left there) is a saddle donkey. I absolutely LOVE him. He was the only thing I’d ride while pregnant; you might get stuck in neutral but you aren’t getting bucked off.
Like I said… mules are individual. Some lean towards the donkey, some lean towards the horse, some are something else entirely right from the depths of hell.
Good mules are fantastic. They’ve got so much personality, it’s like having a buddy rather than an animal. I would say pick one like you’d pick a relationship - find one whose personality, accomplishments, quirks and demeanour suit yours.