Horse or Mule?

[Matt5266]

So I've done rodeo and also rode and trained horses quite a bit in my life. My question is for those familiar with both , horse or mule and why? Live and hunt idaho back country. Thanks

Edit - my inquiry is regarding hunting backcountry in the steep hills of Idaho.

 

[survivalistd]

Who doesn't Love a mule

 

[Pacific_Fork]

I have little experience compared to most so take a with a BIG grain of salt. All the horses I’ve ever been on seemed less than, once I rode a well trained seasoned mule into the back country. Just hardier, smarter, stronger.

 

[wysongdog]

Nothing better than a great mule and nothing worse than a bad mule lol. Love my mules

 

[mgray]

Nothing better than a great mule and nothing worse than a bad mule lol. Love my mules

This is also my opinion. I’ve owned both and feel like this is 100% true.

 

[MulemanMT]

This is also my opinion. I’ve owned both and feel like this is 100% true.

So I've done rodeo and also rode and trained horses quite a bit in my life. My question is for those familiar with both , horse or mule and why? Live and hunt idaho back country. Thanks

Edit - my inquiry is regarding hunting backcountry in the steep hills of Idaho.

You can't get better advice. A good mule can't be beat but a bad mule can hurt you bad. With that said I've riden good horses and led packstrings of mules most of my life and I'll be 70 this year. Horses can react faster sometimes. Mules will sometimes think about it. A good mule is great to be around. I like my horses but I love my mules. Good and experienced is the key to either.

 

[wyosteve]

Just had to put down my last mule at the age of 41. Had her for 35 years. Just be aware that training a mule is different than a horse. I used both horses and mules and prefer a mule in rough country.

 

[insanelupus]

Just be aware that training a mule is different than a horse.

Would you you mind elaborating on this a little? You've piqued my curiosity. My guess would be the intelligence of the mule vs less so with a horse, but if be interested in what specifically you mean. Thanks!

 

[Davyalabama]

A mule isn't apt to forgive your stupid crap, they feel they are smarter than you. Horses will tolerate you a little more.

A horse may be easier to train to do certain things, a mule wants to "think" about it and decide if it's worth "his" time.

Now a mule, once he figures out what you want and how you want it done and "accepts" it, he will have it and do it that way every time, unless, he studies a situation and sees a better option.

As far as ride, a good mule in poor ground is a pleasure. Think about a mule pulling from front and back on bad ground.

Want to make someone hate mules, put them at a young age behind a team of mules that know what they are doing and have him break up a large field for planting. "A good team of mules and sharp plow will break up a field better than any tractor," he says.

Know this, if a working mule is normally fed at a certain time, guess what? That joker is going to stop at that time and demand to be fed before he goes another step!!!!!!!!!! Ornery as a mule. Get to know them, you'll love'em.