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.

 

[kickemall]

Horses for riding, mules for packing. Based on that I can make a horse do something it doesn’t want to do which is important in a bad situation. Not going to happen on a mule.

 

[Brooks]

Either one. We use horses and mules. They both go where ever you want them to go, haul what ever you want them to haul. Side by side in rough country all day. Just get GOOD horses or mules.

 

[roosiebull]

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.

Holy smokes! I take it mules live longer than horses? 41 is older than I have heard of a horse living. The oldest horse I know of was recently put down at 37, and she was the creakiest animal I’ve seen. Everything that moved made noise on her.

How old was your mule still working? Seems like horses start having problems around 25yrs, granted they were hearty horses, not prone to injury/issues in their prime

 

[wyosteve]

What Davy said is correct. As well, you can typically force a horse to do something it doesn’t want to do, but difficult to do with a mule. Generally mules are more sure footed and less likely to spook and run.

 

[roosiebull]

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.

S2H episode 96 Is worth a listen, I am around a lot of horses but have not been around mules, and Ryan talks about the differences in performance and temperament. Probably basic stuff, but it’s certainly relevant.

Either will certainly make any hunt more of an adventure, and a lot of commitment to your offseason. I’m intrigued by mules because they have a reputation for being stubborn, and horses can be incredibly stubborn

 

[Preston]

I don't know anything about mules, but I don't think I could do any better than a well trained horse. I think it's all about the level of training and time you want to put into them. It doesn't require buying an expensive animal either.

 

[Beendare]

I have buddies with both....and have used both in the backcountry many times.

I prefer mules....but a horse/mule is like carrying a pistol....worthless without training. If those animals are regularly ridden in the woods, they are typically pretty good.

 

[MulemanMT]

S2H episode 96 Is worth a listen, I am around a lot of horses but have not been around mules, and Ryan talks about the differences in performance and temperament. Probably basic stuff, but it’s certainly relevant.

Either will certainly make any hunt more of an adventure, and a lot of commitment to your offseason. I’m intrigued by mules because they have a reputation for being stubborn, and horses can be incredibly stubborn

Mules will not do something if they think it might hurt them. They want to think about it until they feel safe. In my experience you cannot make a mule do something if it doesn't feel safe. You can make a horse do something but you cannot make a mule. It not ornery stubbornness its wanting to be safe.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I think it depends on your personality as much as theirs.

 

[mt terry d]

My take considering my limited experience (probably 15 years or so) with both in the mountains.

Now I won't say I had great mules but they'd ride & pack with little issues; I'd
say they were on the good side of average (< as I said I have limited experience)

Mules definitely tougher, get by on less rations, harder hooves. But in the mountains
you're going to be in a lot of rock so will probably shoe them all anyway. (and as I
stated elsewhere if something drastic happens and you have to shoot one of your animals, you don't feel so bad shooting a mule. LOL, just kidding.)

I had two main horses I rode and led the pack animals with. We had trust. We could come to something sketchy and though they might stop and look back at me like "you're
$hiTTing me, right?" if I said we go then we'd go and it wouldn't be a rodeo. There are times when not going isn't an option. And if the leader goes the rest will (generally) follow. If the leader has a hissy fit it runs through the whole bunch. I once hazed a grizzly away from camp, riding within about ten feet of it. The horse was on high alert (as was I)
and the bear grumbled and swung his head a little but never broke out of a walk. I wouldn't have even tried it with one of our mules.

As far as a mule being "smarter" I never saw that. I would say their sense of self-preservation is greater though. I'd liken it to this scenario: you're in a boat with
a mule coming to some small rapids and the mule gets excited and tips everyone out. The mule crawls on top of everyone and gains re-entry to the boat. As he floats peacefully down stream while everyone else drowns he says to himself "Gee, that was close" and never gives a thought to anyone else.

One's man's experience. Worth what you paid for it.

 

[Skerhunter]

Mules intrigue me - never been around a good one (or many in general). If I ever decided to go the stock pack in route, I would be traveling to spend time on some with experience mule owners/trainers.