Mules... for the uneducated

[HighUintas]

We're house shopping and the options within budget are very limited. Trying to decide between in town or slightly out, with enough land for 3 animals. The dream was to be able to have a few mules and shoot off my porch, but for the next 10-15 years it's looking like the shoot off my porch scenario probably isn't happening. And I'd rather not spend the extra money for space and equipment for animals if it's not for me.

I've been thinking for years that I'd like to get some mules when possible. I grew up with friends who rode and whose parents were mule and horse nuts, but my folks weren't and didn't have any nor did they know anything about them. So I've ridden a bit, but for all intents and purposes I'm essentially ignorant about keeping livestock.

So, for a complete neophyte who doesn't know anyone within a 22 hr drive that owns them, what's the best way of going about finding out if my life is compatible with owning 3? I'm sure I'd eventually be able to figure it out and be successful if I just dove in, researched, got a few and put the time in. But I'd hate to put additional financial burden on my family to try it only to find out a few years from now that it isn't for me. I'm currently 39. I don't know if therea benefit to getting into it or trying it now versus at 50-55.

 

[mt terry d]

At 39 I'd put the time & money into solo backpack hunting and family.

The expense and time to get up to speed with horses/mules is several times more
than you imagine.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[bisblue]

I'm 42 and just switched from llamas to mules. I was able to switch because of an amazing mentor that helped me get set up and sold me mules at a discount.
I'm able to take my animals to work at a land management agency, and do multiple non hunting pack trips on my own time. The work to trim their feet, feed them, clean up is huge and required everyday. It's a full on lifestyle, going to visit family for Christmas, you need someone to feed mules twice a day. I would suggest renting some llamas to see if you like pack stock.

 

[wyodan]

I bit the bullet and bought a couple. Way harder than llamas or donkeys, but I also find them way more enjoyable. You will need to be doing something with them at least weekly. I was 45 when I picked them up. Hitting the ground doesn’t get easier as you get older, and always makes for an exciting story. You only live once.

 

[deserthunter2016]

It ain’t cheap or easy. If you want good stock working with them multiple times a week is a must, year around for me. You have to love it I think.

If you’re really interested I would find mules that have been there and done that with an outfitter. If you want saddle mules that can also pack the price goes up and up. I would get a horse for your saddle animal and mules for packing. A good saddle horse is easier to find.

There was recently a q&a done in the back country stock forum and it has some good basic info on what it will cost per month per animal.

A mentor is a must unless you have a lot of free time, and base line level of experience. It doesn’t take much for an unexperienced person to get into a wreck. They’re animals and each has their own way and reactions.


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[NorthIdahoDude]

What others have said, it will cost a LOT more in both time and money than you imagine. It's also very rewarding. Mules are incredibly intelligent and interesting animals. I would estimate them as being at least twice as smart as the smartest dog I ever had. My wife and I had mules for about 8 years. Fairly early on, my wife took a bad fall off of one and broke her back in 2 places (not paralyzed or anything, but fractured 2 of the bones pretty solid, to the point she still has some issues stemming from it to this day), which was the end of riding them for both of us. After that, we would take them hunting for pack animals and company (mules are delightful company, IMHO), but about the time we were closing in on 50, we realized the work and expense was more than we could manage, and it also wasn't fair to the mules; they loved to go on trips and get out in the woods, and while hanging out in the pasture wasn't awful, you could tell they were pretty bored most of the time. So we found a good home for them with a forest service guy who would take them on adventures on the regular, and said goodbye.

All of which is probably just a long winded way of saying, I reckon if you're gonna do it, do it before you get old and run out of energy, LOL, but be aware it's gonna take a lot more than you think it will in terms of money and time and emotional investment.