Mules... for the uneducated

[mt terry d]

We had a donkey jack. Dusty. We called him "Dustpan"
Lovingest little fellow you could ever want.
He was hell on any stray dogs.
Never took him into the mountains but did pack a small
whitetail buck on him about 400 yards from the field to the barn.

If a guy had a few he'd be King of the Realm when the big EMP hits.

 

[KenLee]

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.

Rule #1: carry a shortened baseball bat and a gun...always

 

[RockAndSage]

Look up a local barn and start taking riding lessons to see if you enjoy it would be a great place to start. Then once you got some time under your belt you can start branching out into the world of mules.

About the best advice i can give is always continue to work with a trainer of some sorts. And buy quality trained animals from the get go. They say this in the horse world that horses fall to the level of training their owners hold them too and it’s true. I imagine mules won’t be any different. You will need help from a qualified professional to help hold your animal hold that higher standard so they don’t develop bad habits and get you hurt.


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This is some truly excellent advice.

 

[HighUintas]

There's a lot of really good advice in here, so rather than quote 95% of your responses I'll just say a huge THANK YOU to everyone.

My use would of course be hunting and packing (not really the main motivation), but also just general riding, companionship, and sometimes packing if we go camping really far in or want to take a large load of heavy gear. In the time that i have spent around them and rode them (a long long time ago) i really loved it. I thought that it would be nice to have it as part of our lives so my daughter (5yo) can grow up with it.

The time commitment is something that i figured I'd severely underestimate even though I do assume it would nearly be like taking care of a child. Probably about as expensive too. The biggest issue i can see is finding care while we travel. Our family is pretty spread out across the country.

Luckily, my wife also wants to live where this would be possible (for other reasons) but she is not as concerned about being outside of town as I am. So I'll just hope that we are able to find a suitable place within budget, not necessarily with the fencing and other infrastructure needed, and seek out lessons and/or try to make a friend that has them so I can help with chores for awhile and see what it's like.

 

[WCB]

I'd look for a property you can shoot off the porch on with the money saved by not buying mules, tack, feed, vet, fence, etc.

I used to guide horseback, packed with mules, and grew up around horses with family in rodeo. In my head I want to lead my own pack string in with wall tents and the whole 9 yards...my wallet, watch, and back keep me far away.

 

[The_BuckingSpot]

There's a lot of really good advice in here, so rather than quote 95% of your responses I'll just say a huge THANK YOU to everyone.

My use would of course be hunting and packing (not really the main motivation), but also just general riding, companionship, and sometimes packing if we go camping really far in or want to take a large load of heavy gear. In the time that i have spent around them and rode them (a long long time ago) i really loved it. I thought that it would be nice to have it as part of our lives so my daughter (5yo) can grow up with it.

The time commitment is something that i figured I'd severely underestimate even though I do assume it would nearly be like taking care of a child. Probably about as expensive too. The biggest issue i can see is finding care while we travel. Our family is pretty spread out across the country.

Luckily, my wife also wants to live where this would be possible (for other reasons) but she is not as concerned about being outside of town as I am. So I'll just hope that we are able to find a suitable place within budget, not necessarily with the fencing and other infrastructure needed, and seek out lessons and/or try to make a friend that has them so I can help with chores for awhile and see what it's like.

The kid part is big. I didn’t bring it up because depending on where someone is at in their lives kids may or may not be a factor.

Having horses as a family is a HUGE part of why we have horses. There’s few things these days that gravitate kids towards hard work, the outdoors, and community. Horse people are weird as shit. That can be a good or bad thing. Weird in today’s world is maybe just normal in days gone by. Our kids love sharing a day of riding/competition with their other horse friends. And it’s a lot better than sitting on a baseball bleacher wishing I could partake. Kid races, I jump on my horse and race, wife jumps on hers and races.

 

[Hnthrdr]

The kid part is big. I didn’t bring it up because depending on where someone is at in their lives kids may or may not be a factor.

Having horses as a family is a HUGE part of why we have horses. There’s few things these days that gravitate kids towards hard work, the outdoors, and community. Horse people are weird as shit. That can be a good or bad thing. Weird in today’s world is maybe just normal in days gone by. Our kids love sharing a day of riding/competition with their other horse friends. And it’s a lot better than sitting on a baseball bleacher wishing I could partake. Kid races, I jump on my horse and race, wife jumps on hers and races.

I think there is a bit of divide between outdoorsy horse people and crazy horse types, which is just another manifestation of crazy cat lady but with equines…

 

[The_BuckingSpot]

I think there is a bit of divide between outdoorsy horse people and crazy horse types, which is just another manifestation of crazy cat lady but with equines…

It gets murky when we are doing kid friendly events to make them well-rounded. Outdoorsy horse people are definitely the better end of the spectrum.


Also want to add that our date nights now consist of a drink while waiting for food to go, then shoveling horse shit together. It works for us but maybe not others.

 

[Robster]

I think there is a bit of divide between outdoorsy horse people and crazy horse types, which is just another manifestation of crazy cat lady but with equines…

I always said horse chicks are bat shit crazy, but their my kind of crazy!! LOL

And a lot of good advice here. It truly isn't a hobby like hunting, it's a lifestyle that needs to be lived every day. I was fortunate to raise my kids in that environment and both are successful adults now with a great worth ethic and common sense. I think being raised in a livestock lifestyle contributed to that.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Switching to this life and hunting style has been a much bigger commitment, both in time and money, than I ever expected. I got my first mule two years ago when I was 47, and now I have two and a half, plus one on loan from @Procision Arms. I’ve invested over $50,000 in them, which could have paid for some amazing guided hunts. But guided trips just aren’t for me. I want to hunt elk in remote areas on my own schedule. The learning curve has been tough, especially for someone like me who’s new to this. The smartest thing I did was buy an exceptional mule and get some training. Both from Lost Mule Co. I also got help from @Procision Arms, @The_BuckingSpot, @PNWGATOR, and @Superior Gun Works. I know I’ll spend extra time in the field taking care of them, but I couldn’t do this without them.

 

[bisblue]

I'd recommend donkeys then. Probably 15 times easier than mules. I've had both donkeys and llamas, the donkeys at least like you.

My burro isn't a great fit in my string of mules for various reasons, but if I was starting all over I might just get donkeys. I love to walk and he's great if you can be patient.

 

[Ryan Avery]

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My burro isn't a great fit in my string of mules for various reasons, but if I was starting all over I might just get donkeys. I love to walk and he's great if you can be patient.

Do u have two saws on that second mule?


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[HighUintas]

Switching to this life and hunting style has been a much bigger commitment, both in time and money, than I ever expected. I got my first mule two years ago when I was 47, and now I have two and a half, plus one on loan from @Procision Arms. I’ve invested over $50,000 in them, which could have paid for some amazing guided hunts. But guided trips just aren’t for me. I want to hunt elk in remote areas on my own schedule. The learning curve has been tough, especially for someone like me who’s new to this. The smartest thing I did was buy an exceptional mule and get some training. Both from Lost Mule Co. I also got help from @Procision Arms, @The_BuckingSpot, @PNWGATOR, and @Superior Gun Works. I know I’ll spend extra time in the field taking care of them, but I couldn’t do this without them.

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Thanks for the info.

When you say you've invested $50k, is that essentially everything you've spent, or is that just cost related to feed, equipment, and training after having purchased them and gotten the infrastructure set up on your property?

We've narrowed down our house purchase to 2 options.

One is on 1 acre and would allow 2 horses, or 2 mules, or 8 llamas. I don't love the idea of having them in essentially a 0.3-0.6 acre fenced area all the time when not riding them, BUT this house is literally no more than 1/2mi from BLM and I could ride them from the house onto it. Even if i didnt get mules, i could ride the atv to BLM to shoot at just about any time i feel like it with minimal travel time spent. And, the road name is flintlock downside is it's in a subdivision where the lot sizes are 1-2 acres and the back yard backs up to a highway. Not a super busy highway (town pop 2000) but the outside ambient noise there is noticeable. Awesome shop. No need to build anything, except for shed for animals if I get them

The other one has 10acres and 10acre ft irrigation rights. I could grow a significant portion of feed for 2-3 mules. I'd be able to ride them from the house in this location too, just on dirt and gravel roads and not onto public land. The travel time in a vehicle to public land is more like 20min, so no easy quick shooting practice on the atv. Also, this one would require i spend ~50k on an additional outbuilding for guest room, storage, and shop. It would need fencing and shelter for animals. So there's big tradeoffs, but this one is my wife's dream house and we love the location and quiet. It'd be like camping every night just living there.

Price about the same between the two with added building cost on the second.

In either location, there's neighbors with horses, so I'm going to need to make some friends after moving to see if I should dive in.

This is a great decision to be able to make.

 

[bisblue]

Do u have two saws on that second mule?


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I actually have 3 saws, one on each side and one on top. I was packing in saws for volunteers doing trail work.

 

[grfox92]

Rufus. The G.O.A.T. of all mules. We have taken him through blowdown and terrain that most men wouldn't dream of walking through.

He packed out an entire bone in bull with the head out in one trip when he was 3 years old.

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[Ryan Avery]

Thanks for the info.

When you say you've invested $50k, is that essentially everything you've spent, or is that just cost related to feed, equipment, and training after having purchased them and gotten the infrastructure set up on your property?

We've narrowed down our house purchase to 2 options.

One is on 1 acre and would allow 2 horses, or 2 mules, or 8 llamas. I don't love the idea of having them in essentially a 0.3-0.6 acre fenced area all the time when not riding them, BUT this house is literally no more than 1/2mi from BLM and I could ride them from the house onto it. Even if i didnt get mules, i could ride the atv to BLM to shoot at just about any time i feel like it with minimal travel time spent. And, the road name is flintlock downside is it's in a subdivision where the lot sizes are 1-2 acres and the back yard backs up to a highway. Not a super busy highway (town pop 2000) but the outside ambient noise there is noticeable. Awesome shop. No need to build anything, except for shed for animals if I get them

The other one has 10acres and 10acre ft irrigation rights. I could grow a significant portion of feed for 2-3 mules. I'd be able to ride them from the house in this location too, just on dirt and gravel roads and not onto public land. The travel time in a vehicle to public land is more like 20min, so no easy quick shooting practice on the atv. Also, this one would require i spend ~50k on an additional outbuilding for guest room, storage, and shop. It would need fencing and shelter for animals. So there's big tradeoffs, but this one is my wife's dream house and we love the location and quiet. It'd be like camping every night just living there.

Price about the same between the two with added building cost on the second.

In either location, there's neighbors with horses, so I'm going to need to make some friends after moving to see if I should dive in.

This is a great decision to be able to make.

With just two mules I have 50k wrapped up in buying and training. I did trade a website build for part of that. If you add in a trailer, feed/boarding, saddle, tack, Ferrier, Vet bill, training and fuel dragging them around its probably nearing 100k in three years. You can do it cheaper if you have a friend that's a good hand or you want to hit the ground a few times. All that said, I love working with them. It's a destressor for me.