Pic of "first" ride on the Mammoth Jack

HighValleyRanch · 10-25-2009, 08:58 PM

Adam's coming right along with the program.
Saddled him up tonight an just jumped onboard.
He's getting more used to me on his back and I am now sitting
around two or three minutes at a time.

Not the first time on his back, but the first time longer than 30 seconds.
Had my wife take this, but it was getting dark and she didn't hold it steady
enough! Oh well, you get the picture. He's tied to the tree, and I will start to work with him in the corral in a couple of weeks depending on how much time I can work him, and how he is progressing.

Next time will clip some reins on his halter and work with his head a little while mounted.

Just a single cinch light synthetic saddle, thick blanket. No crupper or breast yet. It fits good and doesn't move too much when mounting, but it might shift when we finally get going.

Texas Paints · 10-26-2009, 11:25 AM

Looking good so far!!! looks like that mule is going to make you a nice ride.

dproaps · 10-26-2009, 04:00 PM

Good job. Now is he a mule or a Mammoth Jack donkey? Pardon the question, just not familiar with either.

HighValleyRanch · 10-26-2009, 04:46 PM

Okay,
He is not a mule, he is a mammoth donkey. He is around 15 hands plus.
Someone corrected me and said that he was a mammoth "john" as he is gelded and therefore not a jack, but then others said that all male donkeys are generically referred to as "jacks" and that johns only refer to mules???

So I generally refer to him as a mammoth jack as that is a generic reference to the strain of giant donkeys. There is a size regulation for them to be officially called a mammoth. I think it is around 58 inches for males.

So being full donkey, he has narrower hips that mules, donkey tail.
Wonderful disposition. He will follow me around like a dog all day, when I work in the field, and he likes to walk up to the tree when i come out to work with him. Loves to have his face rubbed and hugs.

Arabx · 10-26-2009, 05:02 PM

Its a john mule (male) or a molly mule (female) and a jack donkey (male) or jenny donkey (female) so you are correct!

He is a mammoth, and a very nice one too! Congratulations, I bet you have made a buddy for life - wait until you get to go out on the trail with him. They are sure footed!

scrapchick · 10-26-2009, 05:33 PM

He has the absolutely cutest head. Congrats on your first "ride" even though he is tied to a tree.

More pics please!

chery · 10-26-2009, 06:23 PM

awsome job so far! i love donkeys sooooo much!

HighValleyRanch · 10-26-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arabx

He is a mammoth, and a very nice one too! Congratulations, I bet you have made a buddy for life - wait until you get to go out on the trail with him. They are sure footed!

I had the opportunity to ride a mule way up really steep mountain trails in Big Sky Montana this summer. I was riding the only mule of the ranch.
Everyone else was sliding around with their horses, but that mule ended up feeling like a four wheel drive jeep!

dproaps · 10-26-2009, 08:22 PM

Is that safe to get on one like that when it is tied to a tree and you don't have any reins? I would be scared doing that.

I wish I had a mule. I rode one down into the Grand Canyon and I was so impressed! Only time I have ever rode a mule.

HighValleyRanch · 10-26-2009, 09:53 PM

He likes being tied to that tree. It's where we always work on him.

I gradually worked up to being able to sit, and was very careful in the build up to where I could sit on him. Safer than him running around the corral knocking into the barn overhead, or tree limbs.
Don't see where the danger could lie.

He's not used to head control yet, so I just want to get him used to me sitting on him as natural before heading out.

But if anyone can suggest dangers that I am unaware of, I am open to it.
This is the first one I am training from zero.
We are both learning how to do this together, and so far the progression is where I want it to go.

dproaps · 10-27-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighValleyRanch

He likes being tied to that tree. It's where we always work on him.

I gradually worked up to being able to sit, and was very careful in the build up to where I could sit on him. Safer than him running around the corral knocking into the barn overhead, or tree limbs.
Don't see where the danger could lie.

He's not used to head control yet, so I just want to get him used to me sitting on him as natural before heading out.

But if anyone can suggest dangers that I am unaware of, I am open to it.
This is the first one I am training from zero.
We are both learning how to do this together, and so far the progression is where I want it to go.

I don't really know, not a horse trainer really. I guess I just like the feeling of the reins in my hands (may be a sense of false security, LOL!) Maybe some of the real trainers that read will pick this up and post their opinions. I just have never seen it done that way and was curious.

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10-25-2009, 08:58 PM
HighValleyRanch Newborn Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cobb Mt., Northern California Posts: 41	Pic of "first" ride on the Mammoth Jack Adam's coming right along with the program. Saddled him up tonight an just jumped onboard. He's getting more used to me on his back and I am now sitting around two or three minutes at a time. Not the first time on his back, but the first time longer than 30 seconds. Had my wife take this, but it was getting dark and she didn't hold it steady enough! Oh well, you get the picture. He's tied to the tree, and I will start to work with him in the corral in a couple of weeks depending on how much time I can work him, and how he is progressing. Next time will clip some reins on his halter and work with his head a little while mounted. Just a single cinch light synthetic saddle, thick blanket. No crupper or breast yet. It fits good and doesn't move too much when mounting, but it might shift when we finally get going. Last edited by HighValleyRanch : 10-25-2009 at 09:06 PM.

10-26-2009, 11:25 AM
Texas Paints Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Granbury,Texas Posts: 114	Looking good so far!!! looks like that mule is going to make you a nice ride.

10-26-2009, 04:00 PM
dproaps Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 1,883	Good job. Now is he a mule or a Mammoth Jack donkey? Pardon the question, just not familiar with either. __________________ Those who suffer with the suffering are dancing to the rhythm of God.

10-26-2009, 04:46 PM
HighValleyRanch Newborn Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cobb Mt., Northern California Posts: 41	Big donkey! Okay, He is not a mule, he is a mammoth donkey. He is around 15 hands plus. Someone corrected me and said that he was a mammoth "john" as he is gelded and therefore not a jack, but then others said that all male donkeys are generically referred to as "jacks" and that johns only refer to mules??? So I generally refer to him as a mammoth jack as that is a generic reference to the strain of giant donkeys. There is a size regulation for them to be officially called a mammoth. I think it is around 58 inches for males. So being full donkey, he has narrower hips that mules, donkey tail. Wonderful disposition. He will follow me around like a dog all day, when I work in the field, and he likes to walk up to the tree when i come out to work with him. Loves to have his face rubbed and hugs.

10-26-2009, 05:02 PM
Arabx Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hat Creek Cattle Company Posts: 278	Its a john mule (male) or a molly mule (female) and a jack donkey (male) or jenny donkey (female) so you are correct! He is a mammoth, and a very nice one too! Congratulations, I bet you have made a buddy for life - wait until you get to go out on the trail with him. They are sure footed! __________________ "I am I because my little dog knows me" - Gertrude Stein

10-26-2009, 05:33 PM
scrapchick Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Festus, Missouri Posts: 7,022	He has the absolutely cutest head. Congrats on your first "ride" even though he is tied to a tree. More pics please! __________________ ....And I will sail my vessel, 'til the river runs dry, like a bird upon the wind , these waters are my sky - I'll never reach my destination if I never try ...So I will sail my vessel ,'til the river runs dry ...

10-26-2009, 06:23 PM
chery Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: apple valley, ca Posts: 97	awsome job so far! i love donkeys sooooo much! __________________ Three barrels, two hearts, one dream!

10-26-2009, 08:22 PM
dproaps Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 1,883	Is that safe to get on one like that when it is tied to a tree and you don't have any reins? I would be scared doing that. I wish I had a mule. I rode one down into the Grand Canyon and I was so impressed! Only time I have ever rode a mule. __________________ Those who suffer with the suffering are dancing to the rhythm of God.

10-26-2009, 09:53 PM
HighValleyRanch Newborn Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cobb Mt., Northern California Posts: 41	Pretty safe! He likes being tied to that tree. It's where we always work on him. I gradually worked up to being able to sit, and was very careful in the build up to where I could sit on him. Safer than him running around the corral knocking into the barn overhead, or tree limbs. Don't see where the danger could lie. He's not used to head control yet, so I just want to get him used to me sitting on him as natural before heading out. But if anyone can suggest dangers that I am unaware of, I am open to it. This is the first one I am training from zero. We are both learning how to do this together, and so far the progression is where I want it to go.