Get a hooved mule, or a Kawasaki Mule?

jefm · 11-05-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi gang, intro post :}

I write since in some year(s) I hope to move out to a friends farm and start life over again as an organic micro-farmer. Originally I budgeted in buying some kind of utility vehicle, like a Rhino or similar for carting around the farm. Lately I've been thinking about getting two mules instead. Money is crucial and I'm not sure which is cheaper at the moment, that's a thread all it's own. In a perfect world, from what I know so far, I'd prefer to have some mules: a Ranger would be big fun but mules would be more of a life experience. Getting older, I now know not to pass up experiences!

The big question mark is equine time and skill. I'm burning through my first mule book and have -no- equine time at all, aside tours of Grant's Farm and donkey rides south of the border. But if I get my act together, I can get a year or two of volunteer work in at a therapeutic horsemanship gig outside of town. This will probably be walking a horse for an hour while a patient rides her. Best is that I'd pay nothing to do this and it helps people out.

Does the therapeutic horsemanship gig sound like something I should go after? Will the experience help prepare me for mules? Anxious to hear what you think. Thanks in advance for any help :}

Range · 11-05-2009, 03:20 PM

Organic farming = equine mule.

Any place you can volunteer your time will give you experience and have the added bonus of helping others as well as giving you pleasure.

scrapchick · 11-05-2009, 04:25 PM

Grant's Farm? Are you in St Louis?

chery · 11-05-2009, 04:59 PM

equine mule! oh and welcome to ht!

Slim Pikkens · 11-05-2009, 05:32 PM

Unless the therapeutic school is using mules, you equine experience won't help much. Mules are very different from horses and can be willful. A large pony would probably suit your needs as you go "back to the land" and your assistance at the school would be valuable in teaching you about horses.

HighValleyRanch · 11-05-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slim Pikkens

Mules are very different from horses and can be willful.

Is that a polite way of saying dang stubborn?

tallyho · 11-05-2009, 07:37 PM

a small draft would suit your needs, and the experience from therapeutic riding place would be helpful in acquiring"horse sense".......
however, you won't get tons of hands on experience with the horses.....but you will learn loads of different and unique ways to problem solve with both animals and humans..............many times, the mental and/or physical handicaps require creative thinking on the part of the caregiver, whether it is to "get around" a certain behavior, or achieve success in doing something that the physical issue does not allow accomplishing by standard procedures...
and often the mental age of an individual does not match the chronological age........so you have to learn to look at things from a different perspective.....almost through the eyes of a toddler......to discover what may be causing a problem........similar to looking at things from a horses' perspective, as prey...................suddenly, you understand why the hose on the ground is scaring the bejabbers out of your horse....
so, while the experience may not give as much practical horse expereience as some jobs could, you will learn priceless life lessons, to be applied in all aspects of daily living......
oh, and equine feet have far less negative impact on the soil than machines...plus, they provide their own organic material.......

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11-05-2009, 01:17 PM
jefm Newborn Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 1	Get a hooved mule, or a Kawasaki Mule? Hi gang, intro post :} I write since in some year(s) I hope to move out to a friends farm and start life over again as an organic micro-farmer. Originally I budgeted in buying some kind of utility vehicle, like a Rhino or similar for carting around the farm. Lately I've been thinking about getting two mules instead. Money is crucial and I'm not sure which is cheaper at the moment, that's a thread all it's own. In a perfect world, from what I know so far, I'd prefer to have some mules: a Ranger would be big fun but mules would be more of a life experience. Getting older, I now know not to pass up experiences! The big question mark is equine time and skill. I'm burning through my first mule book and have -no- equine time at all, aside tours of Grant's Farm and donkey rides south of the border. But if I get my act together, I can get a year or two of volunteer work in at a therapeutic horsemanship gig outside of town. This will probably be walking a horse for an hour while a patient rides her. Best is that I'd pay nothing to do this and it helps people out. Does the therapeutic horsemanship gig sound like something I should go after? Will the experience help prepare me for mules? Anxious to hear what you think. Thanks in advance for any help :}

11-05-2009, 03:20 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,739	Organic farming = equine mule. Any place you can volunteer your time will give you experience and have the added bonus of helping others as well as giving you pleasure. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

11-05-2009, 04:25 PM
scrapchick Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Festus, Missouri Posts: 7,022	Grant's Farm? Are you in St Louis? __________________ ....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 ...

11-05-2009, 04:59 PM
chery Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: apple valley, ca Posts: 97	equine mule! oh and welcome to ht! __________________ Three barrels, two hearts, one dream!

11-05-2009, 05:32 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Unless the therapeutic school is using mules, you equine experience won't help much. Mules are very different from horses and can be willful. A large pony would probably suit your needs as you go "back to the land" and your assistance at the school would be valuable in teaching you about horses.

11-05-2009, 07:37 PM
tallyho Coming two Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Trappe, PA Posts: 1,975	a small draft would suit your needs, and the experience from therapeutic riding place would be helpful in acquiring"horse sense"....... however, you won't get tons of hands on experience with the horses.....but you will learn loads of different and unique ways to problem solve with both animals and humans..............many times, the mental and/or physical handicaps require creative thinking on the part of the caregiver, whether it is to "get around" a certain behavior, or achieve success in doing something that the physical issue does not allow accomplishing by standard procedures... and often the mental age of an individual does not match the chronological age........so you have to learn to look at things from a different perspective.....almost through the eyes of a toddler......to discover what may be causing a problem........similar to looking at things from a horses' perspective, as prey...................suddenly, you understand why the hose on the ground is scaring the bejabbers out of your horse.... so, while the experience may not give as much practical horse expereience as some jobs could, you will learn priceless life lessons, to be applied in all aspects of daily living...... oh, and equine feet have far less negative impact on the soil than machines...plus, they provide their own organic material.......