to mule or not to mule?

horsebabyhehe · 12-30-2007, 07:53 AM

ok my long-eared loving friends...here's my situation:

i have a shetland mare that i LOVE!! she is wonderful and beautiful and i love her...a lot. i would like to have at least one baby from her before she gets too old (i'd guess her to be about 18 now and she has had at least 3 babies before that i know of) so that i can have something for my children to ride in about 10 years (yes i have thought this through..alot) i would like to breed in the 2008 season but i am torn about what to breed her to. i have been talking to a lady near me who has a silver buckskin mini horse stud that is very cute and i've also looked at a couple shetland studs.

however, i have always wanted a mule. i even tried to buy one at an auction that was broke to ride/drive/pull/etc but someone out bid me

(i hate it when that happens!!) and i haven't found one since that really drew me in. in my current situation i don't have room for anything more except a pony/ponysized something so i thought...hmmm....maybe a mini mule?

what are your guys' opinions of them? how hard are they to keep? how hard is it to breed the jack to the mare? any other stuff i should know?

thanks for your help

almost_mozart · 12-30-2007, 09:45 PM

Well, there are WAY too many horses, and mules are really popular right now....a good mule sells for double or triple what a similar horse would bring these days.

pasopony · 12-31-2007, 01:49 PM

The breeding part is not difficult...

But, if you're not familiar with mules, the training part can be really different for mules. Mules like to be "asked" to do something rather than "told" LOL. And you need to be flexible and willing to try different methods for them.

iris_surreal_euphoria · 12-31-2007, 04:14 PM

Too bad you are in Kansas... wouldn't this just be a cute match?

[IMG]

[/IMG]

He's only 33".

It would really depend on if you were willing to go out and find a mule to suit your needs or if you wanted a sense of immortality for your little shetland. There are always inherit risks to breeding and the market is flooded right now. I would probably search for one mules comes in all shapes and sizes, you could even find one not quite a mini but more of a med. size pony that way you would be keeping it small but have something ridable. Bred to a drafty type and donk- it sure could carry well.

horsebabyhehe · 01-01-2008, 08:40 AM

thanks everyone. i know the market is horrible right now and we are dealing with an overpopulation of equines but i don't plan on selling the baby i get from my little mare. i have done some research about mule training even bought a couple books by meredith hodges. any thoughts on her? she seemed to have methods that worked.

Mule Fool · 01-01-2008, 09:55 AM

Shouldn't the question be "when?" not "if"?

Meredith Hodges is good. There is a gal named Crystal Ward who has a video on donkey training. I don't know anything about her, but just someone else to check out.

barrelracer94 · 01-01-2008, 10:27 AM

Not sure if you get RFDTV, but they have a show on there sometimes called Training Mules & Donkeys. Thats all it is!

horsebabyhehe · 01-01-2008, 06:29 PM

that's where i heard of meredith hodges.

and yes it is a question of when

i'm thinking april. the only problem is there aren't any jacks around here.

WalliBoy · 01-02-2008, 12:59 AM

hm....I did do a little searching on here and they have 2, 2 y/o Grullo mules for sale....Maybe you can ask just to breed not buy...I'm not sure. But anyways, here's the ad:
http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org...fieds/ad258808

I dont know if they suit you... but maybe a email/call to the owners will get you more info on them...

horsebabyhehe · 01-02-2008, 06:41 AM

can i breed to a mule? i was under the impression that they were sterile because they were a cross between two different species? if i'm wrong that would be really cool i'd love to cross her with a palomino mule!!

pasopony · 01-02-2008, 09:31 AM

Most mules are sterile since they are a hybrid. There is the occassional Molly that will come up pregnant or John that will father a foal. Most Johns are gelded early on though, so it would be hard to find one that is fertile.

horsebabyhehe · 01-02-2008, 10:36 AM

that's what i thought. pardon my lack of knowledge i have only dreamed of owning a mule.

AlbertaGirl · 01-02-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsebabyhehe

can i breed to a mule? i was under the impression that they were sterile because they were a cross between two different species? if i'm wrong that would be really cool i'd love to cross her with a palomino mule!!

I think WalliBoy was suggesting you contact the people in that ad to find out where the SIRE of the 2 mules for sale is, to try to find you a jack to breed to Ginger - lol! Maybe she could have a half-sibling to those two! I don't think you'll be able to find a fertile breeding mule

.

horsebabyhehe · 01-02-2008, 11:39 AM

hehe. sorry walliboy!!

WalliBoy · 01-02-2008, 01:35 PM

LOL...What was I thinking at 2 am?!?

I dont know. Sorry

.

I forgot mule to horse breeding wouldnt produce anything, donkey to horse will produce the sterile mule.

. My school knowledge slipped me.

Maybe like suggested above, that I wasnt thinking. Contact the owners and see where the sire is and maybe have a peek at him.... I dont know why didnt think of that

..

anyways....gL in your search quest...Maybe go by another auction and see if there is any jacks ...

AlbertaGirl · 01-02-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalliBoy

LOL...What was I thinking at 2 am?!?

I dont know. Sorry

.

I forgot mule to horse breeding wouldnt produce anything, donkey to horse will produce the sterile mule.

. My school knowledge slipped me.

Maybe like suggested above, that I wasnt thinking. Contact the owners and see where the sire is and maybe have a peek at him.... I dont know why didnt think of that

..

Oh, and here I was giving you credit for thinking you'd come up with a round-about way to find a jack

. Kudos to you for admitting your mix up, when your tracks had already been covered

By the way, there HAVE been fertile mules.... just they are few and far between. There was something posted on that in the Long Ears Forum. It was a female mule who had a foal in that case, but I have no idea on the actual stats of female vs male mules being fertile...

cascy · 01-02-2008, 03:10 PM

My foxtrotter mare JJ has a date with a jack this spring, we'll have to compare long ear babies!

horsebabyhehe · 01-02-2008, 03:44 PM

ok cascy i'll post pics as soon as it's here

i contacted the people in the ad and they bought all five of them from someone else who sold all their animals so no leads there. i'm still looking.

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12-30-2007, 07:53 AM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	to mule or not to mule? ok my long-eared loving friends...here's my situation: i have a shetland mare that i LOVE!! she is wonderful and beautiful and i love her...a lot. i would like to have at least one baby from her before she gets too old (i'd guess her to be about 18 now and she has had at least 3 babies before that i know of) so that i can have something for my children to ride in about 10 years (yes i have thought this through..alot) i would like to breed in the 2008 season but i am torn about what to breed her to. i have been talking to a lady near me who has a silver buckskin mini horse stud that is very cute and i've also looked at a couple shetland studs. however, i have always wanted a mule. i even tried to buy one at an auction that was broke to ride/drive/pull/etc but someone out bid me (i hate it when that happens!!) and i haven't found one since that really drew me in. in my current situation i don't have room for anything more except a pony/ponysized something so i thought...hmmm....maybe a mini mule? what are your guys' opinions of them? how hard are they to keep? how hard is it to breed the jack to the mare? any other stuff i should know? thanks for your help __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

12-30-2007, 09:45 PM
almost_mozart Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: .....transitioning..... Posts: 2,423	Well, there are WAY too many horses, and mules are really popular right now....a good mule sells for double or triple what a similar horse would bring these days.

12-31-2007, 01:49 PM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 821	The breeding part is not difficult... But, if you're not familiar with mules, the training part can be really different for mules. Mules like to be "asked" to do something rather than "told" LOL. And you need to be flexible and willing to try different methods for them. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

12-31-2007, 04:14 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,073	Too bad you are in Kansas... wouldn't this just be a cute match? [IMG][/IMG] He's only 33". It would really depend on if you were willing to go out and find a mule to suit your needs or if you wanted a sense of immortality for your little shetland. There are always inherit risks to breeding and the market is flooded right now. I would probably search for one mules comes in all shapes and sizes, you could even find one not quite a mini but more of a med. size pony that way you would be keeping it small but have something ridable. Bred to a drafty type and donk- it sure could carry well. __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

01-01-2008, 08:40 AM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	thanks everyone. i know the market is horrible right now and we are dealing with an overpopulation of equines but i don't plan on selling the baby i get from my little mare. i have done some research about mule training even bought a couple books by meredith hodges. any thoughts on her? she seemed to have methods that worked. __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

01-01-2008, 09:55 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Shouldn't the question be "when?" not "if"? Meredith Hodges is good. There is a gal named Crystal Ward who has a video on donkey training. I don't know anything about her, but just someone else to check out.

01-01-2008, 10:27 AM
barrelracer94 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The middle of nowhere Posts: 526	Not sure if you get RFDTV, but they have a show on there sometimes called Training Mules & Donkeys. Thats all it is!

01-01-2008, 06:29 PM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	that's where i heard of meredith hodges. and yes it is a question of when i'm thinking april. the only problem is there aren't any jacks around here. __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

01-02-2008, 12:59 AM
WalliBoy Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 1,260	hm....I did do a little searching on here and they have 2, 2 y/o Grullo mules for sale....Maybe you can ask just to breed not buy...I'm not sure. But anyways, here's the ad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org...fieds/ad258808 I dont know if they suit you... but maybe a email/call to the owners will get you more info on them...

01-02-2008, 06:41 AM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	can i breed to a mule? i was under the impression that they were sterile because they were a cross between two different species? if i'm wrong that would be really cool i'd love to cross her with a palomino mule!! __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

01-02-2008, 09:31 AM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 821	Most mules are sterile since they are a hybrid. There is the occassional Molly that will come up pregnant or John that will father a foal. Most Johns are gelded early on though, so it would be hard to find one that is fertile. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

01-02-2008, 10:36 AM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	that's what i thought. pardon my lack of knowledge i have only dreamed of owning a mule. __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

01-02-2008, 11:39 AM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	hehe. sorry walliboy!! __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!

01-02-2008, 01:35 PM
WalliBoy Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 1,260	LOL...What was I thinking at 2 am?!? I dont know. Sorry . I forgot mule to horse breeding wouldnt produce anything, donkey to horse will produce the sterile mule. . My school knowledge slipped me. Maybe like suggested above, that I wasnt thinking. Contact the owners and see where the sire is and maybe have a peek at him.... I dont know why didnt think of that.. anyways....gL in your search quest...Maybe go by another auction and see if there is any jacks ...

01-02-2008, 03:10 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,088	My foxtrotter mare JJ has a date with a jack this spring, we'll have to compare long ear babies! __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

01-02-2008, 03:44 PM
horsebabyhehe Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 557	ok cascy i'll post pics as soon as it's here i contacted the people in the ad and they bought all five of them from someone else who sold all their animals so no leads there. i'm still looking. __________________ The mind is a terrible place for a frog to sit and stuff his face!!!