Mules and More's May 2022 Issue by Mules and More Magazine

Published Monthly for Mule and Donkey Enthusiasts Volume 32 and • Issue 7 Magazine May 2022 • $5.50 Mules More

May 2022 • 1

2 • May 2022

Mules and More Magazine

GENTLE & BROKE Family Friendly TRAIL MULES

Maria

Hip #36

Offered for Sale at Jake Clark Mule Days June 19, 2022 . Live and Online Sale

HUBCAP

Ten-Year-Old, 15.1 hand, Black John Mule

Hip #5

Wilderness, Packing, Parades, Arena Fun Days

Maria is a 14.3 hand 12-year-old gorgeous black molly

mule with a disposition to match. She is a very broke, Dependable, Friendly, Experienced

Smooth Riding and Safe

gentle and experienced friendly trail mule.

Maria is classy, confident and calm and is rides alone or in a group, with a great neck rein and stop.

HUBCAP is a 10-year-old 15-hand extremely gentle

and experienced black john trail, family and parade mule. He is safe for every level of rider, and has been ridden and packed in our wilderness camps and all over southern Utah.

HUBCAP is a sweet, kind mule that has had a real job

Maria Hip #36

and stays broke.

HUBCAP Hip #5

Tinsel

Hip #53

Black Mountain Outfitters Scott & Sandy Sallee Emigrant, Montana

(406)222-7455 blackmtn2@aol.com blackmountainoutfitters.com

Mules and More Magazine

Tinsel is a gentle, mega-friendly 14.1 hand gray roan john trail and family mule. He is 7 years old and loaded with personality. He has led the pack string to our wilderness camps and been packed. Tinsel is very smart, sweet, willing, cute and broke to ride with a nice neck rein. He has been ridden by a variety of men, women, and teen-aged kids.

Tinsel

Hip #53

May 2022 • 3

Consigned to Jake Clark’s Mule Days Auction

held June 19, 2022 in Wyoming

PairADice’s

Jessie

Hip #41

Pairadice’s Jessie is a 15 hand, 7-year-old molly mule. We have trail ridden her by herself and with a crowd. She will ride in the front, middle or back, it does not matter to her. We have hog hunted with her a lot and you can lead dogs on her. She really gets around good in the rough stuff and goes anywhere you point her. She never jumps ditches and crawls over downed timber the best. She really has a good, fast walk when you ask her for it. Jessie has a nice one handed neck-rein, sidepasses and has a really good, smooth lope. We have been using her in the stockyards to pen back cattle and nothing gets her stirred up. She is easy to catch, clip and shoe. She saddles up like she is supposed to and stands good to mount and dismount. She will come up to a mounting block to let you mount. She loads in any kind of trailer and backs out when asked. We have ponied colts and pack mules on Jessie. She would make a great addition to anybody’s barn. She is the ideal size and temperament to be the perfect trail/mountain mule.

See videos of Jessie and Rooster on our Facebook and Instagram pages! facebook.com/pairadicemules instagram.com/pairadicemules

PairADice Mule Farm Loren & Lenice Basham 22801 Hwy C . Belle MO 65013

(573)308-2709 - Cell (573)859-6793 - Home 4 • May 2022

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PairADice’s

Rooster

Hip #13

Pairadice's Rooster is an 11-year-old red roan john mule. He is 14.3 and has excellent conformation, big bone, big foot, great wither and a broad chest and hip. Rooster is a finished team roping mule. You can rope either end on him. He has lots of run and is super cow-y. He is really solid in the box and scores great. On the heel side, he never runs past the corner and can really stop. Rooster is good on the outside, too. You can doctor, sort and drag anything on him. If it has to do with a bovine, Rooster has done it! He is really strong to the horn and has loaded lots of cattle. He loves attention and is easy to catch, clip and shoe. He saddles up like a gentleman and stands all day to mount. He has great ground manners, will stand for hours tied without pawing. Send him towards the trailer and he loads himself and backs off when asked. Rooster has a great neck-rein, sidepasses and takes both leads. He has been used regularly in the stockyards and has opened thousands of gates. He is great for any level rider. He will ride in the front on the trail if you want to lead or is just as happy hanging out in the middle or the back of the pack. It is ok if team roping is not your deal. Rooster would be an awesome trail riding, ranch versatility, sorting, family friendly mule.

Mules and More Magazine

May 2022 • 5

May 2022

Volume 32 • Issue 7 8

Over the Back Fence B Y

Letters From the Other Side

Ground Driving Under Saddle B Y

“What to Look For” Workshop B Y

Waste? Not! B Y

From Across the Pond B Y

All About Joyce Stratton B Y

When to Consider Ovary Removal in Female Mules B Y

On the Cover...

Mules Rule in the Great American Horse Race of 1976

Card Ads

Classifieds

Looking Back at Bishop Mule Days

Calendar of Events

Looking Objectively at Your Equine B Y

Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale B Y

Cook’s Corral B Y

CORI DANIELS

J E R RY T I N D E L L N AT E M E D C A L F

DR. STEPHENIE SLAHOR D O N N A TAY L O R ANNA ARNOLD G AY L E S T E G M A N N

BY MERRI MELDE

MEREDITH HODGES N O E L S TA S I A K

V I C K I E U P TO N

Joyce Stratton and Dun It In Chrome in 2021. Learn more about Joyce and her mules on pages 22-23 6 • May 2022

Mules and More Magazine

Lot #34

Lot #6

Mercedes

Roan paint john mule. 8 years old, 14.1 hands. 1,040 lbs. Trail, Good Traveler, Good Manners

Bay Mare Mule. 6 years old. 14 hands. 1,012 lbs. Ranch, Trail, Hunting, Competition, Parade

Quality Mules Worth the Investment

presented by Wild Bunch Mule Co at Jake Clark’s Mule Days JUNE 19, 2022 See more at: Youtube/JenniferBailey Instagram #wildbunchhorseandmuleco . Facebook wildbunchhorseandmuleco

Lot #47

Travis

Bay John Mule, 8 years old, 14 hands, 1,029 lbs. Trail, Endurance, Competitions, and Hunting Mule

Mules and More Magazine

Call us for more details: 501-213-8594 Lot #63 Wylie

Dapple brown john mule. 8 years old, 13.3 hands, 998 pounds. Free Moving Trail, Endurance & Hunting Mule May 2022 • 7

Over the Back Fence by Cori Daniels, Editor I wanted to follow up on my April 2022 editorial, because I have an update to the photo archival situation. First, I found more boxes of old mule photos in the basement, enough to about triple the amount I thought I was working with when I wrote last month’s column. Second, despite that, I am actually making progress on the project. I’ve been scanning and categorizing and tossing and storing... in general, just sticking to the plan. I make a lot of plans but don’t follow through as often as I want, so allow me to humble brag for one brief moment. I started an Instagram account to share these photos - the account name is ‘mulesarchived.’ Each day, I pick a photo from the archive I’ve been creating and post it. You aren’t going to find much information along with these photos. They are posted without much context, but I do include whatever is written on the back of the photo in the caption. And, people have been commenting their own insights on the photos, which has been fun to read. Right now, picking a photo to post is one of the highlights of my day. (For those of you who do not have Instagram but would like to see these photos, I have made an album on the Mules and

More Facebook page and will do periodic uploads). This also inspired the Bishop Mule Days retrospective that appears later in this issue. While going through a box of photos, I found a box labeled “Bishop Mule Days 1992” containing my Grandma Sue and Grandpa Gene’s first trip to Bishop Mule Days. I had honestly forgotten about this trip, so it was such a nice memory of hers to find. I would attend with a group of friends and family a few years later, in 1999, and compete on my mule Sugar Gee. Some in our group even brought home Championship titles! In 2016, I returned with my husband and daughters as spectators. Both of my trips to Bishop Mule Days were some of my very favorite memories. If you haven’t had the chance to go either as a spectator or a competitor, I would 100 percent recommend it.

My parents with Jesse at the 1999 Bishop Mule Days

Posts from @mulesarchived on Instagram (top row, left to right) Bishop Mule Days 1999 . Preble County Fair, August 1994 . Shelbyville, Tenn., July 2000. (bottom row, left to right) IDMS 1994 . Chino Valley, Az. . No date or location on photo 8 • May 2022

Mules and More Magazine

proudly offers

Kat & Starla

at Jake Clark’s Mule Days Auction held June 19 in Wyoming

hip #39

Kat is a beautiful 9-year-old, 15-hand buckskin mare

mule. The gentleman who we bought Kat from, Freddy, worked on a ranch in Oklahoma. She has checked a lot of pastures and game feeders. Freddy also used her to hunt off of. When people who didn’t know how to ride came to ride with Freddy, they rode Kat. We have ponied off of her. She takes everything in stride. She’s great to be around, and is good with her ears, shoeing and trimming. There’s not a mean bone in her. She is easy to catch. You don’t have to ride Kat everyday, once a week, or once a month - she stays broke. Kat is a sweet girl.

hip #55 hip #52

Starla is a beautiful 6-year-old dun mare mule. She

stands 14.1 hands. She is a well bred mule: she is out of an Easter King-Oklahoma Star bred mare and her sired by Rockin O Scooter’s Tomahawk. We have owned Starla for 5-1/2 years. We purchased her from Donnie and Teresa Oldham as a weanling. We have trail ridden her all over and she has been to town and ridden on busy roads. She is very kind and willing. Starla is very soft and supple. She is great to shoe and trim and easy to catch. She crosses water and other obstacles with ease and is traffic safe. She will walk, trot, and lope circles. Starla is a great mule to be around and fun to ride.

You are welcome to come and ride Kat and Starla with us anytime before the sale.

Feel free to call us anytime - (563)419-9161

RAFTER 5L MULES

Loren Loesch & Barb Strong Spillville, Iowa rafter5lmules.net Jiggs - (563)419-9161 jiggs.rafter5lmules@gmail.com Barb - (563)277-2978 strong2978@gmail.com Mules and More Magazine

May 2022 • 9

Letters From the Other Side... We love to hear from you! Send us a letter to Mules and More, PO Box 460, Bland MO 65014, or email us at mulesandmore@gmail.com

Correction

In the August 2021 issue, in Stephanie Brook’s “Letters From the Other Side,” titled “Dream Team,” we misidentified Reuben Phillips and Sam Seymour. We have included correctly identified photos below.

Sam Seymour, wagon master of the Murdo, SD, ride

10 • May 2022

Rueben Phillips, 88 this year, and still going out in the wagon on wagon rides

Mules and More Magazine

May 2022 • 11

The Set-Up:

If I have an animal that I’ve not driven at all before, the first session is going to be an evaluation. We want to see what’s going to happen when we ask him to do things– what is he sensitive to, what does he get troubled about, what does he do well? The way I like to set this up is to use a snaffle bit with reins. I tie up my reins to the saddle horn–not tight at all, just enough to keep him from putting his head on the ground. Keeping the animal from dropping his head below his knees is a good measure of how tight the rein should be. The reason for this is that once we start getting the animal to give to the bit while driving, he’s going to end up having his head too low unless we put a rein there to prevent him from developing that habit. When I’m ground driving under saddle, I will generally use two 20-foot drive lines. If you’re going to be doing extensive work, you may want to tie your stirrups under the belly with a little hay twine to keep them from flopping up, but that might not be necessary for the first evaluation session.

The Drill:

Ground Driving Under Saddle by Jerry Tindell

I want to talk about a very effective drill we can use to evaluate an animal and to teach them skills that will make them better and safer to ride. That drill is ground driving under saddle, and it’s something you can do without a harness or a hitch, making it more accessible to more folks. This kind of driving is very beneficial for evaluating control and softness, among other things. Ground driving under saddle can be effective even with an animal that is already easy to ride or the kind that might ride well most of the time, or one that can get a little stiff and a little rigid. When an animal gets stiff, they get scared and when they get scared, they get stiff; it’s a cycle that can cause trouble for any rider. I never want my animal to feel like they need to be defensive, and even the most easygoing of animals still have that God-given trait that will make them defensive if they don’t trust the human or situation. Ground driving under saddle is all about trying to help the animal soften, be supple, and get the mind to be quiet. For the mind to get quiet, the body has to get soft. 12 • May 2022

The first step to ground driving is to get the animal moving. You want to let them go around the pen and warm up for a moment before you ask them to drive. Then when you’re ready and you have both lines with you, you’ll throw a line over their hip, and you start asking them to follow your lead, noticing how they react. It’s best to start out asking for turns to the outside, as having them turn to the inside will force you to move your feet quite a bit. Try a left turn, then a right, watch how they react, and watch your hands. This drill is not just useful for teaching the animal, but also for helping us figure out how to use our hands better when we’re riding. After your animal has gotten in a few turns, try and ask them to stop by using both lines. You can get this done without being directly behind them, see what happens. Sometimes you might find that they’re pulling a little too hard or elevating their head too much. For most of this drill you’re going to be perpendicular to your animal, but when they’re stopped, being directly behind them with your drive lines straight will also tell you some things you need to know. It might be that they aren’t relaxed, their mind is racing and so their feet are shifting. If their feet are moving and their eyes are going everywhere, then it’s going to be necessary to separate the feet from the neck, and you won’t be able to flex the animal to the right or the left because they are distracted. When you ask them to stop, you also want your stop to be soft, and stand still. Don’t make them nervous by your movement. Observe them. Do their feet keep shifting? Mules and More Magazine

Are they snorting? Are they spooking near a particular area of your pen or arena? In this first session, your goal is to evaluate and build a plan. Some folks might get worried when they’re driving and see that their animal is nervous, but driving in the practice pen is exactly the place you want to work them through their nervousness. You’ve got to introduce them to whatever is making them nervous, but do it carefully and in a controlled environment. It’s better than having them get nervous on the trail. When we’re working on driving with an animal, we’re trying to build a support system for this animal - we owe that to the animal, as their rider. We want them to work through it, and this is going to take a few days and a few tries. Kicking and wishing ain’t good enough, and it’ll get us in trouble. Don’t avoid the stuff that makes them uneasy, but don’t force them into it with brute strength. There’s a balance. On the first day and first session, I’m gonna be looking to see what kind of control I have and teach them listening and softness. That’s the groundwork for helping them to overcome their nerves. Something you want to pay attention to while driving is their changes –they may do a dozen laps in the round pen just fine, but on lap number 13, they get spooked by a flag, or a rock, or what have you. This is the same kind of thing that happens on the trail – you’re a mile from home or a couple of days out, and suddenly your animal is bothered and spooky. You’re going past the same place you just were 10 minutes ago, and suddenly they’re afraid. Well, just like you might miss danger the first time around, your animal might not have noticed whatever it is that’s scaring them now the first time around. They might not have known it was there at first, but when they notice, then they’re going to react. You want to see how they react when you are safe in the round pen

License Plates “Mule Power” white with black lettering

“Donkey Power” grey with black lettering

12” by 6” $9.00 each (includes s/h) Mules and More Magazine

– not when you’re on the trail. That’s why driving under saddle is such a benefit – your animal is outfitted just like they would be on the trail, while experiencing your leading and learning to listen and trust. Now, if you ask them to turn, and they turn, then you need to release that pressure, let them go, let them know they’ve done well, and let them learn to trust you. You also want to show them the opposite – if they run away from something, they’re going to run into something, and they don’t get rewarded for refusing. If you’re encountering something that makes them nervous, let them know that the movement is the only thing you’re asking for. You’re not asking them to accept what’s bothering him, you’re teaching them to simply go forward. You can’t make them go into their fear, but you want to build up that trust, so it becomes their idea to go forward. Reward them for positive changes, even if they’re small. At the end of your first driving under saddle session, take note of what you would like to see out of your animal that you aren’t seeing – a quiet frame, a lower head, steady feet, steady eyes. Everything that you’re going to work on while driving is to make the riding better. When you’re nearing the end of a session, and you notice your animal has made a positive change, stop it right there. You want to end on a high note – when they get the lesson, they get rewarded. Let them remember that, so you can go into your next session with a solid foundation. I’d love to hear from you if you have questions or comments. Please give me a call at (760)403-3922 or send an email to info@jerrytindell.com. If you’re in our area stop by for a cup of coffee or a visit and make sure you check out Tindell’s Horse and Mule School, Humans Too! Facebook and Instagram pages for videos and pictures. We’re here to assist you in any way we can. Have a great day and don’t get a kick out of it!

Large Magnetic Mule Head Silhouettes Black . Available in left and right 30 mil Magnet. Flexible but heavy-duty. Ideal for cars or any other setting where maximum strength and durability are desired. These mule head decals are black with a small white border.

10” by 10” $20.00 each (includes s/h) Online: mulesandmore.com By phone: (573)263-2669

By mail: Mules and More, PO Box 460, Bland, MO 65014 May 2022 • 13

“What to Look For” Workshop by Nate Medcalf

As a mule owner, it is becoming one of the best times of the year as we approach another Bishop Mule Days Celebration. We have been fortunate over the years to be able to attend as clinicians and pass along some things we feel benefit all types of mule owners. We are truly humbled and blessed to be part of such an amazing event with many amazing people. This year, we will be bringing you some great information about ever-popular topics such as saddle fitting, busting mule myths, and what to look for when you buy a mule. If you haven’t attended one of these clinics, I suggest you do. We don’t charge for spectating, so come on out and learn. With that being said, I feel that as hot as the mule market is right now, a glimpse into what we will be covering in the “what to look for” workshop would be a great topic to discuss. In my defense, I have really bad OCD training mules. I have been told I have some high standards, and my high expectations have been politely pointed out. It’s how I am built and wired, so I really can’t apologize for it, but I can use it to help you, I think, and that is my goal. I understand that even though this is based on what I teach a mule as the basics, it doesn’t mean that there are not good mules out there that have good training. I am not saying that, so please don’t misunderstand that. I have seen some really good mules that don’t do many of these things as a foundation, but they are good because they are smart and easygoing by nature. However, the trouble begins when we look at mules that aren’t blessed with great parents. By nature, those mules have traits that make it difficult to train and keep consistent, which I am seeing a lot of these types of mules brought to us to restart or start fresh. 14 • May 2022

If you ever had us restart your mule or start your colt, you would understand just how much of a foundation we put into one. I can almost honestly say that I don’t think there are too many folks out there that put the foundation in one that we do, and I am very proud of that. I am not patting myself on the back; it’s just something I have always been very adamant about. Too many times, I see people spend good, hard-earned money on something that lacks just the fundamental basics. I regularly have mules come to me that I have to put a foundation in when they should have already had it, especially if it is being sold as a finished mule. Now, this is not a mule buying guide. It’s more of a “what should I expect this mule to have as far as basic training goes” guide. It is, in my mind, at the very minimum the very basic what I feel a mule should have as a foundation. You can use this to help you make an informed choice, and I hope it gives you some things to look for. The purchase price is the least expensive thing you will have to pay for whether you buy a good or a bad one. A mule is worth what you are willing to pay for one. With that in mind, I have one hard and fast rule when buying mules or anything: Do not buy based on an emotional decision. I have seen that cause more harm than anything else. Levels of training and quality of training vary from person to person and trainer to trainer. One person would consider a good mule to another person might be an outlaw mule. I am not saying one trainer or seller is better than the other, nor am I making any claims to my way is the best way. But if a good reputable trainer or breeder really asked for what it costs to take a mule from birth

to good enough to sell with the proper foundation, none of us would be able to afford mules. Also, the price can be talked about for days and the amount someone is willing or not willing to spend on a mule. But that is far from what this is about. I will base this on a mule you want to buy for trail riding. The person buying it, we will say, has only ever trail-ridden, and that is all they want to do. They are not a trainer, breeder, professional cowboy, or cowgirl…just a person that wants a trail mule. I feel that if you specifically train a mule so that its only purpose in life is to be a trail mule, then you have taken on one of the most challenging tasks you could ask a trainer to undertake. Why? Because if you want a safe, sane trail animal, you’re up against powerful instincts that tell a mule to avoid danger and preserve himself. You’ll never entirely override instinctive behavior, but a well-trained trail mule learns to tolerate the unfamiliar, to listen to your cues instead of his own urges, and relax into the business of covering ground safely and efficiently. Further, if the person has done their job correctly training the mule, that mule will take care of you and keep you out of trouble. Think about what we ask these mules to do out there. Cross water, logs, go up and down some of the nastiest countries, carry you safely in diverse trail situations, stand tied overnight, maintain themselves steadily as we bounce around in the saddle taking pictures and talking with our friends, be surefooted, back up, side pass, open gates, deal with bikers and hikers, not spook at dogs, cows, traffic or wildlife, go out alone and with others….the list can go on and on. So yeah, I hate when I hear ‘just a trail mule’ because that is a discipline that I feel requires so much correct and in-depth training, and I feel that is what most of these mules out there are used for. The first thing I look at is his Mules and More Magazine

disposition and overall attitude. Does he like to hang out with people, or is he one of those that is off by himself somewhere and doesn’t want a lot to do with people? I like a friendly mule who enjoys hanging out with me as much as I do him. Next, I look at small things like whether he swishes his tail or stomps a foot when I rub on him or does he pin his ears back? Finally, is he pretty calm when I approach, or does he tense up until he feels comfortable? The Devil is in those details for me. The second thing I look at is the confirmation of the mule. The reason why is because a mule with bad conformation will be more prone to injury, harder to train, and you are running a higher risk of lameness, just to name a few things that come with bad conformation. But more importantly, it will make my job easier to fit a saddle to it if its confirmation is good. The third thing I do is give the mule

an overall assessment. I am not a vet, but I highly suggest getting one involved before buying something. Here are a few things, but not all, that I will look at right away. Legs: Observe the mule when it is first led to you and watch for even slight indications of limping, stiffness, or favoring a leg or foot. Make sure that the legs are straight. The hoof should be well-shaped and form good angles to the wall. Look closely at the fetlocks, pasterns, and hocks. Any swelling should raise a red flag regarding soundness. Hooves: Examine the hooves to see that they’re hard, smooth, and free from dryness or ridges. They should not be broken, cracked, or appear to be poorly cared for. As the mule stands still, see whether all four feet are planted squarely. Toes should not drastically turn in or out. Watch for signs of laminitis. Mules with laminitis stand in the typical “founder stance,” with the forelegs stretched

forward to shift the weight from the toes to the heels and hind legs, which are tucked well under the body. The mule may constantly shift weight from one foot to another in severe cases. Teeth: Mules unable to chew food and digest it correctly are more prone to colic, so teeth problems reach far beyond their mouth. Infected, lost, broken, abnormally long, or excessively worn teeth are signs of a mule that hasn’t received proper dental treatment. Also, look for abscesses and ulcers resulting from poor dental health. A mule’s teeth grow continually through most of his lifetime. As they get longer, uneven wear can create sharp points and edges, which may produce sores on his tongue or cheeks. Well-cared-for mules will have had their teeth floated. Eyes: A mule’s eyes should be bright, clear, and fully open. Be watchful of tearing, cloudiness, or discharge of any kind. Check his vision by taking the mule inside a barn

36th Annual Clark County Mule Festival

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

September 15-17, 2022

Clark County Fairgrounds

23130 East Main Kahoka, Missouri

Three Day Fun Mule Show: Thursday at 11 a.m. - Friday at 10 a.m. - Saturday at 10 a.m.

Grounds will be open all week before Festival on Sunday, Sept. 11, at noon.

Souvenir shop, foods, crafts, and midway vendors open Friday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m. and Saturday, Sept. 17, at 8 a.m. until evening.

CAMPING COST PER DAY:

Camping staging September 9, 2022. Camping available on site beginning September 11, 2022 at noon. Fees must be paid before setup. No reserved camping. Fire rings required.

Thursday, Sept. 15 - Show warm-up at 11 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 16 - Mule games start at 10 a.m. and jumps at 3 p.m., followed by Team Penning, Roping, and Goat at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 - Show starts at 10 a.m., Mule Pull at noon, Mule Jumps at 3 p.m. and Rodeo at 7 p.m. Live entertainment following rodeo. Sunday, Sept. 18 - 8 a.m. - Church See our website for the full schedule!

Drawing for Queen-Size Quilt &

$1,000 CASH Tickets on sale now!

For information contact:

All dogs must be on a leash. Sunday - $60 electric, $30 primitive Mike Schantz 660/341-4835 Proof of negative Coggins (EIA) test required for all equine Monday - $60 electric, $30 primitive Mary Rhodes 660/341-8643 and current (30 day) health certificate for out-of-state equine. Tuesday - $60 electric, $30 primitive Wednesday - $50 electric, $25 primitive MAIN GATE ADMISSION - $5 Commemorative Button or Arm Band for the Weekend • 10 & Under Free! Thursday - $40 electric, $20 primitive Friday - #30 electric, $15 primitive Saturday - $20 electric, $10 primitive

Visit: www.clarkcountymulefestival.com

Mules and More Magazine

May 2022 • 15

or stable, allowing his eyes to adjust, and then walk him back outside. The pupils contract quickly if vision is normal, and the mule shouldn’t squint. Coat: Shiny, glossy hair is a good indicator of a healthy mule. It depends, however, on what season you’re mule shopping. A summer coat should be short, sleek, and glossy; a winter coat should be longer and thicker to keep the mule warm. Body Fitness: Either an underweight or overweight mule can spell problems, so take a close look at the amount of body fat covering particular skeletal points on his body, such as the spine, ribs, hip, buttocks, etc. Ribs should not be visually distinguishable, but they should be easily felt. The tailhead should not be prominent and should feel somewhat, but not too, spongy. The neck, withers, and shoulder should be rounded and blend smoothly into the body. If a mule is overweight, you’ll notice a thickening of the neck. The withers area feels fatty, the ribs can’t be felt, the tailhead is very soft, and significant fat is deposited along the mule’s inner buttocks. The cresting of the neck is also a good indicator of an overweight mule. Assuming all that is good, we are ready to move forward to the next stage. If the mule didn’t do these basic fundamental tasks willingly and relaxed (that is the key), you will, down the road, have a problem that you or someone you pay will need to fix, guaranteed. The issue becomes that when they have these small holes in their training, or things were skipped just to get to the saddle part quicker, it leads to bigger issues down the road. Eventually, you will end up with something you don’t like or something that needs a restart. The problem begins when a solid foundation isn’t instilled or retained by the mule. I tend to see folks trying to put band-aids over symptoms and not diving into the causes of these bad behaviors, which is a lack of foundation. 16 • May 2022

These symptoms keep showing up over and over again. Even something as simple as pawing while tied up leads to bigger issues down the road. Again, the Devil lies in the details. The things we want these mules to do at a minimum, but not limited to the following:

. Be easy to catch anywhere without bribery or the need to run into a smaller area. Be able to be haltered without fuss. Finally, the mule should be OK mentally away from his buddies when you lead it off. . They also need to be good with their ears, front to back, back to front. . The mule should respectfully lead on the ground. The mule stays and maintains a safe distance behind you. Stops when you stop. Backs up when you back up. When you change directions, your mule should circle behind you and not run his shoulder into your space. He needs to be able to lead without being pulled on constantly; the mule maintains slack in the lead rope. He needs to be like a shadow. The mule should respect your space at all times. . The mule should be light in the halter. I should be able to move the mule right and left, disengage, and move shoulders with minimal effort on the ground. . The mule should allow you to touch it all over from any side with hands, ropes, flags, etc. The mule should allow you to pick up all four feet at any time without the use of a twitch or drugs and have its feet done. Hopping around, pulling back, ears pinning are all red flags. . The mule should allow you to place the saddle pad on either side while relaxed, and the mule should allow you to place the saddle on from either side while relaxed. Finally, the mule should allow you to adjust the saddle from either side while relaxed, including being cinched up. . The mule should hold the bit. Excessive chewing, grinding, and trying

to get their tongue over is a red flag. . The mule should be able to stand still to mount, from the ground or from a block, from both sides. If it doesn’t, you will need to fix that because it will lead to bigger issues. . The mule should load in a trailer and trailer easily. . The mule should be good with things around it and not spook when tied up or led around.

Suppose the mule presents any stress indicators or worries with the earlier things. If its head raises up high while doing these things, he tenses up, spooks, gets big-eyed, just to name a few; I would proceed with caution. Those signs tell me that the mule has some worry about what you are doing, or the mule itself has built up anxiety about something. What would happen in the saddle if the mule worried on the ground? It may not show up today, but I promise you, it will show up one day. Those worries would be avoided if the mule had a good foundation. Now, those are just the minimal basics I expect. Just because you can tie it up and it doesn’t set back, or you can put a saddle on it and ride down the road, doesn’t mean it has the basics. The ability for the mule to stand tied, have its feet done, all of what I call “secondary stuff,” are the results of it being taught the basics. Those things, to me, are not the basics themselves. These things are just the beginning, and you haven’t even swung a leg over the cantle yet. If an animal lacks the basics, how well do you feel your ride will be? It could be good, for a little while. So let me just leave you with one question to think about: If you don’t have a solid foundation with your mule, suppose something goes wrong, or the mule isn’t responding to something you are asking...where do you go to fix that? You can’t go back to the basics because they aren’t there, so where would you go? Mules and More Magazine

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May 2022 • 17

18 • May 2022

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Waste? Not! by Dr. Stephenie Slahor

We recycle our plastics, glass, paper and cans. And we plow under, tote away, or compost what our mules “do.” Ever think about what a large-scale operation does with the latter? In the “GRAND” scheme of such things, there is the “what-to-do-withthe-do” from the 150 or so of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim mules. Barns and corrals exist at both Grand Canyon Village, and at Yaki Point to the east. Each houses the resting mules and the “mules du jour” who will be taking the intrepid (and not-so-intrepid) tourists into or along the Canyon. According to David Perkins, the Director of Sustainability for Grand Canyon National Park Lodges of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the park’s solid waste of paper, plastic and metal is transferred to a facility in nearby Flagstaff where recycling can be done. It comes to about two million pounds of recycled material from Grand Canyon’s South Rim’s six or seven million visitors each year. And that mule “do” scooped up by Bobcat front end loaders? It’s dumped into 30-yard containers and picked

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up several times each month. Perkins says about 1.8 million pounds of mule manure is collected and processed at Flagstaff, and turned into fertilizer. You can well imagine that the mules are important to Grand Canyon tourism and so they get the best in feed, ample water, and veterinary and farrier care. But they also benefit from a program called, “Operation Shrivel-ly Apples,” which recycles some of the

unusable food from the Canyon’s eateries including shriveled apples, wilted lettuce, old celery stalks, and damaged fruit or vegetables not suited for use in cooking or in availability to the cafeteria tourist craving a piece of fruit. All the recycling at Grand Canyon not only keeps the place “grand,” but it certainly makes job security for the mules, and the operators of those Bobcat front end loaders!

May 2022 • 19

From Across the Pond by Donna Taylor

You all know how much I love to write about my adventures, my search for mules and donkeys, my enjoyment in telling you about the countries that I visit and what I’ve been up to with my donkeys. But in this article, I feel that I want to write about what is happening in Ukraine. Ukraine is approximately 1,600 miles from my home in France, it’s not far. I’ve never been there but have always wanted to visit the capital city of Kyiv, to take in its history and culture, to meet the people, and in the hope of possibly seeing some long ears outside of the city. To see this beautiful country being needlessly destroyed and so many innocent people losing their lives, through no fault of their own is heart breaking. So many people have lost their husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children, their homes, their livelihoods and their animals. It is beyond comprehending how this can happen in this day and age. I live an hour’s drive from one of the main cities in France called Toulouse. Toulouse has been twinned with Kyiv since 1975, so it has a good connection with the Ukrainian people. Over the last few weeks, there have been various solidarity marches/rallies and speeches held in the city. I have, so far, attended two. One was a march through the streets of Toulouse and the second was in the main square of the city. I had my Ukrainian flag wrapped around my shoulders and I wore a t-shirt I bought from the organisers of the event. I felt it was one of the ways that I could show my support to the Ukrainian people. When the war started on the February 24 and the Ukrainian people were fleeing across the border into Poland, the Polish Government said that the people could bring their pets with them. They would find homes for everyone and they would not be separated from their pets, they would be safe. We have all seen many images 20 • May 2022

Donna in Toulouse

and video clips on our televisions of people with their dogs, cats, birds and other small animals crossing the borders. They are the lucky ones. There are many people who have had to flee and leave their pets behind. It is truly heart breaking. There is some reassuring news. I have been reading daily updates from an association called ADA Foundation in Poland. The Foundation is only 30 minutes from the Ukraine border in Przemysl. It is helping animals of all kinds escape the Ukraine War. A Polish vet called Jakub Kotowicz who works there is an animal lover and knew that he wanted to spend his life helping animals in any way he could. As you can imagine, his life has changed dramatically since the war. The Foundation has had an influx of so many animals coming to him with a multitude of injuries. Jakub and his staff are really stretched because of the number of animals they are caring for. They are working nonstop and using up their resources. Not only are the staff doing everything they can to help these animals, they are also risking their lives by driving into Ukraine and rescuing as many animals as they can, even rescuing them from zoos. These people are so brave and selfless. I have read of a man in Ukraine

called Andrea Cisternino. He is an Italian photographer who moved to Ukraine 13 years ago when he married a Ukrainian woman. He has an animal shelter in the capital, Kyiv. He cares for 400 animals. He said that he will not leave these animals and would rather die with them even when there is bombing all around him and there is the possibility of being killed. There are more than 100,000 equines in Ukraine and many have been caught up in the war with no possibility to flee and seek safety and with no shelter and care. Many owners have had to abandon their equines and let them fend for themselves. They had no choice. I cannot imagine the pain these people must be feeling. There is so much being done around the world to help as many equines get out of Ukraine. Temporary stables have been put up in Lviv, a city that is right near the border of Poland. The equines that are rescued are stabled there before they are then transported to Poland where they are kept safe and are well cared for. The United States Equestrian Federation has established a Ukraine Relief Fund in association with the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) to provide support to the equestrian community of Ukraine. The FEI has Mules and More Magazine

pledged one million dollars to help support this community. The British equestrian community have united to form the “British Equestrians for Ukraine” which aims to help equines and their owners caught up in the crisis. These are just two countries that are making a big difference and I know there are many other countries donating and supporting the equines in Ukraine. Facebook and other media platforms are making such a huge impact in helping owners evacuate their equines out of Ukraine. The ADA Foundation are posting on Facebook lots of videos and photos of the animals they have rescued and asking for donations and medical supplies which they are receiving. It gives me strength to know that when there is a crisis like this terrible war, we come together, we fight, we stand up for the people and support them in any way we can and we truly care. This article is dedicated to the people of Ukraine. To their bravery, their determination , their sacrifice. If we can take just three things from this needless war, it’s seeing how so many countries are coming together to help the Ukrainian people and their animals, secondly the generosity, kindness and care from so many people around the world and thirdly, the courage of the Ukrainian people who are not giving up the fight to defend their country.

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May 2022 • 21

Granny’s Adventures – All About Joyce Stratton

Joyce Stratton and Dun It In Chrome in 2021

by Anna Arnold

My adventures have really slowed down, but I have so many I have had and this is one I would like to share with you. I have traveled all over the west coast, up to Oregon, and all the way to Tennessee with my mule, meeting some very wonderful mule and donkey owners. I have shared stories about several of them with you in the past. This month, I want to introduce you to Joyce Stratton. I met Joyce back in the late 90s. She, too, was a traveler. We met at the Los Angeles County Fair Mule and Draft Show. She made the trip down from Oregon for this big show. I had traveled up her way to Oregon a few times, showing in Salem and Grants Pass. At the end of one of the show seasons, we had both won awards with the American Mule Association. She came back to Pomona in southern California for the award banquet and she and I shared a room at a local hotel. There were several other members of AMA there and our friendship began. We would see each other often, she with her driving and performance mules, me with my champion game, halter and performance mule. I admired her as she always had her family with her. Her daughter Jessica Bishop and grandchildren kept Joyce busy getting them all in their classes. But 2021 was her year to really shine. She has a shiny new mule and lots of new outfits. She was stunning in all her driving classes and won her share, fair and square. I asked her share her story about her love for mules, and where she got started in mules. So, in her words, here is her story.

22 • May 2022

Here’s My Mule Story ... and I’m Sticking To It by Joyce Stratton In the 80s, I had friends that were interested in mules. My Dad got interested in them around the same time I did, as well. I watched Bishop Mule Days and the Roseburg Oregon Mule Show in 1980 and my interest was cemented. I’d shown horses growing up and I looked at the mule classes and said to myself, “I can do that.” Then I got to ride one in 1981 and I was totally sold. They’re like 4-wheel drive in the mountains. My first mule was a beautiful molly TB mule. She actually won my first buckle at Hells Canyon Mule Days in 1982. The win was in the halter class with a pen full of beautiful mules. This mule did good in the classes, too, but she had some character flaws that sort of put her in the ‘snake’ category. She could go along fine for hours but then she’d get tired of what we were doing and do something really mean, like ramming my leg up against a gate. I did good with her in the show ring but she was not so fun to have around. My next mule was one I raised from a grade ranch horse I had. She was only 14 hands but a very good and athletic mule. Her name was LS Dusty. Some of you that showed back in the day might remember her. She was sold to Brenda

and Ron Overton eventually and they showed her too. She had many wins to her career and they had her until she died at age 40. She was a drive and ride mule. One of her outstanding wins was at the 1990 National Mule Show in Idaho where we were first pleasure driving. That was so thrilling for me. I went on to my next mule because I could see the mule world was changing to really good confirmation and a little bigger mule than I had in Dusty. I put Dusty up for sale by word of mouth and she was gone in a month at my price. I didn’t even have the breeding done yet for the mule I wanted in my future. The jack we used many times was Southside Hotshot owned by Debbie and Woody Kellogg in Baker City, Ore. That jack had so many wonderful mules. I still own one that’s now 20 and a two-time world champion. I took an athletic and good-minded horse to the Kellogg’s for breeding and that mule was my unicorn. Her name was LS Windjammer. I can’t begin to list all the accomplishments we had in our long career together. We showed at mule shows and horses shows for 20 years. She was a ground breaker for mules showing against horses in my Mules and More Magazine

(above) LS Biscuit in 2013 (right) In 2019, at age 33, Biscuit's High Point win earned her a kiss

state of Oregon. She got us accepted in the Oregon Horseman’s Association to be able to show our mules in their horse shows. Through her show career she not only took me to many wins and accomplishments but she did the same with my children and grandchildren. And that doesn’t even count the 4-H kids that used her. Windy loved 4-H. The pace is so slow and it was an all-day event and being petted by children was one of her favorite pastimes. She finally had to be euthanized in 2020 because of chronic lameness in one leg that became arthritic and painful. She was 28 at the time. I still miss her to this day. Another amazing mule that I raised is LS Biscuit. Biscuit was the first mule inducted into the North American Saddle Mule and Donkey Hall of Fame. Biscuit was shown by every member of my family and had so many wins it’s truly an honor to have owned her. I still have her. She’s 36 this year and fully retired. At age 33, she was still showing locally and my grandson won Youth Champion in the mule division at the Oregon State Fair. He also won an all-breed driving class with her. He was only nine at the time but the two of them showed exactly what a champion is. Biscuit won three Reserve World Championships in her years at Bishop, two of them were youth titles and the other was for single driving. She was so fun to drive. We made the finals into the Friday night show at Bishop for many years. In her last years at Bishop, she Mules and More Magazine

won the Pleasure Driving Class and the Turnout Driving Class for two years in a row. She was 25 and 26 at the time. But I retired her from having to trailer so far for classes as she turned 27. She’d done so much for us and worked so hard it was time to let her just do short hauls and local event. She still kept up her appearances in local parades and petting activities. She continued in 4-H the next five years. This was a mule that made her mark in the horse world in a big way. She won a Battle of the Breeds in Oregon against National Champions in major breeds. There were six events in the competition. She was the only entrant out of the 17 that got points in every event. And she was first in reining and jumping. She was third in driving, English pleasure, and Western Pleasure with a second in Trail, rounding out her placings. I had another great mule along in there, too, with LS Hot Buckaroo. My daughter, Jessica Bishop, did the majority of showing on Patrick, as we knew him around the barn. He and Jessica were invited to Spruce Meadows in Canada for a number of years to be on the Mule Team in the Telus Battle of the Breeds. He was on the Mule Team that won the competition one of those years, which is such an accomplishment. He was also a two-time World Champion Youth Mule and had many amazing times in the winner’s circle. He still shows at age 20 but he’s slowed down a bit. I currently have an 8-year-old show

LS Windjammer at Bishop Mule Days in 2013 Photo courtesy of Porch Pig Productions

LS Windjammer in 2015 in her favorite spot, surrounded by kids May 2022 • 23

mule that I found out in Oklahoma at Signature Equine. I want to thank Tabitha and Dan Holland for the purchase of this amazing mule. His name is Dun It In Chrome and he’s another ride and drive mule. He’s a joy to drive and won Pleasure Driving and Turnout Driving at Bishop in 2021. This guy is just really coming into his own and he’s going to be in the winner’s circle a lot in the years to come. He’s in training for finish work at Payer Performance Horses in Orland, Calif. Brandi Payer is so good with my guy and I want to take this opportunity to commend her training acumen and her facility. In 2021, Brandi and Chrome were Reserve Bridled High Point at the mule show at the Bear Valley Springs AMA show. I know that’s just the beginning of a long show career for Chrome. After 40 years showing these mules, I’m not retired yet. Mules are the best! I’m now 72 and I’m not done showing. I’m looking forward to meeting any of you I haven’t met yet, and this is ‘howdy’ to those of you I have.

Jessica Bishop on LS Hot Buckaroo at Bishop Mule Days in 2007

LS Hot Buckaroo in 2015 waiting patiently for class (and for his rider to wake up) Joyce Stratton and Dun It In Chrome in 2021

Silver & Brass Mule Head Conchos Available in all antiqued silver OR silver with brass mule head and dots. Please indicate preference. $7.00 each

Online: mulesandmore.com By phone: (573)263-2669 By mail: Mules and More, PO Box 460, Bland, MO 65014 24 • May 2022

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May 2022 • 25

If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Barn

“Heat cycles can be rough on barn doors and mule owners.”

When to Consider Ovary Removal in Female Mules by Gayle Stegmann Gem State Mule Company, Rathdrum, Idaho

Some time back, I offered to the editor of Mules and More my willingness to author an article on laparoscopic ovary removal (ovariectomy) in molly mules, as I always enjoy the educational element of writing articles and sharing what I have learned through decisions made in my quest to be a knowledgeable and responsible equine owner. As I explored one area, I went down a scenic trail that led me into so many different directions and things to consider when making this 26 • May 2022

important decision. Hopefully once read, you too will get excited about the prospect of learning more about your molly mules’ behavior and you have some strong revelations about why ovary removal really is a medical procedure worth investing in. According to Dr. Ragle, a 30-year Veterinarian, “Mother nature has played a cruel trick on molly mules, by giving them all the parts that should work, but don’t.” Dr. Ragle is the editor of the textbook Advances

In Equine Laparoscopy and Professor of Veterinary Surgery with the Washington State University Veterinary Hospital. He is among the most reputable ‘mule men’ in the Pacific Northwest and removes the ovaries of ALL his mules, regardless of what age they come to him. Behavioral issues during estrous in the mare horse have been documented and treated for some time. Trainers and owners were seeing a correlation between estrous and behavior issues in horses affecting performance. These include performance and temperament, attitude changes, tails swishing, difficulty in training, squealing, excessive urination and kicking. The hormone levels in mules during estrous and pregnancy (via embryo transfer) Mules and More Magazine

have been studied and it was found that estrogen levels were significantly higher in molly mule than in the mare horse. This gives mollies a potential to show even more severe behavior changes in estrous than the mares. The value and popularity of mules are increasing and thus, the expectations for mules to perform at higher levels have also risen. With the uses of the mule becoming more parallel to that of the horse, negative effects of estrous related behavior may become of concern to owners. In mollies, reproduction becomes the number one priority. Even if they don’t outwardly exemplify estrous signs, they still can’t think clearly and may ignore voice and leg cues in training as their focus is elsewhere. Some exemplify very overt signs of estrus. According to Dr. Bruce Carlisle, Fortuna, Calif., when interviewed about this subject, he had a molly mule that absolutely would not move when she was cycling and would squeal in discomfort. He ultimately removed her ovaries, and this enabled her to become a riding and packing mule without future issues. Owners may also see their molly mules seeking out other animals or ‘herd bound’ when in estrous cycle. Owners shouldn’t be so quick to say, “I never have issues,” when in fact there is a chance, you do. You may get rid of some of the super obsessive behavior of wanting to be with the herd when they are not thinking about reproduction. Dr. Ragle gave one example of a YouTube video that is out there where the molly mule is perceived as protecting a cowboy. He believes this video to be very misleading when in fact what is happening is the mule could care less about the cowboy, rather, wants to keep the mother away from the baby. Common knowledge is that female mules want to steal young more than horses. It is dangerous to have them in the pasture with cattle calving as they may attempt to steal the baby, injure the calf by runMules and More Magazine

One-year-old Gem’s Walking By Faith during an laparoscopic ovariectomy. Typically they can do the procedure standing, but because she was a little nervous and moving in the stanchion, we made the decision to lay her down.

ning over it or exemplify overzealous behavior that would lead to chasing it and therefore killing the calf. Molly mules foaling as a result of embryo transfer demonstrates their stronger maternal instincts compared to horses and they are considered ultra-mothers or high achievers. There is a Gypsy Vanner embryo transfer program in Florida where they use mules as recipients/carriers. The mules are economical to purchase and feed relative to draft horses and can survive in coarse pastures and

adapt easier to the warmer climates than the imported Gypsy Vanners. The mules make attentive mammas, and some might argue the human emotional element comes into play as you are giving something the molly mule so desperately wants but cannot have. Thus, they get adoptions ($$$) of the ‘Mule Moms’ in their breeding program. I came by way of the decision to perform an Ovariectomy on my young molly when I noticed she was temperamental during her cycle and chal-

May 2022 • 27

Lucy, a 13 year old mule, undergoing the procedure while standing

lenging to handle. She was my show prospect, so I did not want her cycling when I was at an important event. She was two years old, and for me, it was a game changer. She started ‘catching me’ out in the pasture, peeling away from the herd and walking a great distance to be with me. She just went into a “Zen mode” and became far easier to work with and more compliant. This decision led me to have all our molly mules’ ovaries removed, except for our race and gaming mules. Regarding our race mules, the studies were not there to determine the possible side effects on their racing capabilities, so we opted not to remove their ovaries. Theoretically, the energy and drive would be rechanneled, and estrus might decrease the desire and ability to race, but it is hard to ask a mule what they think, and we weren’t willing to risk a change in behavior on already successful careers. The molly mules on racetracks typically outperform john mules so again, we did not want to alter their behavior and desire to win in this period. Don Jacklin, 20+ year President of the American Mule Racing Association had this to share relative to racing mules. This can apply to barrel racing or gaming mules as many are retired racing mules. “Some of the female race animals (est. 40%) showed strong negative effects when in heat. They were as you described and did not run well during those heat periods. The remaining 60% showed small aspects of heat, but with no super negative 28 • May 2022

reactions – but noticeable. Thus, we began to use Regimate (at the time it was called “Regumate”). This worked, but as with everything, there was a repercussion. I always noticed the race animals seemed to be lethargic while on Regimate, and never were “on the muscle,” as you would want a race animal to be. Obviously, a hormonal reaction (plus or minus) was occurring. We had ovary removal surgery done on two race girls --- Selway (a Hinny) and Geisha Girl (a Hinny). Selway was especially goofy when in heat and really needed a change. Both ran well in later life, and heat issues were not noticeable. Overall, I believe Ovariectomy is a good procedure for both race and performance mules. We raised 10+ Hinny’s when we had both the Appaloosa stud and a Dash for Cash Quarter horse stud. It was very apparent that the Hinny females showed a higher level of nastiness during heat periods then the female mules!” Mark Mattox, Mesa, Wash., said, “In my practical experience, I have found ovary removal makes the mule calmer, less pushy, mellower, and less dominant. It allows me to train every day of the year.” The downside to an ovariectomy is that it is permanent. However, you do not have the expense, risk of human handling and time, in administering products like Regumate, mare magic, or other non-surgical alternatives. Though rare, there have been a few instances where an owner has spayed the mule, and it comes into heat. So

where did the estrogen come from? If you remove the natural sources of progesterone, you make it hypersensitive to estrogen. Some mules are extremely sensitive to estrogen, and it can exist in some food stuffs including some common supplements owners use like soybeans, flax, oats, barley can cause this. (Complete list available by request from author). Now comes the question, “Do I remove the ovaries laparoscopically ($1,500-$2000) or by performing a copotomy (approximately $800)?” Prices are in the eyes of the beholder. Do you want 21st century technology or 18th century, which is when copotomies were first performed in France? The downside to a copotomy is that it is done blindly, so the tunnel that transitions from the dirty outside world into the clean world is unsanitary and risky. Additionally, the vaginal incision is not closed with stitches so there is additional potential of serious problems if straining or infection occurs. With blood vessels, you may have hemostasias descent for a blind crushing mechanism, hit or miss. You don’t want a 50-50 chance of hemostasias. Lastly, going through the flank creates a higher chance of complications from poor surgical access and large incisions. Laparoscopic ovariectomy is minimally invasive and relatively inexpensive. As techniques and instrumentations improve to decrease invasiveness (Keyhole Surgery), the patients can return to work sooner, Mules and More Magazine

with less morbidity and have a superior cosmetic result. Also, an increased ease of postoperative management. The cost-risk benefit makes greater sense. Mules can have an ovariectomy at any age, but typically the minimum is one year, as they are willing to stand in a stanchion during the procedure. In fact, the earlier the better, as some of the mare-ish tendencies become stronger rooted, with age. What if there is not a vet hospital nearby that performs laparoscopic ovariectomies, should I opt for a traditional copotomy? Drive the distance. That is like taking your grandmother to immediate care facility for heart surgery. Often state universities have vet hospitals that perform this procedure. In our area, laparoscopic procedures were being asked for by equine owners, so our vet flew in a surgeon from Colorado to learn how to perform the procedure and now makes this an offering at his vet hospital. Lastly, Dr. Ragle, in conjunction with several other WSU veterinarians, have published reports entitled “Use of a motorized morcellator for elective bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing equids: 30 cases and Estrous Behavior in Mules, An Owner’s Perspective” that I found to be very informative. Copies can be viewed via a Google search. I hope this article has enabled you to better understand molly mule behavior as it relates to their ovaries and the options that are available to you. With the increased research being done on mules, thanks to Dr. Ragle and countless others, it is important that we are good stewards in the industry and willing to share these exciting new advances. Gayle Stegmann is the owner of Gem State Mule Company, Rathdrum, Idaho. She can be reached at (509)994-6098, gayle@stegmanns.us or www.gemstatemule.com.

Mules and More Magazine

On Our Cover... Gem’s Walking By Faith

Gem’s Walking By Faith is a 2021 molly mule born at Gem State Mule Company and owned by Darla Fletcher. She is pictured on our cover this month with Reagan Lash, Gayle’s granddaughter. Faith is pictured above moments after birth, as she looks to her mother for the first time. Below, Faith, stretches out in the arena. Faith is also pictured on page 25 of this issue having ovariectomy as a yearling

May 2022 • 29

Virl Norton with mules Lord Fauntleroy (Leroy) and Lady Eloise Photo courtesy of “The Great American Horse Race of 1976 - A Photogenic Documentary by Curtis L. Lewis and Dennis D. Underwood”

Mules Rule in the Great American Horse Race of 1976 by Merri Melde On the morning of May 31, 1976, around 100 mounted riders sat lined up at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds in Frankfort, New York, staring between the ears of their mounts toward Sacramento, Calif. They awaited the start of the Great American Horse Race, a once-ina-lifetime 100-day, 3200-mile race across America that was the brainchild of Chuck Waggoner and Randy Scheiding. For an entry fee of $500, riders could experience “The adventure of a lifetime for the common American who regards his horse as something special,” said an ad in the Western Horseman magazine. On the line was a $25,000 first place prize, bragging rights, and the adventure of a lifetime. Rules stated that riders could have up to two equines; both had to be on trail in all parts of the race, or else the one that rode in a trailer accrued time penalties. The competitors would ride six days a week, and average around 30 • May 2022

35 miles a day. Horses had to pass vet checks during each day’s ride to be able to continue on the trail. Entrants of all ages and backgrounds and horse experience came from 32 states in the US, and from countries including Canada, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Iceland and Australia. Some came for the prize money; some came for the adventure. Some riders were fairly inexperienced; some experienced horsemen and horsewomen came confident their mounts were superior and they’d win. Breeds included Arabians, Quarter horses, mustangs, appaloosas, thoroughbreds, a Russian Orlov trotter, Icelandics, and mules. Virl Norton, a 59-year-old steeplejack and all-around equestrian from Almaden, Calif., brought two Thoroughbred mules to the race: Lord Fauntleroy (“Leroy”) and Lady Eloise. And Virl told anybody who’d listen that he was going to win. But it wasn’t braggadocio when he

stated that fact. He was an extraordinary horseman and he simply knew his mules would hold up better than the other breeds - including the Arabians, who are bred for Endurance - over the time and long distance of the race. “My dad always had an affinity for mules,” Virl’s son Pierce Norton, now 61, recalled. “He grew up on a farm in Wyoming, and they used mules for pulling farm implements. And as long as I can remember, we had a bunch of mules.” Pierce, 16 years old at the time, was his dad’s crew for the race. “It was the trip of a lifetime. My dad would tell everybody that he was going there to win, and then he would tell them why. He didn’t lack confidence. I would be a little bit sheepish about that, thinking, ‘Oh, I wish he wouldn’t have been quite so confident.’ But he did believe in the mules. And like he’d say in interviews, he had plenty of Arabians at home, but he left them at home and brought the mules.” Mules and More Magazine

Virl in fact had a third mule in the race. A few days before the start of the Great American Horse Race, competitor Anne Babbott lost her mount to an injury; Virl her offered his mule The Deacon, and Anne’s parents flew the mule out to New York so she could participate in the race. Pierce remembers Leroy (age 7) and Eloise (age 5) well, bonding with them closely while caring for them for over the three months on the road. “They were both fine mules,” he said. “They could be a handful if you didn’t know what you were doing, but I could hop on them bareback with a halter and cruise around on them without any trouble. Leroy was my buddy. He had more of a personality than Eloise; she was more of a take-itor-leave-it kind of mule, but she was good, too. “When my dad first got Leroy, he was a huge handful. He’d been spoiled or something, and my dad had to have some knock-out drag-down fights with him to make sure that Leroy understood who was in charge. But Leroy became a particularly gentle mule. He might take advantage of you if you didn’t know how to handle a mule, but he wasn’t going to kick or bite or hurt you.” Pierce had quite a responsibility, driving the truck with a camper on it and pulling a four-horse trailer across the country. “I had just barely gotten my driver license,” Pierce said. “That was a dangerous rig, a 1971 Dodge pickup that you could hardly keep in one lane. And I was a 16-year-old kid and I didn’t mind going 80 miles an hour down the road. But for whatever reason, my dad trusted me and thought I was capable enough to be his pit crew.”

AND THEY’RE OFF

So many riders took off like a quarter mile dash out of the starting gate at the flag-off of the Great American Horse Race. But Virl, riding Leroy and ponying Eloise, started the race just as he finished it three months later - at a steady trot. Virl was hours back of Mules and More Magazine

the faster horses at the end of the first week, but by then some of the speedier entrants had already backed off their torrid pace, or incurred time penalties with lame horses. By the time the race reached Kanakee, Ill., on June 26, Virl was in first place with his mules, clopping along mile after mile, day after day, at their steady pace. “The first few days I remember thinking, wow, I hope that my dad will be able to make the time back up. But sure enough, what would happen was those other horses started getting run down, and a lot of them would go lame.” Lameness and drop-outs weren’t the only problem for race participants. By Kankakee, the race was fraying apart at the seams. A week into the ride, rumors went around that the race was out of money. But the riders elected to keep going, with everybody agreeing to put the prize money in escrow and not use it to pay for the race logistics. On July 4th in Hannibal, Mo., with the race organizers run off and disagreements about who was in charge, the race split in two, with the Pony Express Ride group heading off to St. Joseph, Mo., to make a new start and end in Sacramento, while the Great American Horse Race continued on from Hannibal to Sacramento. This hardly affected Virl and Pierce and Leroy and Eloise. They were in a steady routine of getting up early every day, riding or driving, caring for the mules, and retiring early. “My dad was pretty serious about the race. And though he was quite a social creature, he was there to win. So he was always an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ guy.” Pierce took his job seriously also, with the responsibilities of taking care of Virl and the mules every day. “As soon as my dad got into camp, I was there and took the mules straight away from him. I took them through the vet checks all the time so he could just go relax. I had the camp set up and the mules’ water and food set up. Afterwards I mostly left them alone to rest;

they didn’t like a lot of fussing. “In the last few weeks of the race, I would sleep out with the mules, just to make sure nobody would mess with them, because there was quite a bit of prize money difference between first and second place.” Over their way westward, day after day, riders and horses faced rain, lightning, mud, heat. Some of the ‘trail’ was along the shoulders of highways or on the pavement itself. Sometimes the entire race had to trailer ahead to get back on schedule (actual mileage ridden was recorded as 1,966 miles), but the race continued steadily toward California. The ‘traveling circus’ rolling across America was full of excitement and various eccentrics for an impressionable young boy. “It was a wild and woolly race, and there were all kinds of characters on the race. Half the people on it were probably broke and didn’t know how they were going to get through the thing. They just headed to New York and started the race, and whether they had enough gas to get across the country, who knows. It was kind of a dream for them. “And then there were some real rich people; it was quite a cross section of horse folks. And they had all different theories about how they would go about doing the race.” There were echoes of the Wild West days as the community migrated westward. “There were quite a few ‘wild childs’ on the ride,” Pierce said. “There was some late night drinking, plenty of fights. One gal was running afoul of the rules, and somewhere around Bear Lake, at the Utah-Idaho border, she got kicked off the ride. So her last hurray was to strip down naked and ride the horse through camp. That was a pretty well known story.” Pierce remembers that somewhere near Nevada, Virl pulled Eloise out of the race. “She was starting to go lame, and even though she checked out sound with the veterinarians, he took her out of the race so that he didn’t have to trailer her ever and accrue May 2022 • 31

time penalties. So he decided to just ride Leroy the last week or 10 days of the race. So if something would have happened to Leroy, that would’ve been pretty disastrous. But as it turned out, Leroy came through sound.” When the Great American Horse Race reached Sacramento on Labor Day, September 6, ride accounts say that Virl and Leroy were 31st to cross the finish line at the CalExpo Fairgrounds, but there was no doubt about the winner after the time was added up. Virl and his two mules finished the race in first place in 315 hours 47 minutes, more than nine hours ahead of the second place rider, Juel Ashley, and his Arabian stallion and mare. (Anne Babbott and The Deacon finished in 27th place.) Pierce recalled his dad being treated like a hero. “Some of the other fellow competitors picked my dad up on their shoulders and hoisted him around. There had to be 30 photographers there. You could hear the shutters going off like crazy. “My dad was suited for winning that race, with his personality. He was an extroverted social guy in a lot of ways, so he was a good representation of the winner. He handled it well.” The end of 100 days on the road with a disparate group that had be-

come a family was a hard transition for Pierce. “It a bit weird. What had become your life just evaporated and you were just back to your previous life.” Virl went on to more distinction in the horse world. He appeared on some TV shows, and he became fairly known in the Endurance arena. “Winning the Great American Horse Race was his biggest accomplishment. People wanted to be around him and talk to him about it, and he was always happy to do that. He liked having that feather in his cap,” Pierce said.

LIFE AFTER THE GAHR

After the Great American Horse Race, Virl eventually sold Lady Eloise and The Deacon. Pierce doesn’t remember where Eloise ended up, but The Deacon went on to accumulate a lot of mileage in Endurance riding (including finishing the Tevis Cup) with Mark Erickson. Virl kept Leroy, who continued competing in Endurance, finishing the Tevis Cup several times. “My dad suffered from rheumatoid arthritis in his later years. He was still doing horse stuff up until he died at age 78. He would tell this story. Leroy, in his later years, got a little arthritis himself. The mule was turned out on a 200-acre pasture that we leased. My dad said he went up there with a gun

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and was just going to put Leroy out of his misery. But he couldn’t do it. He’d say, ‘Well shoot, I feel at least as miserable as he is. I can’t do it.” “So an Endurance neighbor, Maryben Stover, generously took Leroy and looked after him. I think he lived to be 30 years old under her care.” Over the decades, Pierce has had many people speak to him about his dad, saying they attribute their successes from some of the lessons they learned in their lives due to Virl. “He affected different peoples’ lives in some positive way. He was a tough guy, but he was always really good at getting the best out of people, believing in them more than they believed in themselves, to the point where they could take on some challenge and then succeed at it. “In retrospect it turns out that my dad was right about riding his mules in the Great American Horse Race. Over the hundred days of the ride, we fed all kinds of different feed and we tried to keep their weight on, and we tried to keep them sound. “They had a quality to them, a self preservation, and they held up to the pounding, day to day to day. And that’s where they ended up shining.”

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May 2022 • 35

Consignors wait outside at the WLS Mule Sale in March

WLS Mule Sale

The inaugural WLS Mule Sale held at the 606 Sales And Event complex in Ewing, Ky., sold 70 head of equine on March 12, 2022. The high-selling mule, CoronaRita, sold for $15,000 and is a five-year-old spotted gaited molly mule who stands 15.2 hands. The top five mules averaged $13,880 and the top ten mules averaged $11,290. The proceeds from lot one were donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, sending $925 to the charity. The top 20 equine averaged $8,572, and an overall average for the 70 head sold was $3899.

(above) High-selling mule CoronaRita sold for $15,000 (right) Auctioneer Jonathan Waugh 36 • May 2022

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May 2022 • 39

Looking back at Bishop Mule Days... Bishop Mule Days is known as ‘the granddaddy of ‘em all,’ so it’s only natural that Mules and More has covered the event many times over the last three decades. We looked through the archives and are sharing some of our favorite bits and pieces from the events held 10, 20 and 30 years ago.

1992

Though this show, held every Memorial Day weekend in Bishop, Calif., began in 1970, Mules and More’s coverage really picked up after editor Sue Cole’s trip in 1992. “Lots has happened since the last issue of the magazine, but probably at the top of the list was our trip to the Mule Day Celebration in Bishop, Calif. It was a wonderful experience!” Sue said in her editorial in the June 1992 issue. “The mule show itself was very entertaining with good quality mules. Probably one of the most im-

pressive events was the 20 mule team hitch, the mules all worked so well together, both in the parade and in the arena.” The July 1992 issue featured show results, including these highlights: World Champion Saddle Halter Mule: 1st Maynard’s Miss Sheba; 2nd Action Annamule World Champion English Performance Mule: 1st Empress Josephine, Lou Moore; 2nd Domino, Warren & Maggi Sohrakoff World Champion Gymkhana Mule: 1st Booger’s Chiquita, Jerry Villines; 2nd Clementine My Darlin’, Loyd W. Hawley World Champion Running Mule: 1st Leona, Askins Asses; 2nd Cajun Queen, Terry Shelton World Champion Donkey: 1st Rooster, H.M.S Stock Ranch; 2nd Conejo, JoDe Collins

Sue and Gene Cole in front of the Bishop Mule Days sign 40 • May 2022

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JoDe Collins and Double C’s Hat Trick

2002

Anna Arnold was our main reporter for the 2002 event. “One of the show highlights came with the induction of Dolly Bardon and Tea Party into the Hall of Fame. Lady Mule Skinner Diane Hunter of Sun Valley, Calif., and The Tennessee Mule Artist Bonnie Shields of Sandpoint, Idaho, were at a champagne reception held for their mules,” said Anna in the July 2002

Bonnie Shields and Anna Arnold

issue. She also reported on the coon jumping event. “Miss Lilly Langtree, owned by Marsha Arthur of Yerington, NV, put on quite a jump. Lilly is only 47-1/2 inches and she jumped 42 inches. The crowd was chanting, ‘Lilly, Lilly.’ The little sweety is 25 years old.” Highlights from the show results that ran in the August 2002 issue: Green Western Pleasure Mule - 1st Arco Echo; 2nd Emmett; 3rd Sierra

Carl Lind and Daisy Duke

Socks Bridled Western Pleasure - 1st Cressline’s Sanita; 2nd P’Lair; 3rd He’s A Ritzy Cracker Tony Lama World Champion High Point - Tuff Stuff; Reserve - Emmett World Champion Gymkhana Mule Becky Ann; Reserve Pete Cooper World Champion Jack - Jacque Benny; Reserve - Gate Farm’s Simply Irresistible

2012

Anna Arnold covered Bishop Mule Days again in 2012, but she did have some help this year. “Exhibitors from coast to coast attended this show and winners went home very happy,” she reported in our July 2012 issue. “Jim Porter was inducted into the Hall of Fame and his family did a great job showing Merlin’s mules. Jessica Porter, who showed as an adult this year, won the driving division. Tucker Slender ended his jumping class with a free-style jumping over the last jump with arms spread out and flying like Superman. His mule DonkALena was inducted into the Hall of Fame.” Vic Otten also shared his take on the event. “Tim Phillips and Tuff Stuff won the High Point World Champion Mule for the 16th consecutive time. Amy McLean and her mule Wild Bill won the Amateur World Championship. Wild Bill was also the Reserve World Champion Western Performance Mule. Amy and Bill showed in 28 classes and placed in 25 of them. Jerri Shannon-Moore also detailed their trip to the 2012 event. “This year was successful with the help of our show team; we placed in all of the classes with our jacks coming in second to Al and Melinda Birt’s two fine jacks, who won World and Reserve Champion honors.

Amy McLean and Wild Bill (photo by Diane Grimes)

2022

Bishop Mule Days is a tried and true tradition. This year’s event, held May 24-29, will be no different. Visit their website, muledays.org, for information on the show, clinics, parade and much more. Mules and More Magazine

Tucker Slender and DonkALena May 2022 • 41

Calendar of Events...

See the full calendar of events at mulesandmore.com/calendar-of-events

April 28 – May 1 - 4-J Big Piney Horse Camp Mule Ride, Waynesville, MO, 4-j.net April 30-May 1 - Oklahoma Pinto Horse Association Show, Tulsa, Okla. oklahomapinto.com May 2-4 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Tropic, UT (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) May 5-7 - Chrome in the Canyon Premier Mule Sale, during Bryce Canyon Mule Days, www.premiermulesale.com (877)725-3636 May 6-7 - 4 State Draft Horse & Mule Sale, Miami, OK (620)899-6227 (see page 21) May 6-8- Gold Country Mule and Donkey Show, Lincoln, Calif. americanmuleassociation.org May 6-8 Chix in the Sticks All-Inclusive Weekend, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 May 12-14 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Dunnigan, CA (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) May 19-21 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, John Day, OR (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) May 21-22 Country Tough Trail Versatility Series Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 May 23-29 - Rock Bottom Chuckwagon Races, Green Forest, AR (870)7492491 (see page 25) May 24-29 - Bishop Mule Days, Bishop, Calif. (760)872-4263, muledays.org (see page 34) May 25-28 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Nine Mile Falls, WA (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) May 28-30 Memorial Day Trail Ride and “We Remember” Scavenger Hunt, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 June 3-5 - Montana Mule Days, Hamilton, Montana June 6-10 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Fountain Green, UT (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) June 8-12 - What About Bob Chuckwagon Race, Wilburton, Okla. (918)465-6694 (see page 18) June 11-12 Beginner/Intermediate Mounted Archery Clinic with Brandy Von Holten, Mora, Mo. www.vonhol42 • May 2022

tenranch.com (660)668-0880 June 13-17 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Fountain Green, UT (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) June 15-19 Jake Clark’s MULE DAYS and Saddle Mule Auction, Ralston, Wyo. www.saddlemule.com (see inside front cover) June 17-19 Western States Mule & Donkey Spectacular, Clements, Calif. (480)695-6283 (see page 43) southwestshowmanagement.com June 17-19 Lee Hart 3-Day Horsemanship Clinic, Beginner/Intermediate Mounted Archery Clinic with Brandy Von Holten, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch. com (660)668-0880 June 18 - UCDavis Horse Barn Annual Production Sale (California) https:// animalscience.ucdavis.edu/facilities/ horsebarn (see page 17) June 22-25 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Gunnison, CO (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) June 25-26 Country Tough Trail Versatility Series, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 June 27-30 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Tres Piedras, NM (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) July 1-2 - Horse Progress Days, Montgomery, IN (812)486-3165 horseprogressdays.com (see page 33) July 7-9 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Corvallis, MT (801)598-7465 www. tsmules.com (see back cover) July 8-10 Mounted Police Training with Bill Richey, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880

July 12-15 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Fountain Green, UT (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) July 16-17 Country Tough Trail Versatility Series, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 July 21-23 - NASMDA National Show, Shelbyville, Tenn., www.nasma.net (see page 11) July 24-27 50+ Chix in the Sticks All Inclusive Vacation, Mora, Mo. www. vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 July 26-29 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Fountain Green, UT (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) July 29-31 Chix in the Sticks All Inclusive Weekend, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 August 11-13 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, St Croix Falls, WI (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) August 12-13 - Oklahoma Pinto Horse Association Show, Ada, Okla. oklahomapinto.com August 13-14 Country Tough Trail Versatility Series Finals, Mora, Mo. www. vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880 August 25-27 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Canon City, CO (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) September 1-3 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Driggs, ID (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com (see back cover) September 2-4 - Ozark Mule Days / Missouri Mule Makeover, Springfield, MO. (417)343-9412 September 3-5 Labor Day Trail Ride and Scavenger Hunt, Mora, Mo. www.vonholtenranch.com (660)668-0880

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May 2022 • 43

MULE CROSSING:

Looking Objectively at Your Equine by Meredith Hodges

Before most of us learn anything about horses, mules and donkeys, we tend to initially perceive them as large, strong and durable animals that can safely carry us anywhere we want to go and can participate in any number of equine events. This is essentially true. However, there can be a number of pitfalls along the way if you do not educate yourself and practice good maintenance, feeding and training practices. Equines, like people, are comprised of living tissue, bones, muscles and tendons that can often experience improper growth and development, which can compromise their performance. This is why it is important to feed your equine’s living tissue, bones, muscles and tendons a healthy diet and exercise him in a way that builds these elements using natural and non-stressful techniques that will help your equine to strengthen properly in the right frame, or posture. It is also important to make sure the tack you use fits well and is adjusted properly. An equine that is experiencing soreness from ill-fitting tack will be distracted from his best performance. Improve your own skills by taking care of your own body as you observe and condition your equine. The person who eats healthy food, exercises in good posture and improves his or her own general conditioning, coordination and Horsemanship skills will not be out of 44 • May 2022

balance and will not compromise the equine’s ability to perform. Let’s take this one step at a time. First, make sure that your equine is stabled in a place where he has adequate shelter from the elements, plenty of room to exercise himself when you are not there, clean water and a good feeding schedule. When an equine is nervous or high strung, it can usually be attributed to this very elemental beginning. Many show horses are kept in 12-foot by 12-foot stalls with limited turnout during the day, usually only an hour or two. Think about this for a minute. The equine is a grazing animal and his natural health is enhanced by what he eats and the fact that he is moving with his head down most of every day of his life. The only time his head is truly raised is when he is on alert. The equine that is stabled in a stall isn’t urged to have his head down for any more time than it takes to eat up the loose hay after his feedings. His body is forced to remain in a very small range of movement and he can become stiff and sore when asked to do things that require more flexibility in his work. When fed high protein feeds in this situation, he is not able to expend the energy to burn this feed, and it can manifest itself in nervous and anxious behavior. Therefore, it is critical to your equine’s health that he is not only fed the right kinds of feeds and supplements, but that he is able to expend this energy in a healthy way for his body to grow and develop properly. Muscles in the equine’s body, like our own, are structured in distinctive

layers and are supported by ligaments and tendons. These muscles need to be strengthened in a specific order for optimum performance. Whether he is a foal or an older animal, his athletic conditioning needs this taken into consideration. The first exercises should be passive and easy to facilitate the strengthening of the core muscles closest to the bone. This is done with exercises on the lead line. It is not as important that he learns to negotiate obstacles on the lead line as it is how he negotiates the obstacles on the lead line. On the approach to an obstacle, your equine needs to be relaxed and comfortable. It is your job as his trainer to show him how to do this. When you lead in good posture, walk straight lines and make smooth, gradual arcs and turns, you will encourage your equine to do the same. Using short pauses between changes of pace or direction will help your equine to stay calm and receptive to training. For instance, when approaching a bridge, walk with your equine’s head at your shoulder as if you were in a showmanship class. Stop at the foot of the bridge and encourage your equine to stretch his nose down and investigate the bridge in order to allay any fears he might have. When your animal has indicated he is not afraid by once again raising his head level with his withers, you can proceed. Face the bridge straight on, looking straight ahead and, while keeping his head at your shoulder, take the first step straight forward and onto the bridge, making sure he follows and places one front foot on the Mules and More Magazine

bridge itself. Next, ask him to place the other front foot onto the bridge, stop, square up his four feet (as in Showmanship) and reward. Continue forward in a straight line. Once all four of his feet are on the bridge, stop, square up and give him a reward. Then continue across the bridge maintaining your own good posture, hesitate at the last step, and then step off carefully, in good balance and with a coordinated effort. Ask him to place his two front feet on the ground while leaving the back feet on the bridge, stop, square up and reward. Your equine will learn to follow your lead and execute the task in the same balanced and coordinated manner and will be able to halt on command at any location. In the beginning, your equine may be fearful and nervous about going over the bridge or any other obstacle. It is enough at this time that he gets over his fear and just crosses it, whether it is done with finesse or not. Once he is over the fear of crossing the obstacle, you can begin working on his ability to cross with finesse, balance and coordination. The longer you work on perfecting the negotiation of an obstacle in a balanced and coordinated way, the stronger the participating muscle groups will become and the more comfortable and automatic the movement will become until it develops into a habit. The part you play in all of this is very important. You will discover that if you are not in balance and coordinated in the way you move with your equine, the less balanced and coordinated he will be. If you don’t walk straight, then neither will he. If you are not confident in your approach, then he won’t be either. Even something as simple as the tack you use will play a big part in your equine’s performance. If the halter is too small or too large, it can cause irregular pressure on your animal, preventing him from complying with your wishes. How you move your equine’s head with the halter and lead line can affect his performance. Pay attention to how hard you need to pull to get even the smallest response and be ready to release pressure immediately upon compliance. But again, when releasing Mules and More Magazine

pressure, just give him enough slack to release the pressure and not so much that you have a lot to take back later. This will help him keep his attention on you and the task at hand. Keep this minimal degree of pressure-and-release throughout his work. Even if he backs away from an obstacle, just give little tugs followed by a release to allow him to back and then encourage him to re-approach the obstacle by coming from another angle or by coaxing him with the promise of a reward upon his attempt. Another approach is to go to the end of the lead rope, keep the rope taut and invite him to come forward by revealing the oats reward he will get when he complies. Take up the slack as he approaches. Avoid resistance at all costs! Halters that are too loose allow too much lag time between the time you ask by giving a tug and the time the equine receives the message. This usually results in an over-reaction from your equine and then an over-reaction from you as you try to correct the mistake. A halter that is too tight can be a distraction because it can create sore spots—the equivalent to a headache and no one likes to perform with a headache! The lead line typically should be a length that you can easily handle and that will give your equine some room to move away, but that can be reorganized easily, usually about six to eight feet long. No matter how careful you may be, there will always be times when your equine will experience some kind of soreness from playing too hard in the

pasture or from kicking in a stall, to any number of daily hazards. How he is negotiating his obstacles and how he performs certain movements will give you clues to how he is feeling. Learn to watch every step your animal takes, how his feet are placed, how his body is moving and the look on his face as he performs a given task. This is when it can be beneficial to know the basics of equine massage therapy. There is a lot that you, as your equine’s trainer, can do without a professional equine masseuse, but you should always consult with a professional for lessons on how you can do your part. Make sure that the equine masseuse you decide to use is a person who knows equines and has at least 500 hours experience with equine massage therapy. Once you learn some massage techniques, you can often alleviate minor soreness exhibited by your equine. When your equine senses that your goal is to make him comfortable as well as successful in his work, he will be much more willing and able to comply. The specifics of training techniques covered in this article can be found in the Equus Revisited manual and DVD. To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive allbreed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. © 2004, 2011, 2016, 2017 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

May 2022 • 45

An Unexpected Adventure

at the Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale by Chief Noel Stasiak U.S. Navy Seabees, Ret.

The spring Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale provided some unexpected excitement for the wife and me. We attended the sale for the full week in March and camped out in our new/used 27-foot travel trailer and stayed at one of the fairgrounds campsites within walking distance of the arena. It was a logistical nightmare, because I wanted to put my “people rider” mule wagon in the auction, along with lots of old tack and a few equine-related antiques and curios. I also had to get us there in the travel trailer with all my donkey milk soap and Mules and More items that I sell.

The only solution was to make two trips from St. Louis to Sedalia, one with the wagon on a flatbed trailer and the truck loaded down with tack, and then another with the travel trailer, and the truck again loaded-down with folding tables, donkey milk soap and body butter, plus clothes, food - and of course, beer. Everything went according to plan, except Mother Nature didn’t want to cooperate for a couple of days while we were there camping. March came in like a tiger one morning and left about nine inches of snow on the campsite along with near zero degrees temperature. About midnight, while

under the covers, I noticed my nose felt cold. I stayed awake for a little while to listen for the furnace to kick on to see if I needed to turn the thermostat up. Well, pretty soon I could see my breath and knew something was wrong. It was nearly zero outside in the middle of the night, so this was serious. We still had electric but no heat coming from the propane furnace. I checked the fuses and thermostat, and then I turned on a burner on the stove and saw a flicker of flame dwindle down to nothing so I knew it must be out of gas. How is that possible, I filled both tanks? Nothing to do now but get an extra blanket and snuggle up until morning. My wife was not happy. At first light I got dressed and went out into the arctic morning and checked the tanks. Empty! I discon-

Shots from around the sale 46 • May 2022

Mules and More Magazine

nected both tanks and went in search of gas. Luckily, I brought a small electric heater that helped knock off the chill, but not much. At least we didn’t wake up frozen. After some inquirers at the local gas and food mart, I was directed to the MFA about a mile away, but had to wait until people came to work to get my tanks filled. After reconnecting the tanks I discovered a gas line was leaking on one side, so that tank was disconnected and we thawed out and things got back to normal. Happy wife, happy life. We did well in the auction. I sold my wagon, tack and some antiques. I also saw some great mules and a few donkeys. The sale was mostly horses during the week and mules on Saturday. I love just talking with people about their animals, and of course, I love to brag about my equines, too. I met two interesting wranglers, Lavon Borntreger and his brother Tobias. They are Amish horse and mule trainers. Lavon is 19 and lives in Buchanan, Tenn., and his brother lives in Mayfield, Ky. They were at the auction selling horses and trying to buy horses. They are subscribers to Mules and More and stopped by to chat. They own some mules, too, and have a team. They also can shoe your equines if needed. I told them about my mule Kissy and how she was still shy. They told me they could train her, or if I wanted to sell her, they would be interested. But the distance is a little too far so I’ll have to think about it. Tobias showed me the brand that they use which I thought was pretty cool. It consisted of three letter T’s which stood for the names of grandfather, father and son. Now something happened to me while I was that I found quite extraordinary and it made me smile from ear to ear. Last year at the auction, I got there late to unload some tack for the next day’s auction. It was already dark and the wind was blowing up a storm. I talked to the auction guys that check in your items to let me unload so I was the very last truck to back in. Well, Mules and More Magazine

like I said the wind was fierce and as I was carrying things into the building and my cowboy hat kept blowing off because I had my hands full. Finally, after chasing it several times I took it off and set it on a table inside the building. I finished unloading and the boys closed the big overhead door and I headed to the motel. The next morning I headed to the arena and set up my booth and started selling and talking to friends and customers. Later in the afternoon, I realized I didn’t have my hat. I searched my truck with no luck, so I figured I left it at the motel. When I finished for the day and headed back to the motel the hat was not there. I was mad - it was my favorite hat! I determined after some recollection that I left it in the area where I unloaded my truck. I traded an expensive knife for that hat and it fit perfectly. It wasn’t a cheap hat. I wore it all the time when I rode my mule and was determined to track it down. The next morning the auction was over, the crowd was gone, and the hat was gone. I asked some of the workers, inquired at the office, searched lost and found and nothing. I felt like Pee Wee Herman looking for his bike. I was depressed the whole day, but “ce la vie,” that’s life. So this year, here I am back at the Boone County Sale. As I was putting some more items in this year’s tack auction and I remembered the demise of my beautiful hat. Woe is me. The next day during the tack auction, I took a break and walked back to the auction room to see how things were selling. I wandered through the isles looking at things I definitely didn’t need, and then I saw a hat that looked something like the one I had lost. It was in a pile with other items up for auction. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if that was my long lost hat?” I picked it up, tried it on and it felt good. I looked to see what size it was and it was the same size as my lost hat and it was the same brand of hat. I peeled over the inside hat band and there was my name in ink and the

Noel at his booth

The view out of Noel’s camper

Noel’s wagon in the snow May 2022 • 47

last four digits of my social security number that I had inscribed over a year ago. Hallelujah! I found my hat but it was on a table with other auction items and had a lot number. Now I had a dilemma. What to do. It was definitely my hat but obviously someone else thought it was theirs. I figured that I could prove it was mine, so I put it on and walked over to one of the workers and explained the situation. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “If it’s you’re hat, take it!” So I did, and was happy ever after. When I told some friends later of my good fortune they said I should go buy a lottery ticket. This years’ Boone County Draft Horse and Mule sale was memorable in more ways than one and always an adventure. I made new friends, sold some donkey milk soap and body butter, sold some Mules and more subscriptions, some old tack items,

my mule people carrier wagon, got to snuggle up tight with my wife, and got some great pictures of horses and long ears. The best picture I took was of a little girl sitting on a pony (below). It reminded me of how I felt when I found my hat.

Spring Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale Results

The Spring Boone County Draft Horse and Mule Sale, was held in Sedalia, Mo., March 9-12, 2022. The high-selling mule, consigned by the Vernon Miller family, was Poncho, a 4-year-old blanket Appaloosa john mule who was broke ride and to drive singe or double. During the Saturday mule sale, the top 5 mules averaged $9,450 and the top ten mules averaged $8,180. Other days of the sale featured draft, standardbred, draft cross, ponies, quarter horses and Friesians. The top selling quarter horse brought $33,000 and the top Friesian brought $16,500. The top draft cross brought $26,000.

48 • May 2022

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May 2022 • 49

Cook’s Corral by Vickie Upton This simple strawberry cake is so easy to make. It can be made ahead of time and it is one of my favorites. Thank goodness spring has sprung and its finally time to enjoy it, so brush off those mules and donkeys and hit the trails. As always “If you’re lucky enough to be riding, you’re lucky enough.”

Perry “Mules” & “Donkeys” Suspenders

Won’t come off until you take them off, easy to attach and even easier to remove, and won’t damage your pants or belts. Perry Suspenders attach to the belt by an innovatively designed “stud” made of durable nylon material. Black with yellow add-onds pictured above, black with burlap add-ons pictured below.

Strawberry Angle Food Desert

1 ring angel food cake (store-bought) 1 6 oz. pkg. strawberry Jello 2 cups boiling water 1 regular container frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip, thawed in fridge 16 oz. container frozen strawberries in sugar (the kind that also have juice, not whole frozen berries)

Set out frozen strawberries to thaw while working on the rest of the recipe. Boil water. Break 1/2 of the angel food cake in to chunks and put in the bottom of a 9 inch by 13 inch pan. Mix powdered Jello in a bowl with 2 cups boiling water. Add strawberries immediately and stir. You may need to use your hands to break up chunks of frozen strawberries. Stir in spoonfuls of Cool Whip until well mixed. Spoon 1/2 mixture over angel food cake in dish. Repeat layers and set in refrigerator for several hours. Cut in to squares and serve immediately. (Your squares won’t be perfect. The gelatin is not firm.) 50 • May 2022

$28 (includes s/h) Also in stock: “Mules” Red with red add-ons

“Donkey” Red with red add-ons See our website for photos of other color options.

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May 2022 • 51

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