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September 2021 • 1
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By phone: (573)263-2669 By mail: Mules and More, PO Box 460, Bland, MO 65014 2 • September 2021
Mules and More Magazine
Consigned to the Boone County Draft Horse & Mule Sale in Sedalia, Mo. selling on September 11, 2021 - Teddy . Hip #924
PairADice Mule Farm Loren & Lenice Basham 22801 Hwy C . Belle MO 65013
(573)308-2709 - Cell (573)859-6793 - Home
facebook.com/pairadicemules instagram.com/pairadicemules youtube.com/user/pairadicemules pairadicemules.com Mules and More Magazine
Teddy is a 5-year-old, 14.2 hand peach dunn john mule. He has been on the same farm since he was weaned. We started him when he was three. He has a great foundation. He is easy to catch, clip and shoe. He is extremely soft in the bridle and on his sides. He walks, trots and lopes nice circles. He is a very confident trail mule. He will lead the trail or follow behind. He stands good to saddle and be mounted. He is good around dogs and has been used in the stockyards to pen back cattle. He is a super nice mule with no bad habits. Check out his videos on our Facebook page. Call Loren at (573) 308-2709 for more information. September 2021 • 3
September 2021 Volume 31 • Issue 11 7 8 10 12 14 16 19 21 26 33 34 36 37 39 39 40 44 50
Over the Back Fence B Y C O R I D A N I E L S Letters from the Other Side / New Arrivals 12 Reasons to Choose a Mule B Y A N G I E J . M AY F I E L D The Lazy M Ranch B Y D O N N A TAY L O R The Human Factor B Y N AT E M E D C A L F Sweaty Saddle Pads? B Y L A U R I E W I L S O N Many Glacier: The Road Less Taken B Y A N G I E J . M AY F I E L D N Bar Ranch B Y L E N I C E B A S H A M A Tevis Cup Trifecta B Y M E R R I M E L D E Mullened Correction Bit B Y L O R E N B A S H A M Calendar of Events Sock It To Me B Y N O E L S TA S I A K Card Ads Classified Ads When Mules Ruled the Farm B Y LO N N I E T H I E L E NASDMA National Show Results Training Longears: The Road to Success with Your Mule! B Y Cook’s Corral B Y V I C K I E U P TO N
MEREDITH HODGES
On The Cover... Shane Lesher and Bar JF Lotto Ticket: A Tevis Cup Trifecta See pages 24-29 for Merri Melde’s story and photos on Shane and Ticket
4 • September 2021
Mules and More Magazine
Mules and More Magazine
September 2021 • 5
Published monthly for mule and donkey enthusiasts.
www.mulesandmore.com @mulesandmoremagazine
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Editor : Cori Daniels, Bland, Mo. mulesandmore@gmail.com (573)263-2669 Writers: Meredith Hodges, Loveland, Colo.
Donna Taylor, Puylaurens, France donnalovesmules@googlemail.com Anna Arnold, Romoland, Calif. fastmule@live.com Capt. Joseph Vaclavik, Gallatin, Tenn., Capt.JoeV@Gmail.com Angie Mayfield, Loogootee, Ind. profmayfield@yahoo.com Noel Stasiak, stasiaknoel@yahoo.com Jerry Tindell, info@jerrytindell.com Mules and More is published monthly for $36 per year by Mules and More. Periodicals postage paid at Bland, Missouri, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MULES AND MORE, INC., P.O. Box 460, Bland, MO 65014-0460. Phone: (573) 646-3934 ∙ E-mail Address: mulesandmore@gmail.com Mules and More Office: Mules And More, Inc. P.O. Box 460, Bland, Missouri 65014-0460
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NOTICE: Please send in information and pictures and we will publish as many as we can each month, free of charge. (If you wish pictures returned, please write your name on the back and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.) We also accept: Photography (anything mule and donkey related); Ranch Work; Mule and Donkey Care; Tack; Mule and Donkey Shows; Rodeos; Trail Riding; Spotlights on Mule and Donkey Owners, Promoters, and Important Mules and Donkeys; Historical Stories Disclaimer: Articles and letters appearing in Mules and More do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the magazine or its owner and employees. Nor does the publication of said articles constitute an endorsement of the views they may express. Accuracy of all material is the sole responsibility of the authors. Advertisements in Mules and More does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of the goods or services offered therein. Mules & More is mailed monthly, on or near the 25th of each month. ALLOW 15 DAYS for delivery of your magazine. No replacements sent before that time. NO MAGAZINES REPLACED DUE TO ADDRESS CHANGES. Claims for damaged/missing issues must be filed within 90 days of the issue date. If the post office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. Mules and More (USPS #008589) is published monthly for $36.00 per year or $65.00 for Canadian. Mules and More, Inc., 3934 Holt Road, P.O. Box 460, Bland, MO 65014-0460. Please contact our office for subscription rates for other countries. Periodicals postage paid at Bland, Missouri, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MULES AND MORE, INC., P.O. Box 460, Bland, MO 65014-0460.
6 • September 2021
Mules and More Magazine
Over the Back Fence by Cori Daniels, Editor
Like always, summer has came and went far more quickly than I want it to. As I write this, my kids have exactly one week before school starts back up. Both will be in high school this year and have started practice for their fall sports. Camri (a junior) does football cheerleading and Alison (a freshman) is giving softball a try. We will spend lots of our evenings outside for the next few months between the two schedules. I hope my mules don’t mind dinner being served a little late for a while. I didn’t get to spend as much time in the saddle as I hoped, but September is bringing quite a few mule-related trips. So, as I get ready for a jammedpacked month, I wanted to pass on a few of my favorite things from this summer. 1. The Olympics. I have had the Olympics on for the last month, and it really didn’t matter the sport, I have enjoyed watching the top of the top compete. The Equestrian teams were my favorite (obviously) and I was absolutely stunned by the Dressage performances. It was also kind of reassuring to see the horses make little mistakes here and there. It was a good reminder that these horses are indeed horses, not bicycles or robots. They are animals with their own minds and they are not perfect. If these animals and riders can make a wrong step on quite literally the biggest stage in the world and it be OK, it’s also OK when me and my mule make a mistake. Watching how the Olympians handle these mistakes said so much about them. We talk about body language with our daughters a lot in regards to making mistakes while playing sports. But body language is magnified while in Equestrian sports, because your animal is reading every single cue they are given, whether directly or indirectly. It was a lesson in attitude and effort. 2. TikTok. I know I should not spend so much time on this app, but I do. I have a few favorite accounts, including Bunny, the talking dog (@whataboutbunny). Her owner has a wide variety of buttons that speak a word when pressed, and Bunny uses these buttons to communicate with her owner. She doesn’t just use them to ask for treats or to go outside, she can explain her feelings and almost makes complete sentences. There are several dogs on TikTok that use this button layout to communicate. It is so interesting! My TikTok feed is mainly videos of cats, dogs, and equine, interspersed with some recipe videos and kids saying funny things. It’s just a nice little break from the heaviness that other social media platforms are currently filled with. 3. Zebra fly sheets. Cowgirl has a bad reaction to flies each year. A couple of years ago, a study was put out about how zebra stripes disrupt flies’ flight patterns and lead to less flies landing on horses with zebra fly sheets on. Early this summer, I saw a relatively inexpensive zebra fly sheet with a neck attachment advertised online, and on a bought it on a whim, thinking that it couldn’t hurt to try. It has made a huge difference in Cowgirl’s reaction to flies. She usually ends up with the hair on her shoulders and neck rubbed off, but this year, she has all her hair and is pretty much fly bite free! It’s not perfect, and I do have to keep her up in front of a fan when the flies are really bad out, but she seems so much less itchy and uncomfortable this year. I ended up buying one for Hoosier, too, as he has a similar reaction to flies, although less severe. Plus, they just look so cute dressed up like zebras. As we wrap up summer and look forward to slightly cooler weather, I hope you get to spend some quality time with your mules and donkeys. We won’t be traveling too far away from home yet, but I hope to see you at a mule event in the Midwest this fall! Mules and More Magazine
Hoosier and Cowgirl in their zebra fly sheets September 2021 • 7
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
“We were trying to get the hang of taking selfies, when Willie came running up behind us, ready to say ‘cheese.’ He obviously did not want to take the chance of missing out on the group photo and being part of the gang!” --Tom and Erin Sweeney (and Willie)
(at left) Roberta (Bertie) Zimmerman of Linn, Mo., and Axel, a two-year-old john mule. “Axel recently spent time at PairADice Mules, and Cole and Loren Basham have done a fantastic job and I could not be any happier! Thank you for your knowledge and patience,” said Mark Zimmerman
New Arrivals
Camille is owned by Emily Miller. She was sired by Buckeye Buttons, owned by Lost Mule Co. 8 • September 2021
Sondra Gregory shared these two foals born at Gregory Stables in Monticello, Ky. Fiona (left) is a jennet donkey born July 18 and Fern (above) is a molly mule born June 28 Mules and More Magazine
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FOR SALE BY WILF HORSES & MULES
Reba Jitterbug
Jitterbug is a 9-year-old, 55-inch brown mare mule with a light dorsal stripe. She is gentle with good confirmation and lots of trail miles. Jitterbug is easy on the eyes. $3,500
Reba is a stout, quartermade 11-year-old, 14.2hand chestnut mare mule. She rides and drives, and has a nice, fast walk on the trail. Reba has cattle experience, as well. $5,000
Fancy Wagon Team
Bessie and Biscuit are 7 and 8 year old, 15-hand full sisters. They are buckskin dunn and 1,100 pounds. They have good heads and quarter horse confirmation. $9,000
WILF HORSES & MULES Jason & Lacey Wilf Mules and More Magazine
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For more information on these mules, call JASON WILF (501) 230-5400 or email: wilfmules@gmail.com Pleasant Plains, Arkansas September 2021 • 9
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12 Reasons to Choose a Mule by Angie J. Mayfield
Dora, Angie’s Tennessee Walking mule, on the top of the world at the border in Montana
Anyone who owns mules has been asked over and over again “Why a mule?” Horse people and those who have heard the negative stereotypes about mules can’t understand the attraction, while most mule riders would never go back to horses. I own both because we can’t make good mules without good horses, of course. However, there are a few obvious reasons why mules are the better choice for those of us who enjoy trail riding, driving, or the companionship of a good equine. 1. Life Expectancy 2. Hardiness 3. Stronger 4. Eat and drink less 5. Cost 6. Intelligence 7. Fight vs. Flight Instinct 8. Better Feet 9. More Sure-Footed 10. Better Peripheral Vision 11. Better for Allergy Sufferers 12. More Personality and Character
10 • September 2021
Sonny and Scruffy waiting on mom fishing Mules and More Magazine
13th Annual HARRISON MULE DAYS “A Celebration of the Mule and Mule People”
October 1st, 2nd, & 3rd, 2021 Carrol County Equestrian Center Woodbine, Maryland MULE SHOW - MULE PULL - COON JUMP TRAIL RIDE - WATER DOG RACES MULE HARNESS CLASSES ANIMAL DRESS-UP CONTEST EXTREME TRAIL CHALLENGE
Good Prizes, Silent Auction, Excellent Food, Live Music, Entertainment, Vendors...and much, much more!
BRING YOUR FAMILY AND SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH US! Primitive camping available Negative Coggins Required
For further information and times contact:
Elisha Harrison Iager (301)674-3187 John Paul Harrison (443)375-2814
Please visit
www.harrisonmuledays.com All proceeds benefit the annual Jered Harrison Scholarship Fund Mules and More Magazine
September 2021 • 11
From Across the Pond...
The Lazy M Ranch by Donna Taylor
In 1999 I went away on my annual riding holiday, this time to a town near Alberta in Canada. It was my second horse ranch holiday, the first being in Bridger, Mont. This ranch was called The Lazy M Ranch and was owned by Lane and Margie Moore. I don’t know exactly when, but the ranch has since changed hands and its name has changed to The Lazy M Lodge. It is now a guest ranch specializing in western hospitality. I had never been to Canada before and was looking forward to seeing the Rocky Mountains. The plane touched down in Calgary and I spent my first day taking in as much as I could of the city. The following day I was picked up from my hotel and taken to the ranch. When I arrived, I was met by Lane and Margie and their staff. Then I was introduced to the other people staying at the ranch for that week. We were only a small number in the group which was great as we really got to know each other well. There were not many trails around the ranch, so after getting to know the horses, Lane told the group that we were going to load up the horses in the trailer and head up to the Rocky Mountains and into Banff National Park. We were to spend some days camping and riding out each day. It was my first real experience of camping in such wilderness and it was something so special. The facilities were very basic, but perfect for being in the great outdoors, especially in this beautiful national park. I shared a tent with another member of the group and our bathroom consisted of a wrapped around shower curtain and above, a big barrel of warm water (heated by the sun) for our shower. I absolutely loved it. Although we didn’t get to see any bears or a lot of wildlife along the trails, the sheer beauty of such an amazing park really took my breath 12 • September 2021
Lane and Stubby . Margie, Donna and Lane . Donna riding at the Lazy M Ranch
away. We rode in the forests, open fields and even rode/swam with our horses in one of the lakes. It was so exhilarating. When we returned to the ranch, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to ride some of Lane’s other horses. Sadly there were no mules to ride. But for the remaining few days of my vacation Margie took me out on the trails around the property. It was nice to have the quality time with her and she told me more about Lane and his connection with horses. Not only was Lane a great host, but also an excellent horse trainer. The Lazy M Ranch mainly catered for people on vacation who wanted to ride horses in Banff National Park, but Lane also carried out weekend clinics, helping people overcome their fear of riding after an accident, for example, or improve their riding skills, or really anything that involved helping the horse and rider. There was also some-
thing very special about Lane and his connection with equines. During my stay, Lane regularly talked about his own horse Stubby, and as our group hadn’t seen him ride Stubby, we were curious to get to meet this equine. So we all waited by the barn and Lane went to fetch him. As Lane didn’t take a headcollar, I presumed that he would call Stubby and he would come trotting up to meet Lane. But instead, Lane went into the woods and a few minutes later he came cantering straight towards the barn riding Stubby bareback. We thought this was impressive until Lane then told us that every year he rides Stubby in the parades in his local town without any tack at all. Stubby is always the star of the parade and Lane gets to ride him up front so everyone can see just how calm and controlled this horse really is. Lane had a connection with his horse that I had never seen before. In Mules and More Magazine
those days, I knew of Pat Parelli and Monty Roberts, but had never watched any of their demonstrations. So to watch Lane and ask him lots of questions about how he trained Stubby, and to see what an amazing relationship he had with his horse was something that one doesn’t get the chance to do very often. After talking to Lane for a while and meeting this lovely gentle horse, he quietly rode off through the field gate and headed towards the open fields. Lane then asked Stubby to trot, canter, make circles and even jump jumps. Then he slowly walked back towards the barn. This was all carried out without a single piece of tack on Stubby. The control he had over this beautiful horse was incredible and the connection and trust with the horse and rider was so special. I am in awe of people who can connect with an equine so strongly. I spend so much time with my two horses and donkeys and I feel that I have a special bond with all four of
Mules and More Magazine
them, but this is another step up. That week at the Lazy M Ranch taught me so much more about my relationship with equines. Plus, it was such a super ranch with great hosts. I kept in touch with Lane and Margie for several years and they regularly sent out newsletters updating their previous guests about upcoming events and about their family and clinics. I still wonder whether Lane is training horses or if he has now retired.
I can never stop learning about the relationship between equine and rider.
The majority of us are lucky to have the internet and we can watch YouTube videos or buy training DVDs to help us try and overcome problems or improve our horsemanship skills, but it really isn’t the same unless you get the opportunity to meet a trainer in the flesh. Going to Bishop Mule Days in California in 2019 was a great experience for me as I got to not only watch demonstrations by two excellent trainers, Ty Evans and Jerry Tindell, but I also got to meet them in person which was such a pleasure. And both of these trainers gave up their time to answer lots of questions and help us in the audience with our horsemanship. I had the best time at Bishop Mule Days! Unfortunately, the pandemic is still preventing me from my international travels, however, during the summer we did go away for a few days down to the French coast and I got to meet three very special donkeys with a very unique job they carry out each year. I’ll save that for next time.
September 2021 • 13
The Human Factor: What we do that causes fear and concern in our mules. by Nate Medcalf
In our private Facebook training group, we have been studying fear in our mules. We have been discussing what that looks like and the causes of it. But, of course, the biggest contributor to that fear is us, humans. The quote goes that we do the best we can until we know better, then when we know better, we do better. I also want us to understand that this will require us to look deep into ourselves and become vulnerable. We may not like what we find, or we may not like what I have to say, but to make and see lasting changes in these animals and help them, we have to start with ourselves and what we bring to the table. One of the biggest contributors to instilling fear and anxiety in an animal is our ego. By nature, we humans have a desire to see results in the things we are doing. Rightfully so, who doesn't want to see the results of their hard work? But in training or riding, most of what we are doing comes from egoic thoughts, motives, emotions, and behaviors. Our reactions of ‘I, me, and mine’ take the spotlight. So much of the time, people's thoughts, motives, emotions, and behaviors are infused with themselves with their I. They think consciously about what they want, what they are doing, and how things are going for them. So as long as we get the result we desire, what's the harm? The harm comes in when we push these mules through things they quite don't understand yet to achieve our desired result, regardless if the mule got it or not. When we do not recognize the thresholds or recognize what anxiety looks like, the harm begins. As people, we pretty much understand that you have to possess some basic love and respect for these mules 14 • September 2021
to be truly good at this. However, it is also human nature to work with the things we enjoy and are more likely to use our skills and talents to pursue the things we value. If we think about it, we are a hurried society that has become instant gratification. The unfortunate part is that it also spills over into our training and riding. But sometimes, in reality, these mules are only a shell of what they might have been. That is my point on this part. As a mule owner, whatever the gratification may have been, it's not much compensation for the potential damage done by pushing one of these animals past their physical and mental capabilities if we are not keen on looking for those things through the process. "You have the time" needs to be our mindset because our thought process should be that nothing is so important that it justifies the mule's training or his mental and emotional states. So we should ask ourselves: Can we set aside the ego part and allow the mule to come to things on his terms where he understands what you are trying to get across? Do we have the ability to step back and try another day when things aren't going the way we want? Are we humble enough to reach out for help when we hit the end of our knowledge rope? Do we have it in us to swallow our pride, understand what that mule feeds back to us, and make the change within ourselves? Do we have the humility to recognize all that, and are we willing to change it? For the longest time, I have been trying my best to bust mule myths. Although unfortunately, it feels like trying to roll a boulder uphill at times. When it comes to being a leader with mules, I feel many myths
need to be addressed. But, you might be asking, what does all this have to do with fear in our mules? Absolutely everything. We are the primary cause of adding and increasing fear in these animals by how we interact with them and how we handle, train and ride them. Here are the top two I want to discuss: Myth number one. Respect. Now before you send the pitchforks after me, hear me out. I feel that mules are incapable of respect, as a mule thought or emotion. Respect is a human state of mind of something we feel we need to "get" from our animals. Is it a good way to describe how we want them to behave? Respectful? Yes, it is a good description, but our mindset and getting it is a problem. Mules learn what works and what doesn't work and all they want to do is keep the peace. These mules don't come out of the womb knowing that we find them being in our space disrespectful, or that we don't like to be pushed on, etc. So the mindset shift needs to be that we don't demand respect; we show them what works and doesn't work. The other part of the shift needs to be that we need to stop labeling it as disrespectful when they do something that we don't like, such as getting in our space. They aren't doing that to us on purpose to make us feel a certain way; that is, the human brain is taking it that way. When we label these things negatively, that sets our minds up to fix it and doesn't consider where that mule might need some help. All we are doing is making us feel better about the situation. Myth number two. Don't let a mule win. That is a challenging statement for me even to consider. If I were, to be honest, I would say I could never accept that statement. But, sure, it is a different mindset, a different way of training, and may work for some people, and I will not take that away from someone. Look at it from your mule's point Mules and More Magazine
of view. The mule is trying to do something you asked; he is searching for an answer, right or wrong, he is searching, and there you are at every turn cutting him off at the pass until you think you are getting him to do what you want, not even giving the mule the chance to make a mistake so they can learn. What do you think that would do to the mule's confidence level? Ouch. Training and riding mules is not an ‘I win, and the mule loses’ type of thing. But, unfortunately, that is a mindset I see in that people micromanage the mule to death in fear that the mule will take advantage of them if they let them make a mistake or win. Sure, you don't want to let your mule get in the habit of bucking, running off, pulling away from you, but that in itself is a whole different set of issues. I will emphasize this again. Just because a mule might display behavior that we don't particularly care to see and can frighten us at times doesn't necessarily mean they are mean or disrespectful. I think we are too quick to judge these animals when they behave in that manner as a sign of disrespect when the truth of the matter is the mule is only doing what they feel is right at the moment. They are never at fault for that, so remember that as you go through your training. It is never their fault. The unwanted behavior they display is usually something they have been taught either by accident or other means. Sometimes we get caught up in doing things with these mules because everyone else is doing it, but we don't quite understand what it means. It could be that someone has discovered the latest and greatest bit working for them, and now there is a big influx for everyone to rush out and buy it. Same things with saddles, training ideals, etc. Mule riding and training is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, and I cannot say that enough. What works Mules and More Magazine
for one may not work for another, but somehow we try to make these things work with our mules simply because we need that result to happen. The hard part is the change in mindset that we have to start having. The first one at the top of the list is patience. That is probably the hardest thing for anyone to have and practice. How does it relate to riding and training? Patience puts us in direct control of ourselves. And there is no more powerful aid to success than selfpossession. When we are patient, we give ourselves time to choose how to respond to a given event rather than get emotionally hijacked by our emotions. It allows us to stay gathered no matter what is happening. Imagine what that could do for you and your mule. The second most important thing: Discernment. To be able to give your mule a voice in the process starts with you. Just because the advice comes from a reputable source, myself, or someone else, doesn't mean that it is a good fit for you and your mule in your current situation. You have to have a good amount of discernment; in other words, you need the ability to judge the advice given very well. You are the only thing between the advice
given and your mule. In today's world, with as many platforms as there is for information about mules, it is easy to take training advice at face value without much thought going into it. I think that people try to be genuine in their efforts to help others with advice. Still, as mule owners, we have to be that voice of reason for these animals because they can't speak for themselves. So when we do read a bit of advice on how to train or fix a problem with our mules, we also need to take a step back and put all that under a microscope and see it from our mule's perspective. I encourage others to do that, and I encourage you to put this information under a microscope and make sure it will line up with your mule and where you are at in your journey. Don't just take my word for it because I said it. Yes, we want results. You do, I do. I want my mules to be trained. I want them to understand what it is I want them to do. I want them to do it willingly. However, at the end of the day, I don't want to have to force one into something it is not ready for. And I also can't be asking my mule to perform and be better than I can.
September 2021 • 15
Photo by TMG Photoraphy
“Sweaty Saddle Pads” The Way to a Better Mule? by Laurie Wilson If you have been a long time mule owner, somewhere along the way you have probably heard someone say, “What that mule needs is more ‘sweaty saddle ‘ads’.” This term typically suggests that if you work them longer and harder, it will fix your problem. Or it could possibly mean that if you are using treats or positive reinforcement, you are spoiling the mule and you can’t get sweaty saddle pads from them. I would like to explore a couple of training scenarios that I believe challenge the idea that sweaty saddle pads are the primary method to fixing problems or getting a great mule. Let’s imagine in the first scenario, that you have a very anxious mule. Every time you try to get him to ride out away from the round pen or arena, he trembles, get’s lathered, bolts, or maybe shuts down and won’t move forward. So if we consider using the work harder and longer training concept here, what do we achieve? Most likely we will get a mule that escalates his behavior or shuts down completely because we keep pushing them longer and harder when he or she is emotionally unfit to handle the work. If we instead focus on using positive 16 • September 2021
techniques that help give them coping skills and confidence to conquer their fear, it will help us fix the immediate problem, as well as future problems. In the above scenario, I would suggest using a couple of other tactics like a confident buddy horse to help encourage the mule forward, and then leapfrogging positions after some positive momentum has been established. Or, you could teach the mule (while he/ she is still in the arena) to love to ‘step up’ on all kinds of things, like tarps, bridges, pedestals, balance beams, etc., and then move those items outside the arena, going farther and farther away with them as his or her confidence grows. Get their brain thinking about their feet in a fun and positive way rather than in a way that can feel like they are being punished with repetition of movement. In the second training scenario, we have a confident, lazy mule, that hates putting much energy into going forward at any gait, and if we get them going, constantly breaks gait. Now logically thinking, if we take a mule that already has a poor work ethic and every time we catch him we ‘make’ him work harder and longer, what do we achieve? Usually we achieve
a mule that runs the other way when we come to catch him, starts looking for other ways to make the work stop (ie. kicking out, bucking, going backwards, laying down, etc.). In this scenario, what if we considered using short games that would encourage the mule to go forward because he liked it? For example, setting up stations where there were positive rewards each time he arrived at the station? In a short amount of time, the mule learns that if he or she ‘giddy ups’ to the next station, they get the reward faster. Or, if we start with some ground work that includes obstacles they enjoy doing to unlock their feet and their mind and then get on and do short sessions where we stop after some nice forward effort, we start getting a bigger tries with a smaller asks. I have been using positive rewards and treats in my training for the last 20 years and not only do my horses and mules do high level tricks, they also compete at the highest levels. I am able to accelerate learning in both play and performance because I use treats properly. I mark desired behavior at the right time. I do not use treats to bribe or to reward disrespectful or disobedient behavior. Now, if sweaty saddle pads are the by-product of adding time or distance with a confident and willing mule partner, that is awesome! That’s surely a great way to help your good mule get better. But if you are looking to ‘sweat’ away your mule’s anxiety or laziness, you may want to consider some training options that will focus more on developing emotional fitness, confidence and a willing attitude! Find Laurie Wilson on Facebook at Mule Academy, Working Equitation Georgia, and Natural Leadership Horse Training, or online at Natualleadership. biz Mules and More Magazine
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September 2021 • 17
The 32nd Annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump Saturday, October 9th Opening Ceremony 9 a.m.
Held in Pea Ridge, Arkansas - The Mule Capitol of the World!
Over $4,000 in Prize Money
$1,250 Top Prize for the Pro Jump
Location: 975 Weston Street
Pea Ridge, Arkansas WATCH FOR SIGNS!
$500 for Adult, Senior (ages 50 and over) and Youth Division Events include Halter, Barrels, Pole Bending, Jumping, etc...
Variety of Food, Merchandise and Local Vendors Admission - $5 per person entry fee at gate No entry fee for participants $2 Ages 6-12, Children 5 and under FREE
Fun for the Entire Family!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Pea Ridge Mule Jump, PO Box 10, Pea Ridge AR 72751
Phone (479) 451-1122 ext. 104 Email nathan.see@cityofpearidge.com
pearidgemulejump.com
Both Carolina State Fairs are jam packed with classes for mules and donkeys of every size and discipline. With the exception of NASMDA Amateur and NASMDA Training Level Divisions, you do not have to be a NASMDA member to compete in NASMDA classes.
North Carolina State Fair Mule and Donkey Show
South Carolina State Fair Donkey and Mule Show
Date: October 21, 2021
Date: October 22 & 23, 2021
Held at: James B. Hunt Jr Horse Complex, Raleigh N.C. Pre-Entries Due: 9/30/21 (Late entries accepted with penalties)
Held at: South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Columbia S.C. Entries Due 10/1/21. Classes may be added and late entries with penalties.
Contact: www.equineeventplanning.com Travis Alford 252-450-5438
Contact: www.St.ClaireEquine.com St.ClaireEquine@gmail.com Shannon Hoffman 919-754-7568
NASMDA sanctioned A rated show
TAMMA sanctioned NASMDA sanctioned A rated show.
NASMDA MEMBERS: Attend and compete in pre-specified division classes at both shows and you will be eligible for the
Carolina Throwdown Champion & Reserve Cash Awards
For more details contact: Candace Shauger . Candace@genesisfarmsjacks.com . 740-215-8215 18 • September 2021
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Many Glacier: The Road Less Taken by Angie J. Mayfield
Most people have heard of Glacier National Park in northern Montana, or driven the famous 50-mile scenic Going to the Sun Road to view 10,000 feet tall sentinels, mountain goats, and the occasional grizzly bear. We try to visit there each summer; however, this year visitors were limited, tickets had to be purchased prior to gain entrance, and traffic was unbearable, so we took Mules and More Magazine
Tucker and Sonny enjoying the view
our mules to trail ride in Many Glacier instead. Though smaller than Glacier, we were told by our Montana friends, the Westins, there’s even more wildlife and trail riding in this secluded area on the east and north side of Glacier – and they were right! There is a campground at Many Glacier and guided horseback rides available at the stables, but no horse camp in the park. However, 20 miles away is Johnson’s Horse Camp at St. Mary and Powell Arena at Babb with
hookups and stalls/corrals. We parked at the riding stables in the park and then packed in with our mules. I was shocked at how many lakes, trailheads, and miles of trails there were there. Some were designated hikers only, but most allowed equines, as well. The first day, after touring the historic and extravagant Many Glacier Hotel, we rode around Lake Sherburne and Swift Current Lakes enjoying phenomenal views. The next day we rode to Cracker Lake and were amazed how September 2021 • 19
Tucker and Sonny near Cracker Lake
Moose and baby on bank of Fisher Cap Lake 20 • September 2021
cool and windy it became the closer we came to the glacier. The snow and ice were unbelievable and a refreshing change considering it had been 90 degrees the past few weeks at home. That evening we were told that moose frequented shallow Fisher Cap Lake, eating the vegetation in the bottom, so we trailered to that area and walked the short trek from Swift Current Trailhead, packing my big camera and zoom lens this time. I didn’t need it, for deer nearly ran me over on the way in and we walked down to the lake to find three female moose in the water munching away. Tucker and I were ecstatic. They held their head underwater, came up with a mouthful of grass, watched us, then repeated, not really concerned. One kept glancing to the other bank periodically, and when I saw ears flopping in the weeds, I realized she’d safely hidden her baby on the other side of the lake. We sat there all evening, waiting for them to retreat and to admire the sunset. A curious gopher kept us company, peeking out of the grass, eating wildflowers, and then sitting beside watching where I was looking as though he was missing something important. We cracked up at the forward little critter. Finally, the mother cow called back and forth to her baby and met it on the other side of the lake to nurse. It stood up and followed her into the forest, and we couldn’t stop smiling. The following day we rode the
A bull moose Mules and More Magazine
20-mile trail to Going to the Sun Road, spent the night, then rode back the following day. We saw deer, mountain goats, and a bear. If the lakes and mountain views, and Grinnell Glacier weren’t phenomenal enough, the wildlife at Many Glacier will blow you away. Just driving through the park we saw two grizzlies and a black bear and cub. Then, riding on the trail to Iceberg Lake our last day in the park, we passed hikers who warned us about a grizzly and cub foraging near the trail. I was so excited, but by the time we got there, they had retreated into the forest. I forgot my disappointment, however, when we saw a bull moose less than 25 yards away. He watched us, continued to eat, then slowly walked off. I must Mules and More Magazine
have taken 50 photos and videos. Then, we laughed as a grouse walked ahead of us on the trail for nearly a mile, not in any real hurry to retreat. Water, mountains, and wildlife are my favorite views from the back of my mule, and Many Glacier abounds with all of those. Yes, it’s a long drive but the rewards are well worth the trip. There were many more trails and lakes to explore, so we’ll be back next year. Happy Trails! Maybe we’ll see you out there. Angie J. Mayfield is a professor, author, photographer, farmer, and lifelong mule rider who’s trail ridden mules in all 50 states and 6 countries. Contact her at Profmayfield@yahoo.com or follow her on Facebook.
Angie and Dora at Iceberg Lake
A gopher September 2021 • 21
N Bar Ranch by Lenice Basham
Summer camp... Remember that feeling of being with friends out in the middle of nowhere? Staying up late with a campfire burning, the smell of the campfire lingering in the air, watching a million stars when it got dark? Remember that feeling of having no where else to be and being beside your best friends or newly made friends? That is the exactly what we felt at the N Bar Ranch. N Bar Ranch is 40 miles away from the closest town, with no internet, no cell service, no electricity. It’s located high in the mountains of western New Mexico near Snow Lake in the Gila (prounounced Hee-la) National Forest. “The ranch is nestled in the tall Ponderosa Pines at 8,000 feet elevation in a small secluded valley,” per the N Bar Ranch website. There are two options for staying at the N Bar Ranch. You can rent the Ranch for six days for $2,500 or rent 22 • September 2021
the guest cabin for six days for $1,200. The Cabin is for four people and four equines. It has a 60-foot round corral and a 45 by 80” new board corral right next to the cabin. The Ranch is for 12 people and their equine (mules in our case). There are seven cabins with two beds and solar lights. There is a cookhouse, corrals, outhouses and shower houses. There is room for parking your living quarter trailer if you prefer to stay in your own space. You bring your own mule,
food, do your own cooking and in the owner’s words, “Make your own adventures.” The N Bar Ranch is owned by Preston and Maggie Bates. They moved to the ranch in the 80s and converted their working cattle ranch to a guest ranch after the cattle prices dropped. Our plans for the trip to the N Bar Ranch started during the pandemic closure. We were all craving a trip somewhere free of COVID talk - and somewhere we had not yet visited.
A view of the cabin’s interior and porch Mules and More Magazine
The trip sounded perfect - we were in. It didn’t matter that it was in July or that it was a 24 hour drive. Those were just details. The trip from Reserve, New Mexico, to the N Bar Ranch is 40 miles and will take two hours to travel with a trailer. The first 28 miles are paved - after that it is gravel. We were fortunate to find the gravel in great shape. Though it is slow, the trip isn’t rough. The first 10 miles are steep with switchbacks but the road is good. “It is easier than it sounds, and takes longer than you think,” said Bates. Each cabin is a little bit different, but all are cute. The cabin we used had great artwork and old photographs. You have to bring your own sheets, blankets, and pillows. Some cabins have chairs, desks, bed side table. The cabins are immaculate and cozy. They are located around the cook house. The washrooms are also very, very clean and cute. Water is a cherished commodity but showers are available. The outhouses were...well, outhouses. In the middle of the night, they are a long, long way from the cabins. But it was fun to read the comments from previous campers left on the outhouse walls. There is a trail guide available for hire if you want to have someone show you the trails. Our guide, Paula, did a great job for two days giving us the general lay of the land, information about land marks and history of the area. We were glad we used her services. There are five marked trails out of the camp. They are all beginner friendly and even those who aren’t regular riders will get along well on the trails. The marked trails are easy to follow and allow for 2-6 hours riding each day. We were there the first week of July, and the weather ranged from 70-90 degrees during the day. The area had been in a drought, but we got heavy rain two of the afternoons we rode. Each morning we started the day with the sounds of wolves, coyotes and elk. The day would end the same way. It is Mules and More Magazine
September 2021 • 23
a beautiful, peaceful place to sit on the porch at the cook shack and watch the sun set. We rode two days from our camp area with Paula, our trail guide. The first day Paula guided, we rode out of camp along the camp road, across the forest road, and into a large range area. The field was beyond estimation in acreage. We saw lots of elk our first day out, which was what we had hoped to see. We saw lots of mommas and their calves. It was very cool especially to those of us from Missouri who do not see elk on a regular basis. We rode to the top of a large ridge which was covered in volcanic rock (which was weird). Our ride was cut short by the monsoon rain. The second day, Paula guided us out the back of the ranch where we followed the forest road and trails. We did see lots of fresh bear scat, but no bear sightings. We again got caught in the monsoon. Our third day, we rode alone and rode the red trail. It was a 20 mile ride to Snow Lake and back. We ran across three wolves, multiple elk and deer and even spotted a bear cub on our way to the Look Out Tower. This was a great ride - and got the opportunity to see the trifecta of wildlife! Preston, the owner, encouraged us to ride the next day in the oldest wilderness area in the United States - the Gila Wilderness. On June 3, 1924, the Gila Wilderness became the first designated wilderness area in the United States. The Wilderness is part of the Gila National Forest. It is approximately 27 miles from north to south and 39 miles from east to west. It is 559,668 acres and is New Mexico’s largest wilderness area. By declaring it a wilderness, it allowed part of the Gila National Forest to remain wild and diverse. Preston has remarkable knowledge about the area. While you are sitting around the campfire after dinner - ask him about the local stories. They are engaging and entertaining. Preston will share stories about Ben Lilly, a local trapper, who lived in a cave while hunting the 24 • September 2021
Dan and Marsha Coleman at Snow Lake
joy and discovery. You have to trailer
Richard Czalinski
area. He will share Native American stories and stories about the military who entered the area. It is amazing to see the landmarks that still remain that go with the stories. The Gila Wilderness held our favorite trails. It is a beautiful area to ride and everywhere you look brings new
the 30 miles to Snow Lake to pick up the trail head into the Wilderness area. There is plenty of day parking for the trailer. You ride along Snow Lake and cross into the Wilderness after crossing the dam. After having crossed no water for three days, it was lovely to
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cross the river multiple times as we wound our way through the canyon. There is a steep trail that leads to the Airplane Mesa. This was absolutely a favorite of the week. The view looking down into the canyon with the river flowing through is breathtaking. We took the opportunity to ride in the Gila our last two days at the ranch. For those of you who, like me, seem to work more than we should, this ranch was an opportunity to reconnect. Reconnect with friends, reconnect with my husband, and reconnect with myself. There was time to breathe, time to think, time to find joy in the space around us, time to be reminded that these things are vitally important. Sitting around a campfire as the sun sets with people you love and people you really, really like is like taking a trip back in time. Spending time with friends laughing, watching the stars appear in the dark sky and breathing in the mountain air is something I recommend to everyone. Thank you to Preston and Maggie Bates for opening their home to us. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to ride in beautiful country with great friends. For more information about the N Bar Ranch, you can find them on Facebook.
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Bruce Houhilan
September 2021 • 25
Shane Lesher and Bar JF Lotto Ticket:
A Tevis Cup Trifecta story and photos by Merri Melde 26 • September 2021
Mules and More Magazine
It is not for the faint of heart: a hundred hard-won miles of rock, dust, elevation, uphill (19,000 cumulative feet of climbing), downhill (22,000 cumulative feet of descending), imposing mountains, plunging canyons, wild rivers, wilderness, extreme heat, suffocating humidity, extraordinary effort, and luck - good or bad, all in various doses, riding your horse - or mule - across the Sierra Nevada mountains, in the dark and the light and the dark, all done within a 24 hour time limit. In 2010, Time magazine listed the Tevis Cup as one of the Top Ten Endurance Competitions in the world. Starting at Robie Park near Truckee, Calif., and finishing in Auburn, Calif., the Western States Tevis trail follows a historic route of the Placer County Emigrant Road built in 1855, through the Granite Chief Wilderness, past historic mines and over old toll trails, and across the American River. Much of the trail traverses roadless and austere wilderness, reachable only by foot or horseback or helicopter, so for much of the ride, if anything untoward happens, you are on your own. The Tevis Cup is an arduous ride - to say the least - for an equine and rider. You and your mount can never relax or let up. Discounting the two hour-hold vet checks, you have to keep on the move, steadily, for 100 miles, despite the rocks and bogs and cliffs and weather and fatigue and darkness. And no matter how good a rider you are, or how talented your equine is, you have only a little better than 50% chance of finishing the ride. If you do finish, it's likely that 50% of finishers will do so in the last 75 minutes. Sometimes in life, you can never imagine where the twists and turns will take you. Just five years ago, Shane Lesher had never considered the sport of Endurance riding, much less the 100-mile Tevis Cup. Nor had he ever sat astride a mule. It was unlikely that he would. He grew up in west-central California on horseback. “Both my grandfathers were parttime ranchers,” Shane said, “so I’ve been on horses since I was about two. That Mules and More Magazine
September 2021 • 27
Shane and Ticket vetting in on Friday
28 • September 2021
was just part of what we did, a lot of trail riding. We backed up to tens of thousands of acres of National parks, so we did a lot of riding out there. And we would do pack trips to places like Kennedy Meadows. It was just a lifestyle, something that everybody had a passion for.” The Lesher family still spends a lot of time horseback; his wife trail rides and packs with Shane, and their daughters are in high school rodeo, competing in breakaway roping, pole bending, and barrel racing. It was 2016 when things took a sharp left, and Shane’s not sure exactly how that happened, other than he’s a “pretty competitive” person, and he likes to be challenged. “A good friend of mine, Frank Smith he’s also a mule man - had done Tevis quite a few times [11 finishes to date, to be precise], and he did it on mules. And I thought, you know, that’s pretty impressive.” So just like that, Shane bought his first mule. “I think I ended up with five or six mules in a six-month period. I just kind of went all the way on it.” It was a completely different world for Shane, switching from horses to mules. “I can appreciate a mule a lot more than a horse,” he said. “I connect really well with animals, and at the end of the day, I seem to always get a good performance out of them. To quote Frank Smith - he told me early on when I got the mules - he said, ‘Shane, you’re going to find out that these are very smart animals. You’re also going to find out you spend most of your time trying to convince them that what you want them to do is their idea.’ “And if you think about it that way, it’s really an accurate statement, because they are very smart. And if they decide they’re not going to, they don’t. But if you can convince them it’s a good idea, and they trust you, it’s going to happen, and they’re going to do it better than any other animal. So it really comes down to Mules and More Magazine
Shane and Ticket coming into the first vet check, Robinson Flat, at 36 miles
trust with mules, versus horses. “With horses you can get them to react with more of a blind faith. With a mule, they’ve got to know that they can trust you, that what you’re asking is OK for them to be doing. They have a lot of self preservation. I think that’s where a lot of the stubbornness comes in. So if they’re thinking it’s a good idea, and they think it’s their idea, they’re going to do it.” In May of 2018, Shane told Frank he wanted to do Tevis, and Frank encouraged him. “I called up the Tevis office and I said, ‘Hey, I want to sign up for your race.’ They said, “OK, what’s your AERC number?’ [American Endurance Ride Conference governs Endurance riding in the USA.] I told them I didn’t have one of those. “They asked how many qualifying miles I had, and I said, ‘Well none.’ They said I had to have at least 300 Mules and More Magazine
miles before I could even compete in it.” There are no mileage requirements for the equine other than being six years of age, though it is recommended the equine has 300 Endurance miles. Shane had actually completed a 50mile ride the previous year and one in April. He found a few nearby Endurance rides to enter, in order to get the rest of his mileage qualification in. “I just went to work,” he said, with a lofty goal of riding the 100-mile Tevis trail in less than two months. In an 8-day period in June, he completed 200 miles of Endurance rides, all but 50 of them aboard Lotto Ticket - his most recent mule purchase; and therefore they found themselves on the Tevis Cup starting line at 5:15 a.m. the morning of July 26, 2018. What followed was two successive years of Tevis Cup finishes for Shane
and Bar JF Lotto Ticket, riding with his mentor Frank Smith aboard Raptor. That year - a very hot one - they finished 35th out of 64 finishers (149 started) in a ride time of 21 hours 2 minutes. In 2019 Frank Smith and Raptor were pulled during the ride for lameness, but Shane and Ticket went on to finish in 38th place, out of 98 finishers (184 started) in 20 hours 11 minutes. Because of COVID-19, all Endurance rides were cancelled the first half of 2020, and that included the Tevis Cup. So Shane had two full years to dream about riding that trail again. “It’s all I think about all year,” he said. “But I almost didn’t do it this year because Frank’s mule got hurt.” Shane would be tackling the Tevis without his mentor this year, and Ticket would be the only mule entrant. It turned out to be the most incredSeptember 2021 • 29
ible ride of his life (so far). “She was amazing mentally and physically. I never have to kick her or ask her to go. She’s really forward. She loves trying to track down that next horse, so I’ll get a horse out in front of me and she’ll just work, ears forward. “I’m a bigger guy, and then I ride a Western saddle, so I would guess that I’m 265, 270 pounds with all my tack and my body weight. “I’ll get off and run with her down hills, and then I’ll tail up the canyons as much as I can. Those are pretty tough canyons. There are three of them that get really hot.” Riding in the dark is the best part of the ride, Shane said. “It’s where we make up a lot of ground, and pick up a lot of places. There’s a time when it first gets dark, about an hour when the moon’s really not up yet. We’re typically in a lot of trees. You can see a faint line, and it appears the mule can see really well. And she moves at a really fast pace. I just put all my energy into staying in the middle. There’s some bends and turns and rocks and stuff, and you might catch a shadow and feel like you need to duck, which is always funny, because sometimes you duck and there’s nothing there. But I just focus on moving with her. “I’ll put equal weight in each of my feet, and basically hold on and have a lot of faith in her. I think when you start trying to steer them in the dark, it’s bad because you see things that aren’t, and when you stop and start them, it’s really hard. So if you just let them get in the groove and go, and just have faith, it’s kind of a rush.” Ticket was strong all day and she “finished strong and ready for more.” The pair crossed the finish line in 26th place out of 63 finishers (133 started), in a ride time of 21 hours, for their third consecutive Tevis Cup finish. “She was amazing again. I truly feel her heart is in it and she loves the challenge as much as I do,” Shane said. “I felt really blessed that we were able to get through. Ticket is a very special 30 • September 2021
animal and she means the world to me and my family!” As the lone mule in this year’s Tevis, Lotto Ticket attracted a lot of attention, from people following the online Tevis Cup webcast, and from the veterinarians in the ride who jumped in line to have the privilege of vetting her. Ticket’s around 15.1 hands, a dark bay with a regal air about her, obviously used to all the commotion of humans and other equines due to her previous life as a race mule. By the jack Sweetwater Sterling, out of the former Thoroughbred race mare Holdalltickets, 15-year-old Lotto Ticket comes from an established line of successful race mules. Ticket
herself wasn’t that interested in racing, but she found her calling in Endurance. And Shane didn’t even really pick her out. “She picked me out,” he said. “I just ran across somebody that asked if I’d be interested in buying this mule. I was hesitant, thinking do I really need another animal. And I met the mule and rode her a little bit and saw her attitude, and I thought, you know, I don’t need her, but I’m going to buy her. “I actually bought Ticket for my wife, thinking it would be something really nice for her to ride. Angie’s gotten a lot of enjoyment out of her. And then I realized on accident what I had. Mules and More Magazine
I didn’t buy Ticket with the intent to do Endurance. I didn’t recognize her ability until after I bought her.” Shane still insists that Ticket is his wife’s mule, though they joke about it. “The animal’s pretty connected to me, and she definitely likes to work for me. We do have that bond. So on a technicality, she is my wife’s mule.” Equally thrilled by Ticket’s performance was her breeder, Pauline Ferguson. She and her husband Jim started the Bar JF ranch in Oakdale, Calif., over two decades ago. They hit gold when Jim bought a red roan jack with exceptional conformation. “Sweetwater Sterling was straight legged, very agile. He had a beautiful head on him; he was very well put together,” Pauline Ferguson recalled. When they bred Holdalltickets to Sweetwater Sterling, they hit double gold with outstanding race mules. “There was Hot Ticket [in the Hall of Fame], there was Red Ticket [earnings over $200,000], there was Cowboy Way, there was Winning Ticket. There were a lot of these mules that liked that sport, and we kept them racing because they were good.” Red Ticket went on from a successful racing career to showing, where she excels in Halter, Western Pleasure, and Trail competitions. Sweetwater Sterling died in 2014, and the Fergusons eventually sold all their mules and broodmares. Jim passed away three years ago, but his Sweetwater Sterling-Ticket lineage lives on. Pauline had lost touch with Lotto Ticket, until a friend called her up on July 26th and told her that the mule was in the Tevis Cup. “I was just shocked! And to see her climb Cougar Rock [an iconic steep rocky hill the equines leap and power up a third of the way into the ride], I was in awe at how that little mule could stretch. Shane did such a wonderful job on her!” Shane is grateful for how he got to where he is right now. He didn’t have to go through all the riding trials Mules and More Magazine
and errors that an Endurance newbie can face, or that a mule convert can experience. “I was able to kind of cheat the whole system by knowing Frank,” he said. “Of course Frank’s a really good mentor, very much in tune with his animal, and it’s never a rush. It’s always what does the animal need, and paying attention to that. And we don’t go out there to race necessarily, as much as just ride our animal to the
best of their ability. We seem to finish well just with that attitude. “Without Frank, there would have been probably no success, because it’s just a lot to think about.” Shane’s son, Daniel, pulled him aside after Tevis and said, “I want to ride Tevis with you.” It’s a safe bet that Shane is already thinking about looking down the trail between the ears of a mule in next year’s Tevis Cup, riding alongside his son.
September 2021 • 31
Mule Gear Spotlight:
The Mullened Correction Bit by Loren Basham, PairADice Mules
We frequently get a lot of questions about what bits we use and what bits we like for our mules. We have a lot of bits - but one stands out for its overall use. The Mullened Correction bit from Tom Balding Bit and Spurs out of Sheridan, Wyo., is one of my favorite bits. We have the bit in two variations, a stainless steel finish and a brown finish. Both of these bits have the same mouth pieces - they are Mullened Correction bits with an 1” port. They both have Sheridan 8-inch ball hinge shanks. The thing I like about the bit the most is the Mullened mouth piece. Mullened means the bars of the mouth piece have a curve in them. When it lays in your mules mouth, it has a little bit more bar pressure and a little more tongue relief. It is considered more gentle than some other mouthpieces. There is no pinching when the reins are pulled. I use this bit a lot on broke mules. They seem to really like it and respond to it. It keeps them nice and soft. I like this Sheridan shank. If you have a mule that wants to reach up and grab the shank, they can’t with this shank because it lays back a little bit. You will notice the brown finish bit has a little more aggressive curb chain on it. It is smaller in diameter and adds a little more pressure to it. The other one has a four link curb chain which is a little more mild. Don’t let the word ‘correction’ steer you away from this bit. The correction bit is designed for a “finished” mule or horse. Just because it is called a correction bit does not mean it corrects training issues. This bit is often used with a finished animal and a soft handed rider. We use this bit with our personal mules (my wife uses one) and broke mules - it is not one we regularly use for colts. It is a good all around bit for a finished mule. If I have just one bit to use- and that is all I could own - it would be this Mullened Correction bit. 32 • September 2021
The Mullened Correction bit with a brown finish (above) and a stainless steel finish (below)
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Perry “Mules” Suspenders
Silver & Brass Mule Head Conchos
Available in all antiqued silver OR silver with brass mule head and dots. Please indicate preference. $7.00 each 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
$22 (includes s/h)
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September 2021 • 33
Calendar of Events...
August 26-28 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Portland, ND (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com August 28 - IDMS 39th Annual State Show, Bloomfield, Iowa (641)895-1578 August 28-Sept. 5 - National Championship Chuckwagon Race, Clinton, Ark. (501)745-5250 September 1-3 Oregon State Fair, Salem, Oregon-featuring AMA approved mule classes- (831)637-8510 September 2-4 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, St Croix Falls, WI (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com September 3-5 - Ozark Mule Days/Missouri Mule Makeover (417)343-9412 September 4-12 - Falling Water Mule Ride, Pelsor, Arkansas (870)294-5051 September 8-11 - Boone County Draft Horse & Mule Sale, Sedalia, Mo. (719)431-3137 September 9-11 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Hopkins, MI (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com September 10-12 - 27th Annual Mule & Donkey Show, Sutton, WV, (304)532-5206 September 10-12 - Hells Canyon Mule Days, Enterprise, Oregon 541-426-3271 Hells Canyon Mule Days - Enterprise, Oregon September 13 - 18 American Mule & Bluegrass Festival,
Shelbyville, Tenn. www.americanmuleandbluegrassfestival.com September 14-19 - Midwest Mule Fest, Tuscumbia, Mo. facebook.com/MidWestMuleFest September 16-18 - Clark County Mule Festival, Kahoka, Mo. www.clarkcountymulefestival.com September 16-18 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Ford City, PA (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com September 17-19 Gold Country Mule and Donkey Show II, Lincoln, CA, 95648 Gold Country Mule and Donkey Show II — American Mule Association September 23-25 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Natural Bridge, VA (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com September 24-25 - Baumli Semi-Annual Draft Horse & Mule Sale, Maryville, Mo. (660)652-4454 September 24-26 - Mule Mania Comes to Idaho, Lewiston, Idaho September 30 - October 3 - Seven Springs Mule Ride, Tuscumbia, AL (Look up Seven Springs Mule Ride on Facebook) September 30-October 2 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Norman, IN (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com October 1-2 - Oklahoma Mule Sale, Ada, Okla. (580)4659727 or (270)293-0538 October 1-3 - Harrison Mule Days, Woodbine, Md. www. harrisonmuledays.com (301)674-3187
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October 1-3 - Rouge & Rogue Retreat, Tuscumbia, Mo. facebook.com/rouge.rogue.retreat October 2- 3 - Mid-Mo Horse, Mule & Ox Farming Days, Gerald, MO 573-764- 2629 October 7-9 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Elkhart, IA (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com October 9 - Pea Ridge Mule Jump, Pea Ridge, Ark. www.pearidgejump.com (479)451-1122 October 7-10 – Red Hill Mule Days, Livingston, KY 40456 (606) 308-5900, www.redhillhorsecamp.com October 14-16 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Lubbock, TX (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com October 21 - North Carolina State Fair Mule & Donkey Show, Raleigh, N.C. (252)450-5438 October 22-23 - South Carolina State Donkey & Mule Show, Columbia, S.C. (919)754-7568 October 27-29 Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic, Huntington, UT (801)598-7465 www.tsmules.com October 30-November 6- Mule Days at East Fork Stables, Jamestown, TN (800)978-7245 www.eastforkstables.com November 5-13 - Color Breed Congress Show, Tulsa, Okla. colorbreedcongress.com
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Canadian Donkey and Mule Association Canada’s only national registry and association for donkeys and mules. Our quarterly magazine, Canadian Donkey and Mule News, is included with membership and offers news and information for longear enthusiasts across North America and worldwide.
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Annual membership in Canadian funds: Canada: $45 (family $55) USA & foreign: $55. For memberships, send international money order in Canadian funds to Canadian Livestock Corporation, 2417 Holly Lane, Ottawa, ON K1V 0M7, Canada. Subscriptions now available! (no member benefits) $35 to Canadian addresses, $47 to US addresses. Order subscriptions on our website at: www.donkeyandmule.com
September 2021 • 35
Sock It To Me by Chief Noel Stasiak US Navy Seabees Ret.
All our mules have problems with flies but my Becky is especially bothered by them. They irritate her front feet to the point I just had to do something, so I bought her a pair of fly socks. I felt so sorry for her seeing those nasty little things sucking the life blood out of her. I’ve tried everything I could get my hands on in a spray, oil or slave and nothing last very long. Finally I thought I could eliminate her misery with fly socks. For some reason the flies are attracted to her white hair and mostly they attack her front legs. I don’t get to see the mules every day, and when I do arrive Becky, is always at the front gate where a pool of water accumulates because of surface run off. I think the water must somehow reduce the number of flies that gather around her, just my theory, I’m probably wrong but she always hangs around that small pool. I feel just terrible when I get out of the truck to open the gate and see her two front legs. Her white hair has turned pink from the blood and it looks like a thousand tiny bot flies are devouring her ounce by ounce. I can tell she is stressed because she has lost weight, I can see her ribs. I’m giving her a little sweet feed with crimped oats on the days I get to visit. Desperate for an answer, I consulted some folks at the tack shop in
Eureka, Mo., and decided to try some fly socks. I wasn’t sure of the size so I bought a small and a medium and was told I could bring back the set that didn’t fit. The small size was too big and didn’t stay on very long before I found them in the pasture. Desperate, I went back the next week and bought the most expensive pair they had. They had Velco that kept them on and it looked like they were going to work. As soon as I arrive, I tie her up and wash the dried blood from her legs, groom her, pick her feet and then apply some fly salve. I then wrap the fly socks around her two front legs over the salve. The socks don’t fit real tight so as not to cut off circulation. I then spray the socks with fly repellent, and I mean I spray it on thick. When I cut her loose, she walks kind of awkward for a while but the flies stay away. All this works until she starts rolling like all mules do, and eventually the socks are either missing or just barely hanging on and the flies are back. At least she has some respite for a day or two until I get back and do it all over again. Now my donkey, Black Jack, still has his winter hair on his legs until late in the summer so he doesn’t have the same problem, at least not as severe. He does scratch his legs once in a while that draws blood and the flies are all over him. I clean him up and apply some salve also but I don’t think he likes the pink color of the salve. Now my other mule, Kissy for some reason doesn’t have much of a prob-
Becky and her fly boots
lem with flies on the feet. I can’t figure out why, she moves around more than Becky does, she’s younger and not totally white but her feet all have white socks. The flies do bother her to some extent but nothing like Becky. Now just across the road where the draft horses all live there is a lot of standing water after a rain and I notice that the flies don’t bother them as much so I’m thinking that the water must be a factor in some way or another. It’s really depressing to see the flies consuming my Becky bite by bite so if you happen to have a solution for keeping the flies off her legs, please sock it to me.
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To place your classified ad online: mulesandmore.com/classifieds Mail to: PO Box 460, Bland MO 65014 Call: (573)263-2669 Email: mulesandmore@gmail.com
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MULES
3 two-year-old mules. 2 black mollies, out of Walking Horse mares. 1 sorrel/red horse mule out of a quarter horse mare. Halter broke. $1,000 each. Kentucky. (270)348-0760 (9/21)
TACK & WAGONS
S. A. WALLS handmade Stirrups, Spurs and Bits. walls_sa@yahoo.com, www. sawalls.net or 479-923-4748
WANTED
Wanted: Still looking for that 14-hand, very rideable stand still colored mule. Preferably 10-20 years old, not over $2,000 unless I can make payments. Is anyone in Wisconsin willing to ride my mule for a month? (608)228-0369 shirleyshirleyh@aol.com (8/21)
TRAIL RIDING
TIN TOP RANCH Bed and Breakfast, oats and stalls to all riding. Located in western Scott County, Arkansas. Totally surrounded by the picturesque Ouachita National Forest. www.tintopranch.com, walls_sa@yahoo.com or 479-923-4748
VIDEOS & PUBLICATIONS
FARM TO WAR: A WORLD WAR I MULE STORY by Lonny Thiele. Tells how one month a mule can be working in a cotton farm and the next month fighting with the American Expeditionary Forces beside the French and British in a cruel and terrible conflict. The farm part of the book is based on Jake, a mule covered in my first book, THAT SON OF A GUN HAD SENSE: MULE STORIES FROM THE BOOTHEEL DURING THE 1930’S-1940-S ERA. Send $18 (includes shipping) to Thiele, POB 884, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902. Phone (575)300-3085.
Mules and More Magazine
When Mules Ruled the Farm by Lonny Thiele
Mules were used for farming in this country roughly 1785 to 1950 or 165 years. Mule numbers peaked in the US at 5.9million in 1925, but there were still 1.9 million mules in 1940, that included 209,000 in Missouri. The three leading Missouri counties in 1940 in mule numbers were the Bootheel counties of New Madrid (9621), Pemiscot (9650) and Dunklin (7646). Mules were more popular in the South where cotton and tobacco were farmed because they withstood heat better than horses, were easier to care for, and cost less to feed. Most of the material used comes from stories in the book, “That Son of a Gun Had Sense: Mule Stories From the Bootheel During the 1930’s-1940’s Era.”
Charlie and Joe - as told by Clemens Deken
Author’s note: I interviewed people in their 70s and 80s back in 2007 -08 for stories recorded in the above book. An estimated 95% of these have passed on. Clemens Deken is an exception. He celebrated his 100th birthday on July 25, 2021. You can help him celebrate by mailing a card to him at 2234 Hwy 142, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 “When I was 18, Dad got a big team of mules, Charlie and Joe. They weighed 1,700 to 1,800 pounds. They were as big as I’ve ever seen. Joe was white, more slender and taller than Charlie, who was black to a dark brown, and more bulky and chunky built. You’d have to sling the harness on them. In the mornings, you had to go after them. They’d usually go to the far end of the lot. The black mule, you couldn’t touch his ears. He’d knock you down. Dad taught me how to put a bit in his mouth first, then quickly slip the bridle over his ears. In the spring, when the flies and gnats were bad, we would have to put a twitch on his nose in order to grease the inside of his ears. Gnats will drive a mule crazy. Joe went blind about two years after we had him, from pinkeye. He lost sight in both eyes. We kept them separated from the others for a while, so they wouldn’t get lost. He worked the same as he always did. You guided him with the lines. A slight touch of the reins and he’d go. If you were plowing, he’d stay in the furrow row. We had no problems with him. I always had to walk behind Charlie when I was working them. Otherwise he wouldn’t keep up, just drag along. Sometimes I carried a stick and poked him. He’d stay up for a while, then lag behind. They pulled a 14-inch plow. They could pull the 14-inch as easy as the older team could pull a 12-inch plow. We logged with the big mules. They pulled some big ole logs out of the woods. We farmed adjacent to the St. Francis River. One time in 1940, one of the Lancaster men had his semi-truck loaded with logs on the other side of the river. He got stuck going up a 10-foot incline. He knew my dad had mules, and came across the river (bridge); and got my dad to help him out so he wouldn’t have to unload. Dad took the big mules to where his truck was and hooked them to the front of the truck. Lancaster ran to get into his truck. The mules must have figured out what Dad wanted. Before Lancaster could get the truck in gear, those mules had that load on top of the hill. He had about 1,500 board feet and a board foot weighs 6 lbs. Dad just laughed when Lancaster hurried to get his truck in gear. The 298 page Son of a Gun book se lls for $24 (includes postage). Mail check to Thiele at POB 884, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902. Ph. 573-300-3085. September 2021 • 39
NASMDA National Championship High Point Champions Show Results High Point Open Donkey Champion Circle Z Riata, exhibited and owned by Shelley Reddish / Reserve (pictured below) Shelbyville, Tenn.
Reserve High Point Open Donkey Circle Z High Cotton exhibited by Jamie Williamson, owned by Lindsey Goode Williamson
High Point Youth 10 & Under Champion) Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited by Andi Huckaby, owned by Dr. Kimberly Huckaby Photo by Barr Studios
High Point Senior Mule Champion and High Point Amateur Mule Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited and owned by Dr. Kimberly Huckaby Photo by Barr Studios 40 • September 2021
Circle Z High Cotton exhibited by Jamie Williamson, owned by Lindsey Goode High Point Training Level Donkey Champion Circle Z Patulha, exhibited and owned by Jayne Zajicek / Reserve A Walk in the Park, exhibited and owned by McKenzie Witt High Point Youth Donkey Champion Circle Z Riata, exhibited by Morgan Myer, owned by Shelley Reddish / Reserve Circle Z High Cotton, exhibited by Carrie Brigham, owned by Lindsey Goode High Point Youth 10 & Under Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited by Andi Huckaby, owned by Dr. Kimberly Huckaby High Point Senior Mule Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited and owned by Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / Reserve Perfect Percy, exhibited and owned by Shelley Reddish High Point Junior Mule Champion Sassy Frassy, exhibited by Noelle Salmons and owned by Lynne York / Reserve Crown Jewel, exhibited and owned by Lorri Gordon High Point Silver Amateur Mule Champion MV Limited Edition, exhibited and owned by Terri Hurley / Reserve Heart B Hez Sportn Gold, exhibited and owned by DL Sears High Point Amateur Mule Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy,
Heather Lutke with Amateur Gymkhana Mule High Point Champion Kansas City Lights, NASMDA President Jay Jaxheimer, and Becki Sams-Benham with Open Gymkhana Mule High Point Champion SP Black Magic Man
High Point Junior Mule Champion Sassy Frassy, ridden and trained by Brandon and Noelle Salmons of Balanced Equestrian, and owned by Lynne York Mules and More Magazine
exhibited and owned by Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / Reserve Preston’s Creek Joy, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Goode-Williamson High Point Junior Youth Mule Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited and owned by Ella Huckaby / Reserve No Show Jones, exhibited and owned by Carrie Brigham High Point Senior Youth Mule Champion MV Ben’s Dixie Dell, exhibited and owned by Tessa Walkinshaw / Reserve Clyde’s Brass Ring, exhibited and owned by Morgan Myer Open Gymkhana Mule High Point Champion SP Black Magic Man, exhibited and owned by Becki Sams-Benham / Reserve Foxy Duns and Roses, exhibited by High Point Senior Youth Mule Champion Robert Kidd, and owned by Terry Reserve High Point Senior Youth Mule MV Ben’s Dixie Dell, exhibited and owned by Champion Clyde’s Brass Ring, exhibited and Farley Tessa Walkinshaw. Photo by Barr Studios owned by Morgan Myer. Photo by Barr Studios Amateur Gymkhana Mule High Point Champion Kansas City National Championship Youth Mule Showmanship 18 & Lights, exhibited and owned by Heather Lutke / Reserve Under (6) 1 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw, Debbie Hooligan’s Holiday Bling, exhibited and owned by Sarah Walkinshaw / 2 My Bae B Ruth, Jabril Simon / 3 BWE Sheza Mills Painted Jewel, Emily Kemper, Noelle Salmons Youth Gymkhana Mule High Point Champion Clara May, National Championship Silver Amateur Mule Showmanship (8) exhibited and owned by Thomas Arnold / Reserve Hawley1 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 2 Perfect Percy, Shelley wood’s Cover Girl, exhibited by Johnny Wilburn, owned by Reddish / 3 Heart B Hez Sportn Gold, D.L. Sears Miranda Iager National Championship Youth Showmanship 10 & Under Composite Placings (1) 1 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Andi Huckaby, Dr. Kimberly Judged by Michael Adams, Nell Tekampe, and Cindy Butler Huckaby Youth Donkey Showmanship 18 & Under (2) 1 Circle Z Riata, (see nasma.us for individual judge placings) Morgan Myer, Shelley Reddish / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, CarNational Championship Amateur Mule Showmanship (10 rie Brigham, Lindsey Goode entries) 1 Hooligan's Holiday Bling, exhibited and owned by National Championship Mule Halter 2 years & Under (2) 1 Sarah Mills / 2 Mets Muddy Waters, exhibited by Tori Brandt, Forever Foxy, Tabitha Holland, Natalie Bacon / 2 The Sevowned by Drew Brandt / 3 MV Limited Edition, exhibited enth Malachi, Shannon St. Clair-Hoffman Terri Hurley, owned by Alyson Hurley
High Point Junior Youth Mule Champion Fifty Shades of Foxy, exhibited and owned by Ella Huckaby Photo by Barr Studios Mules and More Magazine
Reserve High Point Amateur Mule Champion Preston’s Creek Joy, exhibited and owned by Lindsey Goode Williamson September 2021 • 41
Mule Halter 58" & Under, 3 and Over (3) 1 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw / 2 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons, Lynne York / 3 Bobs Passionate Annabelle, Sally Kurmu National Championship John Mule Halter, 3 & Over, Over 58" (12) 1 Mr Cowboy Cadillac, Jay Jaxtheimer, Shirley Kerr / 2 Big Casino, Drew Brandt / 3 Fox in the Henhouse, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby National Championship Molly Mule Halter, 3 & Over, Over 58" (13) 1 Sheza Outta My League, Shannon Davis / 2 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / 3 Smoken Ace, Shelley Reddish Grand Champion Mule at Halter Mr Cowboy Cadillac, Jay Jaxtheimer, Shirley Kerr / Reserve Big Casino, Drew Brandt (Unamimous Under Judge Adams, Judge Butler, and Judge Tekampe) Amateur Mule Halter (10) 1 Mr Cowboy Cadillac, Shirley Kerr / 2 Big Casino, Drew Brandt / 3 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Kimberly Huckaby Youth Mule Halter (7) 1 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw / 2 BWE Sheza Painted Jewel, Emily Kemper / 3 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Ella Huckaby National Championship Donkey Halter 2 & Under (4) 1 Circle Z Elijah, Jay Jaxtheimer / 2 Genesis High Country Gal, Candace Shauger, Jayne Zajicek / 3 Foxy Since Day One, Tabitha Holland, Carol Anderson National Championship Jennet Halter, 3 & Over, Over 48" (6) 1 Circle Z Patulha, Jay Jaxtheimer, Jayne Zajicek / 2 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 3 Scooters Little Sass, Holly Fisher National Championship Gelding Donkey Halter, 3 & Over, Over 48" (5) 1 BWE Pepe Le Chew, Noelle Salmons / 2 Gotta Geta Fox, Tabitha Owner, Debbie Walkinshaw / 3 Fergus Fraser, Brandon Salmons, Aimee Mitchell National Championship Jack Halter, 3 & Over, Over 48" (2) 1 MV Ben's Southern Gent, Terri Hurley / 2 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger, Genesis Farms Grand and Reserve Donkey at Halter: Judge Adams: Grand Champion MV Ben's Southern Gent, Terri Hurley / Reserve Grand Champion Circle Z Patulha, Shannon Hoffman, Jayne Zajicek Judge Butler and Judge Tekampe: Grand Champion Circle Z Elijah, Jay Jaxtheimer / Reserve Grand Champion Genesis High Country Gal, Carrie Brigham O: Jayne Zajicek National Championship Open Donkey Obstacle Driving (4) 1 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson / 3 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger National Championship Open Mule Obstacle Driving (6) 1 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish / 2 Pistols and Posies, Tabitha Holland / 3 Diamonds In My Pocket, Robert Kidd, Lorri Gordon National Championship Open Mule Pleasure Driving (8) 1 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish / 2 Pistols and Posies, Tabitha Holland / 3 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Tabitha Holland Open Mule Pleasure Driving Turnout (7) 1 Banjo's Boot Scootin Boogie, Robert Kidd / 2 Pistols and Posies, Tabitha Holland / 3 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish National Championship Open Donkey Pleasure Driving (6) 1 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson / 2 A Walk in the Park, McKenzie Witt / 3 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish 42 • September 2021
Open Donkey Pleasure Driving Turnout (6) 1 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson / 2 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 3 Circle Z Patulha, Jay Jaxtheimer National Championship Open Mule Pole Bending (6)1 Hawleywood’s Covergirl, Landen James, Miranda Iager / 2 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd, Terry Farley / 3 Strugglin W’s Maybell, Brooke Burke Amateur Mule Pole Bending (4) 1 Strugglin W’s Maybell, Brooke Burke / 2 Kansas City Lights, Heather Lutke / 3 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley National Championship Open Donkey Pole Bending (3) 1 182 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger / 2 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 3 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson National Championship Training Level Donkey Pole Bending (8) 1 Look At That Madalina, Shannon St Clair-Hoffman / 2 A Walk In The Park, McKenzie Witt / 3 Rock Point Sadie, Terry Bates National Championship Youth Mule Pole Bending 18 & Under (4) 1 Clara May, Thomas Arnold / 2 Strugglin W’s Maybell, Brooke Burke / 3 You’re A Daisy If You Do, Jaden Bauer, Becki Sams-Benham Open Mule Pylon Alley (4) 1 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd / 2 Hawleywood’s Covergirl, Landen James / 3 Gypsy Leathers, Tonya Cummings Amateur Mule Pylon Alley (3) 1 Hooligan’s Holiday Bling, Sarah Mills / 2 Kansas City Lights, Heather Lutke Youth Mule Pylon Alley 18 & Under (3) 1 Hawleywood’s Covergirl, Johnny Wilburn / 2 Clara May, Thomas Arnold / 3 You’re A Daisy If You Do, Jaden Bauer National Championship Open Mule Barrels (7) 1 SP Black Magic Man, Becki Sams-Benham / 2 Gypsy Leathers, Tonya Cummings / 3 Strugglin W’s Maybell, Brooke Burke National Championship Amateur Mule Barrels (4) 1 Strugglin W’s Soup, Brad Burke / 2 Kansas City Lights, Heather Lutke / 3 Hooligan’s Holiday Bling, Sarah Mills National Championship Youth Mule Barrels 18 & Under (4) 1 Strugglin W’s Maybell, Brooke Burke / 2 Clara May, Thomas Arnold Training Level Donkey Barrels (8) 1 Rock Point Sadie, Terry Bates / 2 Circle Z Patulha, Jay Jaxtheimer / 3 A Walk In The Park, McKenzie Witt Open Donkey Barrels (3) 1 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson / 3 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish Open Mule Flag Race (5) 1 SP Black Magic Man, Becki SamsBenham / 2 Gypsy Leathers, Tonya Cummings / 3 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd Amateur Mule Flag Race (2) 1 Kansas City Lights, Heather Lutke / 2 Hooligan’s Holiday Bling, Sarah Mills Youth Mule Flag Race 18 & Under (3) 1 Clara May, Thomas Arnold / 2 Hawleywood’s Covergirl, Johnny Wilburn / 3 You’re A Daisy If You Do, Jaden Bauer Open Mule Key Hole (4) 1 SP Black Magic Man, Becki SamsBenham / 2 Hawleywood’s Covergirl, Landen James / 3 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd Amateur Mule Key Hole (3) 1 Hooligan’s Holiday Bling, Sarah Mills / 2 Kansas City Lights, Heather Lutke / 3 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley Youth Mule Key Hole 18 & Under (3) 1 Hawleywood’s CoverMules and More Magazine
girl, Johnny Wilburn National Championship Open Mule Working Hunter (10) 1 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd / 2 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / 3 BWE Sheza Painted Jewel, Noelle Salmons Senior Mule Hunter Hack (5) 1 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / 2 Banjo's Boot Scootin Boogie, Robert Kidd / 3 MV Limited Edition, Jennifer Goldsmith Open Donkey Hunter Hack (1) 1 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger Junior Mule Hunter Hack (3) 1 Crown Jewel, Robert Kidd, Lorri Gordon / 2 MV Girl's Got Definition, Mary Hanson / 3 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons Youth Donkey English Pleasure 18 & Under (2) 1 Circle Z Riata, Morgan Myer / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Carrie Brigham National Championship Training Level Donkey Hunter Under Saddle (5) 1 BWE Pepe Le Chew, Noelle Salmons / 2 Circle Z Patulha, Carrie Brigham / 3 A Walk in the Park, McKenzie Witt National Championship Senior Mule Hunter Under Saddle (14) 1 Clydes Brass Ring, Morgan Myer / 2 Smoken Ace, Shelley Reddish / 3 Diamonds in My Pocket, Don Charest National Championship Amateur Mule Hunter Under Saddle (9)1 Smoken Ace, Shelley Reddish / 2 Mets Muddy Waters, Tori Brandt / 3 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby National Championship Youth Mule Hunter Under Saddle 18 & Under (6)1 189 Clydes Brass Ring, Morgan Myer / 2 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Ella Huckaby / 3 BWE Sheza Painted Jewel, Emily Kemper National Championship Silver Amateur Hunter Under Saddle (5) 1 Rock A Dial Dock, Shirley Kerr / 2 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 3 Banjo's Boot Scootin Boogie, Denisa Hamlin National Championship Junior Mule Amateur Hunter Under Saddle (5) 1 MV Girl's Got Definition, Mary Hanson / 2 Crown Jewel, Robert Kidd / 3 Mr Cowboy Cadillac, Shirley Kerr National Championship Open Donkey English Pleasure (3) 1
National Championship Mule Halter 2 Years & Under Champion Forever Foxy, exhibited by Tabitha Holland, Signature Equine, owned by Natalie Bacon, and pictured above with Natalie’s daughter Lydia Mules and More Magazine
Shannon St.Clair Hoffman and Look At That Madalina, winner of the Training Level Donkey Pole Bending, with Terry Bates and Rock Point Sadie, winner of Training Level Donkey Barrel Racing. Photo by Aimee Mitchell Circle Z High Cotton, Carrie Brigham / 2 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 3 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger National Championship Amateur Mule English Equitation (9) 1 185 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby / 2 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 3 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish Youth Mule English Equitation 18 & Under (5) 1 No Show Jones, Carrie Brigham / 2 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw Silver Amateur Mule English Equitation (5) 1 Rock A Dial Doc, Shirley Kerr / 2 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 3 199 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish Youth Leadline 8 & Under English/Western Donkey/Mule (4) 1 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Andi Huckaby / 2 MV Limited Edition, Gunnar Goldsmith / 3 MV Girl's Got Definition, Hunter Hanson / 4 MV Ben’s Dixie Dell, Easton Hanson National Championship Open Donkey Western Pleasure (3) 1 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson, 3 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger National Championship Training Level Donkey Western Pleasure (8) 1 Circle Z Patulha, Jayne Zajicek / 2 BWE Pepe Le Chew, Noelle Salmons / 3 A Walk in the Park, McKenzie Witt National Championship Youth Donkey Western Pleasure 18 & Under (2) 1 Circle Z Riata, Morgan Myer / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Carrie Brigham Youth Donkeymanship 18 & Under (2) 1 Circle Z Riata, Morgan Myer Senior Mule Reining (14) 1 If Cotton Was a Monkey, Rilla Reese-Hanks / 2 You Bett I'm Hott, Robert Kidd / 3 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Tabitha Holland Open Reined Working Donkey (3) 1 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish / 2 Genesis National Championship Mule Halter 2 1.0, Candace Shauger / 3 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson years & Under Reserve Champion The Junior Mule Reining (5) 1 Uno Mas Chip, Seventh Malachi, bred by Lynn Susan Rilla Reese-Hanks / 2 Crown Jewel, Robert York and exhibited by Shannon St. Clair-Hoffman Photo by Barr Studios Kidd / 3 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons September 2021 • 43
Pistols and Posies, owned and exhibited by Dan and Tabitha Holland, Signature Equine, Morris, Okla. Photo by Barr Studios
Senior Mule Ranch Pleasure (17) 1 BWE Sheza Painted Jewel, Noelle Salmons / 2 Diamonds in my Pocket, Don Charest / 3 Sheza Outta My League, Shannon Davis Amateur Mule Ranch Pleasure (10)1 Sheza Outta My League, Shannon Davis / 2 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 3 Mets Muddy Waters, Tori Brandt Open Donkey Ranch Pleasure (3) 1 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger / 2 Circle Z High Cotton, Jamie Williamson / 3 193 Circle Z Riata, Shelley Reddish Silver Amateur Mule Ranch Pleasure (8) 1 192 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley / 2 Heart B Hez Sportn Gold, DL Sears / 3 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish Training Level Donkey Ranch Pleasure (6) 1 BWE Pepe Le Chew, Noelle Salmons / 2 Look At That Madalina, Shannon St. Clair-Hoffman / 3 A Walk in the Park, McKenzie Witt Junior Mule Ranch Pleasure (6) 1 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons / 2 MV Girl's Got Definition, Mary Hanson / 3 Mr Cowboy Cadillac, Shirley Kerr National Championship Senior Mule Ranch Riding (14) 1 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish / 2 You Bett I'm Hott, Robert Kidd / 3 Foxy Duns and Roses, Robert Kidd National Championship Amateur Mule Ranch Riding (9) 1 Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish / 2 Hooligan's Holiday Bling, Sarah Mills / 3 Preston's Creek Joy, Lindsey Goode National Championship Junior Mule Ranch Riding (4) 1 171 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons / 2 Crown Jewel, Robert Kidd / 3 MV Girl's Got Definition, Mary Hanson Open Donkey Ranch Riding (1) 1 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shauger Open Gaited Mule - Eng/West Trail Pleasure (2) 1 Ebony's Rocking Angel, Karon Thomas / 2 Gold Digger's Fancy, Jerry Brewer Open Gaited Mule - Eng/West Favorite Gait (2) 1 Gold Digger's Fancy, Jerry Brewer / 2 Ebony's Rocking Angel, Karon Thomas National Championship Walking Mule (1) 1 Ebony's Rocking Angel, Karon Thomas Amateur Gaited Mule - Eng/West Favorite Gait (1) 1 Gold Digger's Fancy, Jerry Brewer
New Moons Daredevil owned and exhibited by Natasha Hockaden, Photo by Barr Studios
BWE Sheza Painted Jewel, ridden by Emily Kemper, and trained and owned by Noelle Salmons of Balanced Equestrian 44 • September 2021
National Championship Senior Mule Trail Champion Sonny’s Boss Man, exhibited by Tabitha Holland, and owned by Peggy Knight Photo by Barr Studios Mules and More Magazine
National Championship Senior Mule Creek Joy, Lindsey Goode / 3 Clydes Trail (19) 1 Sonny's Boss Man, Brass Ring, Morgan Myer Tabitha Holland, Peggy Knight / 2 Open Mule Western Walk/Trot Stakes Pistols and Posies, Tabitha Holland / 3 (15) 1 Sonny’s Boss Man, Peggy Perfect Percy, Shelley Reddish Knight / 2 Clydes Brass Ring, Morgan National Championship Amateur Mule Myer / 3 I Only Date Foxes, Tessa Trail (12) 1 Perfect Percy, ShelWalkinshaw ley Reddish / 2 Preston's Creek Joy, Open Donkey Walk/Trot Western PleaLindsey Goode / 3 Rock a Dial Doc, sure Stakes (8) 1 BWE Pepe Le Chew, Shirley Kerr Noelle Salmons / 2 Circle Z Patulha, National Championship Junior Mule Jayne Zajicek / 3 Circle Z High Cotton, Trail (5) 1 Uno Mas Chip, Rilla ReeseJamie Williamson Hanks / 2 MV Girl's Got Definition, National Championship Senior Mule Mary Hanson / 3 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Western Pleasure (14) 1 Sonny's Boss Salmons Man, Tabitha Holland / 2 Preston's National Championship Open DonCreek Joy, Lindsey Goode / 3 Fifty key Trail (3) 1 Genesis 1.0, Candace Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby Shauger / 2 193 Circle Z Riata, Shelley National Championship Amateur Mule Reddish / 3 Circle Z High Cotton, Western Pleasure (10) 1 Preston's Jamie Williamson Creek Joy, Lindsey Goode / 2 Fifty National Championship Silver Amateur Shades of Foxy, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby Trail (9) 1 Heart B Hez Sportn Gold, / 3 Diamonds in My Pocket, Lorri DL Sears / 2 MV Limited Edition, Gordon Terri Hurley / 3 Banjo's Boot Scootin National Championship Youth Mule Boogie, Denisa Hamlin Western Pleasure 18 & Under (6) 1 National Championship Youth Mule Clydes Brass Ring, Morgan Myer / 2 Trail 18 & Under (7) 1 Clydes Brass Fifty Shades of Foxy, Ella Huckaby / Ring, Morgan Myer / 2 Pistols and Posies, Tessa Walkinshaw / 3 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw National Championship Training Level Donkey Trail (5) 1 179 Xtreme Reyn, Candace Shauger / 2 Circle Z Patulha, Jayne Zajicek / 3 Look at that Madalina, Shannon St. Clair-Hoffman National Championship Youth Donkey Trail 18 & Under (2) 1 Circle Z Riata, Morgan Myer Open Mule Western Pleasure Stakes (10) 1 Sonny’s Boss Man, I Only Date Foxes, shown here by Dan Holland, Tabitha Holland / 2 Preston’s Signature Equine, Morris, Okla., and owned by Debbie Walkinshaw Photo by Barr Studios
3 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw National Championship Silver Amateur Mule Western Pleasure (8) 1 Diamonds in My Pocket, Lorri Gordon / 2 Heart B Hez Sportn Gold, DL Sears / 3 Foxy Duns and Roses, Terry Farley National Championship Junior Mule Western Pleasure (5) 1 MV Girl's Got Definition, Mary Hanson / 2 Crown Jewel, Robert Kidd / 3 Sassy Frassy, Noelle Salmons National Championship Amateur Mule Western Pleasure (10) 1 Mets Muddy Waters, Tori Brandt / 2 If Cotton Was a Monkey, Rilla Reese-Hanks / 3 Preston's Creek Joy, Lindsey Goode National Championship Youth Mulemanship 18 & Under (6) 1 MV Ben's Dixie Dell, Tessa Walkinshaw / 2 Fifty Shades of Foxy, Ella Huckaby/ 3 Clydes Brass Ring, Morgan Myer National Championship Silver Amateur Mulemanship (7) 1 Rock A Dial Doc, Shirley Kerr / 2 Foxy Duns and Roses, Terry Farley / 3 MV Limited Edition, Terri Hurley
Candace Shauger on Genesis 1.0 and Don Grimm on Xtreme Reyn in the line up of the Donkey walk/trot stakes class Photo by Barr Studios
A group of exhibitors at the National show in Tennessee who are all from North Carolina. Photo by Balanced Equine Mules and More Magazine
September 2021 • 45
MULE CROSSING: The Road to Success with your Mule! by Meredith Hodges
When equines are trained in a logical, consistent and respectful way beginning with detailed lead line training, even “cycling females” is not a problem. Appropriate lessons need to have a logical beginning and be taught in a sequential fashion. The logical beginning in any athletic conditioning program should be to strengthen the core muscles that support bony columns. The length of the lesson and order in which lessons are presented facilitate strength and balance at the core. Adequate length of each stage of training and the way the lessons are delivered instill a sense of security, confidence and trust in the handler that cements the relationship and become part of the equine’s automatic behavior. Think of it in terms of teaching children. Children have difficulty learning and paying attention when they have not been eating in a healthy way or exercising properly, when the teacher is unclear in their delivery and the material does not flow together easily, when the teacher moves along too quickly, when there is too much repetition and when they have to stay in one position too long. When the teacher is more aware of the elements of learning, delivers the information in a logical and sequential manner with attention to mental and physical health, and provides solutions, the 46 • September 2021
students will thrive! We are often in too big of a hurry to ride and do not spend enough time at the lower-level stages of training. We don’t understand the implications of moving along too fast because these animals are so much larger than we are that we can’t imagine that they would have strength, balance and coordination issues that would be counter-productive to our expectations. How could we even know? There are multiple trainers out there who believe that an equine can be ready to ride in 60-90 days. This is highly publicized and does not afford the average person to think any further than just being able to ride. However, if you ask yourself if you could be ready for a 25-mile marathon in 60-90 days, then the picture starts to become clear… there is much more to think about and it takes much longer to be ready for such activities. You cannot strengthen muscles, balance the body and instill body awareness adequately in this short period of time, and core muscle strength might not be addressed at all! Leading training is not just teaching to follow and many people spend too little time on leading training. In leading training, the equine gets the benefit of isometric-type exercises that strengthen the muscles closest to the bone while you work on forward and backward straight lines, smooth arcs through the turns and square halts, all facilitating good balance and proprioception (body awareness). This promotes good core muscle strength that will enable your equine to move
to the round pen stage of training and do remarkably well because he won’t be fighting his own awkwardness and lack of balance while trying to balance on the circle at all three gaits. This kind of training requires that you really pay attention to your own good posture and execution of the tasks in leading training. You must be consciously aware of your own posture. Stand straight and tall, holding the lead in your left hand while using the right to keep the animal at your shoulder, not too far forward, not crowding you and not too far back. Wear your fanny pack full of crimped oats (the reward) to keep your equine interested in staying at your shoulder and not lagging behind. When you walk, make sure your legs are following the movement of their front legs, stepping forward with your corresponding feet and not stepping any further forward than they do. When you stop, stop with your own feet together (in a balanced fashion), turn and face the equine’s shoulder and square up his feet every single time you stop. This causes the equine to be conscious about balancing weight over all four feet evenly that will result in the balance becoming steadier as the task demands and speed increases. You can tell your equine is ready to move from the flatwork leading training to the obstacle leading training when you can throw the lead over his neck and you receive his compliance though all he has learned without you touching him. Next, we add the element of coordination during lead line Mules and More Magazine
training over obstacles. The first task of lead line obstacle training would be to introduce the obstacles and ask for reasonable negotiation of the obstacle to instill confidence in the equine and trust in you. The second stage would be to break the obstacles down into smaller steps to manipulate coordination and balance and to instill adequate self carriage through the obstacles. Taking time to do these exercises correctly at the walk and trot on the lead line will help immensely before the equine goes to round pen training where the exercises become more active and demanding. The core base from which the animal must work will be much stronger and he will be better able to stay erect and bend through his rib cage on the circle in the round pen instead of leaning like a motorcycle. When we finally do graduate to the round pen, it will become important to maintain good equine posture and balance. When equines are allowed to run freely in the round pen, they naturally get excited and want to hollow their neck and back. This is why we employ the self-correcting device I call the “Elbow Pull.” There are separate ways to adjust this, one is for horses and one is for mules and donkeys. More details about this and leading training can be found in my manual and DVD combo, “Equus Revisited.” By the time you finally do ride, your equine will not only be strong, balanced and coordinated enough to do more complicated activities, but if you are unbalanced at all, he will be better able to cope with that as well. This is particularly important with cycling females as they already have a marginal, but normal amount of aches and pains while they cycle. If they are to maintain a good attitude and good balance with a rider, they need good core muscle strength, so they can overcome the normal menstrual aches and pains and deal with the rider in a reasonable way. They will also be more mentally and emotionally tuned into you and less likely to become disengaged. It is my observation that most disobedience Mules and More Magazine
is due to a lack of balance whether it is mental, emotional or physical. With good core muscle strength, even cycling females will be better able to perform to their full potential at the time when you lower your expectations. The level of their mediocre performance will still be higher than most of their competitors. Equine mares are difficult enough, but jennets and mollies that are not trained in this logical way will be distracted, tune you out when they are cycling and revert to their instinctual behaviors like squatting, peeing, clacking their teeth and they will remain “on alert!” This can cause a lot of problems for the handler.
To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. © 2010, 2016 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
September 2021 • 47
Association News Carolina Mule Association
Secretary/Treasurer Heather Cox shared about their trip to the Triple C Ride, in June 2021: “We were thankful to have some nice weather (though a bit muggy) for our ride at Nancy’s place and we managed to dodge the rain showers all weekend. Nancy is always so generous and accommodating to open up her place to us. A few of us arrived on Thursday to find some of her musician friends already there and set up. We all got in our selected spots and got settled for the day and enjoyed a quiet time around camp. Friday morning we struck out, hoping to make a successful loop without getting lost as our host, Nancy, was still recovering from a mishap and hadn’t been released by the doctor to join us. Our other navigators, Teddy and Luann, were also out due to an injury so we were on our own! We struck out across the rangelands and made a loop back to the VA Highlands trail, down CCC Camp road, following the creek and back to CCC. A few of us decided to take a drive over to the creek to cool off and walk our pups. Angie’s new pup, River, got some swimming lessons from Denim while we were in the creek. We hiked on to the furnace while we were there then headed back with a truck bed full of sandy feet and wet pups. After our dinner we all went to bed tired with the sounds of bluegrass pickers playing under the picnic area.
Rhonda and Larry Mills
Several more rigs rolled in Friday and we had a group of 12 or so that headed out on Saturday. Thankfully, Nancy was released by her doctor and was able to join us part of the way. She led us past the 602 Road crossing and turned to go back, leaving us with directions to Ravens Cliff. We all did our best but still managed to make a wrong turn and rambled around in the rangelands a while before making our way back. No worries though, there was still plenty of wonderful scenery and great friends to ramble with. Maybe we learned a few things, too! After dinner, Nancy and her musician friends were doing some mighty fine picking to serenade us all off to bed. What a great day! Sunday morning, some decided to relax and then head on 48 • September 2021
home. A few us hard-headed ones were determined to lick our wounds and make it to Ravens Cliff. After studying the map some Saturday night, we rode right to it. We passed the furnace and had a great lunch at the cliff by the creek. We headed back to camp so as to not be back too late for those heading home. We had a great turnout, great riding, great weather, great fellowship, and great accommodations. We are blessed.”
Mike and Kim Harding
Janet and Michael St. John
President Rascal Annas shared about their trip to Grayson Highlands, Va., in July 2021. “We pulled in at Grayson just after lunch on Thursday. After getting our mules settled, camp set, and of course running my mouth for a bit, a group of us decided to go to Grant to have something eat. With a very expensive bologna sandwich (and lesson learned), we headed back to camp to get ready for next day’s ride. Friday was a beautiful day that we rode out Crest, Rhododendron, past Lewis Fork down to scales, Bear Pen to the ice cream store and back in for supper. Saturday found us leaving out with more riders (16 or so) up to the scales where we split as several riders took a shorter route back. The longer ride took us over top of the hill behind scales toward Buzzard Rock where we took a slight detour (some would call it a wrong trail). Riding with Teddy Royal, I have learned that these are actually called detours. After lunch and view at Buzzard Rock, we headed back through Bear Pen and arrived at camp a little late but
Rascal and Angie Annas Mules and More Magazine
in time for the meeting. Sunday, we made a trip around Virginia Highlands, to Rhododendron Gap and back by Massey Gap. Once back, we broke camp said our goodbyes and headed home. Thanks for great weekend and special thanks to the mysterious stall cleaner who took care of our stalls for us.” Nancy Sluys and her mule April helped the Back Country Horsemen of the Virginia Highlands pack gravel to a narrow section of trail during the Mount Rogers East End Trail Rehab Project on the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. “I’m super proud of my mule!” said Nancy.
Advertisers Index A.D.M.S.................................................................. 35 Boone County Draft Horse & Mule Sale (Mo.)....... 13 Canadian Donkey & Mule Association.................... 35 Carolina Throwdown............................................... 18 Color Breed Congress (OK)..................................... 17 Harrison Mule Days (MD)...................................... 11 Hells Canyon Mule Days (Oregon).......................... 25 Jasper the Mule ....................................................... 33
April packing gravel
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Lucky Three Ranch/Hodges........... Inside Back Cover Mischka Press........................................................... 17 Midwest Leather Co................................................. 15 Mle Mania Comes to Idaho (ID)............................. 31 Oklahoma Mule Sale................................................ 5 PairADice Mules...................................................... 3 Pea Ridge Mule Jump .............................................. 18 Shop Talk!................................................................. 35 Small Farmer’s Journal............................................... 35 TS Mules/Evans, Ty..................................Back Cover Tuskers ..................................................................... 36 Western Mule Magazine............................................ 35 Wilf Horses and Mules............................................. 9 September 2021 • 49
Cook’s Corral by Vickie Upton Riding weather has been really good for a change but we have had ample rain and this has made for muddy trails in the Shawnee. The ground bees have appeared early this year, but frankly with the way things have went the last year it not really surprising. I hope everyone is able to enjoy the rest of their summer with their mules and donkeys. As always “If you’re lucky enough to be riding, you’re luck enough.”
Italian Pasta Salad
Swiss Chicken Casserole
4 to 6 chicken breasts boneless and skinned 4 to 6 slices Swiss cheese 1 10 1/2 ounce can Campbell’s cream of chicken soup 1/3 cup onion chopped 1 4 ounce can mushroom pieces, drained 1 cup milk 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard 1 14 ounce can Campbell’s chicken gravy 1 6 ounce box chicken flavored stuffing mix (I used Kroger brand) 1/2 stick butter or margarine or 4 tablespoons melted
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish or a deep dish casserole with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in pan and place a slice of swiss cheese on each breast. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl with a whisk, pour in uncooked stuffing mix and stir. Pour over the chicken. Cook covered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 60 minutes. Remove cover for last 15 to 20 minutes. (If your chicken is frozen when you are putting the casserole together, you should cook about 90 minutes to make sure chicken breasts are done. 50 • September 2021
8 oz. rotini pasta 6 oz. salami sliced into strips 10 oz. cherry tomatoes halved (3 cups) 1/2 English cucumber diced 1/2 medium red onion finely diced 8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls or halved mozzarella balls 1/2 cup black olives pitted and sliced 1/2 cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved 1/2 cup roasted red peppers* drained and coarsely chopped 1/3 cup parsley finely chopped 1 cup Italian dressing or added to taste
Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions in salted water just until pasta is al dente (firm to the bite). Combine all ingredients except dressing. Add dressing just to the portion of salad you plan to eat.
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September 2021 • 51
Come to a Ty Evans Mulemanship Clinic in 2021! August 26-28 • Portland, ND September 2-4 • St Croix Falls, WI September 9-11 • Hopkins, MI September 16-18 • Ford City, PA September 23-25 • Natural Bridge, VA
For more info or to sign up, visit:
www.tsmules.com or call us at: 801-598-7465 Check us out on Facebook!
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September 30-October 2 • Norman, IN October 7-9 • Elkhart, IA October 14-16 • Lubbock, TX October 27-29 • Huntington, UT 52 • September 2021
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