Just curious to hear what your opinions and preferences are on the two. I have never owned either, but have recently moved to a area that will allow me to have them. I would be using them to do some pack in hunts as well as camping trips through out the year. I do have 3 young boys I would love to get out more with me on my adventures. That being said I am looking for any advice on what route to go in choosing between the two. Thanks!
Mule or Horse?
- Thread starter Bigbull13
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elkassassin
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You Can't Strap a Horse on the Front Bumper like the KALI Boys do with a Mule!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
Millsworks
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I haven't rode since I was in my early 20s , but when I did it was in the mountains.
I always felt more stable on a good mule. They seem to handle a load better and be more sure footed.
Here in the East horses are more common and usually alot cheaper to buy though.
I always felt more stable on a good mule. They seem to handle a load better and be more sure footed.
Here in the East horses are more common and usually alot cheaper to buy though.
pookiebar
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They both make great bear bait once dead and bloated . . .
I don't have a lot of experience on a mule, just a week in the windrivers. But it was a good experience. The one I rode was sure footed and easy enough to ride. For packing I think the miles were awesome.
I grew up around and on some great horses. Didn't ride as much as I would have liked, but I prefer a horse for riding. They are easier to convince in going off trail.
Mules get a trail on the brain and they don't care about turning even if you want or need them to.
I don't have a lot of experience on a mule, just a week in the windrivers. But it was a good experience. The one I rode was sure footed and easy enough to ride. For packing I think the miles were awesome.
I grew up around and on some great horses. Didn't ride as much as I would have liked, but I prefer a horse for riding. They are easier to convince in going off trail.
Mules get a trail on the brain and they don't care about turning even if you want or need them to.
I have both. Ride both and pack both. You can have a great trail horse/pack horse and a great trail mule/pack mule. You can have have terrible mules and horses too. With young boys and not having animals before, the most important thing is to get well broke animals that have packed and been in the back country before. SAFETY is the key, more important than mule vs horse.
1911
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Most people make the mistake of underestimating the investment of time and money into either. Live critters are not like your side by side. You can't buy them once and ride them four days a year. You can spend a small fortune to invest in good stock, feed them, maintain them, and pay for unplanned vet trips. You cannot keep them in the back yard 11.5 months and then expect them to perform for two weeks in October. In order to make it a good thing you need to plan on a lifestyle change. This can be good or bad depending on your commitment level.
goforbroke
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>Most people make the mistake of
>underestimating the investment of time
>and money into either. Live
>critters are not like your
>side by side. You
>can't buy them once and
>ride them four days a
>year. You can spend
>a small fortune to invest
>in good stock, feed them,
>maintain them, and pay for
>unplanned vet trips. You cannot
>keep them in the back
>yard 11.5 months and then
>expect them to perform for
>two weeks in October.
>In order to make it
>a good thing you need
>to plan on a lifestyle
>change. This can be good
>or bad depending on your
>commitment level.
>
This was my problem. Took way too much time for the amount of use we used them. Plus I am more comfortable hiking.
>underestimating the investment of time
>and money into either. Live
>critters are not like your
>side by side. You
>can't buy them once and
>ride them four days a
>year. You can spend
>a small fortune to invest
>in good stock, feed them,
>maintain them, and pay for
>unplanned vet trips. You cannot
>keep them in the back
>yard 11.5 months and then
>expect them to perform for
>two weeks in October.
>In order to make it
>a good thing you need
>to plan on a lifestyle
>change. This can be good
>or bad depending on your
>commitment level.
>
This was my problem. Took way too much time for the amount of use we used them. Plus I am more comfortable hiking.
elkassassin
Long Time Member
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>pack goats
It'd Take 3 Pack Goats just to Carry My Remington!
JUDAS!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
It'd Take 3 Pack Goats just to Carry My Remington!
JUDAS!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
Buccsboy55
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Defiantly mule
Captain_coues
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I have a little experience with both. I probably would be a bad owner so there is no way I would get either due to what was said earlier. I love riding Mules when the opportunity is there. The reason is because when I'm riding, I'm always with a pro that is usually on a Horse in the lead and I'm in the rear with a Mule and I don't have to do anything except speed her up or slow her down. She follows right behind real nicely. All of the thinking is done in the lead by the pros.
Gator
Long Time Member
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A great mountain horse is great, BUT a great mountain Mule is Awesome.
I have had both and they both do well as long as you put the time in. Mules seem to do better on the graze you will find up on top then horses. IMO Which ever way you go don't let them get fat in the winter it takes to long to slim them back down in the spring.
The more trained your animal is the better the trip will be.
Teaching them a lot different stuff take a lot of time. Highline, Hobble, packing different loads.
I use lay deer and elk hides on rails fence where I fed them so they got use to the smell pretty quick and the flapping of them.
I use to carry a mock up looking rifle in my scabbard all the time that weighted the same as my rifle just they got used to it being there.
I train them in a riverbed and up and down hills etc so they got use to crossing water, ravines, bridges, shale rock, etc. We still had minor wrecks here and there.
Hope this helps because I still think horseback trips are the best kind, A pack train with a set of horns are what many dreams are made of.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
I have had both and they both do well as long as you put the time in. Mules seem to do better on the graze you will find up on top then horses. IMO Which ever way you go don't let them get fat in the winter it takes to long to slim them back down in the spring.
The more trained your animal is the better the trip will be.
Teaching them a lot different stuff take a lot of time. Highline, Hobble, packing different loads.
I use lay deer and elk hides on rails fence where I fed them so they got use to the smell pretty quick and the flapping of them.
I use to carry a mock up looking rifle in my scabbard all the time that weighted the same as my rifle just they got used to it being there.
I train them in a riverbed and up and down hills etc so they got use to crossing water, ravines, bridges, shale rock, etc. We still had minor wrecks here and there.
Hope this helps because I still think horseback trips are the best kind, A pack train with a set of horns are what many dreams are made of.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
Thanks all for sharing your info, this helps a lot. Sounds like well trained mules would be the way to go. I have a lot of gear I need to invest in first as well as gain all the info I can prior to getting them so I can do things right. Again thanks for sharing your knowledge!
WHT_MTNMAN
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There is nothing better than a great mule in the back country, there is almost nothing worse than a bad mule. You can get by with a bad horse sometimes, not a bad mule.
A good mule will cost quite a bit more usually and live longer.
A good mule will cost quite a bit more usually and live longer.
There are exceptional beasts out there of various sorts. Generally have hunted by myself for four decades with horses, Llamas and Mules. Never was lucky enough to have a real good gelding. Being older feel safer with two mules. They just seem to have more brains for getting in and out
in rough situations in one piece.
in rough situations in one piece.
NORKALNIMROD
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- 759
I have a little experience with both. More with horses than mules.
Make no mistake they are totally different animals. Both have strengths and weaknesses.
To be successful with mules you must understand them and have patience. Mules will not forgive or forget being mistreated. Horses are more like a dog in that area.
Which ever you choose, remember that your success with them will be commensurate with the time and work you put into them.
Also, the purchase of stock, even top dollar animals is the inexpensive part of the deal.
Spend enough time on them and you will have some bad experiences. There is no way around it. The best of them can and will go full PRCA on you when you least expect it. There is no such thing as bomb proof stock.
That said, for me there is no better way to get into the back country!
Norkal
"One can take my life but not my faith or my
confidence. I fear none and respect all."
Make no mistake they are totally different animals. Both have strengths and weaknesses.
To be successful with mules you must understand them and have patience. Mules will not forgive or forget being mistreated. Horses are more like a dog in that area.
Which ever you choose, remember that your success with them will be commensurate with the time and work you put into them.
Also, the purchase of stock, even top dollar animals is the inexpensive part of the deal.
Spend enough time on them and you will have some bad experiences. There is no way around it. The best of them can and will go full PRCA on you when you least expect it. There is no such thing as bomb proof stock.
That said, for me there is no better way to get into the back country!
Norkal
"One can take my life but not my faith or my
confidence. I fear none and respect all."
BIGJOHNT
Long Time Member
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LAST EDITED ON Sep-28-17 AT 05:27PM (MST)[p]At the hunt expo they auctioned off a Mule. It was a nice looking animal and had two kids riding it around inside the building. I was a little shocked that it sold for over 21,500 dollars. I guess it was trained.
txjp
Active Member
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I will try not to repeat what has already been said but both can be good.
Mules have a self preservation that is often mistaken for stubbornness. So if your mule feels like he is tired and cant go cause he is out of shape or saddle is hurting or whatever he will not go. Horses can be pushed to go further but may leave you stranded in the mountain. (been there and it sux)
on a side note:
my parents have the stock and I help them maintain and train them. There is no better time spent then helping them train and seeing the results in the mountain any animal being packed out is just a bonus.
Jason
Mules have a self preservation that is often mistaken for stubbornness. So if your mule feels like he is tired and cant go cause he is out of shape or saddle is hurting or whatever he will not go. Horses can be pushed to go further but may leave you stranded in the mountain. (been there and it sux)
on a side note:
my parents have the stock and I help them maintain and train them. There is no better time spent then helping them train and seeing the results in the mountain any animal being packed out is just a bonus.
Jason
