Muledeernut,
I agree with much of what you said but one of the generalizations I just can't let pass. You said a mule is much easier on the rider than a horse.
I beg to differ. That is something that depends on the individual animal. Some horses are smoother than others, some mules are smoother than others.
My buddy has two mules, one is smooth as you can find and the other is the roughest riding pig I've ever seen in my life. Riding a jackhammer would be a vacation over this mule.
My quarterhorse is a rough rider, my Foxtrotter is smoother than any mule I've sat on. So if you compare his good mule to my quarter horse, ya he's gonna be alot easier.
You compare his other mule to any horse I've ridden and your statement will prove false.
Smooth riding in my opinion isn't breed specific, it depends on the individual animal.
Don't bother asking my farrier about what mules are good to shoe. He won't trim feet on the best mule in the world for $500 cash. If you say "mule" doesn't matter how much money is in your pocket he's climbing back in his truck. But that's just him and he's probably a wuss.
If you want to get somewhere no one else dares ride, a mule is the only way to go. Life is just too short for me to ride one but in the rough a good one is gold.
-Dawg
www.cougartracks.com