We are long-ear advocates. We are constantly visiting with folks in an effort to take the sting out of the idea thatmules belong in the horse world. Seven out of ten times when someone finds out you are a mule owner they are lighting fast to spout off, spreading mule horror stories. We are equally as fast to ask them how many mules they have everowned? They usually get a dumb look on their face, and fess-up that they never have owned amule. I guess the better you are, the less you are understood and, the faster folks are to spread any short comings they canconjure up, true or contrived about your (mules).
We have been asked over and over again by well-meaning folk the following question: “Do we think they should own a mule?” Goodness what a loaded question! Well, never let it be said that we ever backed away from achance to put our foot into our mouth; the following is our canned reply. If the querying person does not answer affirmative to our three questions thenwe think that they ought to reconsider living with a mule.
#1 Do they like kids? Mules are a lot like children. They arehonest, do not like pain and are always watching you. #2 Do they like dogs. Mules are also a lot like dogs. They are honest, do not like pain and are always watching you. #3 Would they ever consider owning a good Arab Horse? This one usually is the wash-out question. After their eyes roll back to the normal position in their head they get the picture. Mules are a lot like Arab horses they both have an opinion about self and are aware of their own presence. Thus the idea or fear of their stubbornness. With both ofthese animals you learn to look for the opportunity to negotiate, rather thanto order them around.
We do not believe that everyone would be happy living with a mule. We do not believe the mulewould be happy in this situation either. Besides you have to be smarter the critter you ride. This is the case with a mule if you can not read them, do not ride them.
