5 Reasons Mules Are Better Than Horses

A cowboy said "if you're trailering horses and wreck they will remember they were in a wreck, but a mule will remember who was driving

A guy I know used to raise horses and mules. He said a mule was ten times smarter than any horse ever dreamed of being. He trained one roping mule to work off voice commands. He also said you should never mistreat your mule, as it will never forget, and sooner or later, it will get even.

I was in Yosemite, waiting for my brother nephew and son to get back from a high trail ride. A mule was tied up in the staging area; only a piece of twine separated his back hooves from where I stood. A woman pulled up on a bicycle pulling a bike trailer with her child. She parked the bike, with the trailer squarely behind the back hooves of the mule. And the bike fell over with a clatter! A horse would have kicked out at the noise and run a quarter mile away, and only then looked to see what made that noise. The mule turned its head around; you could almost see the thought balloon "tourists!" and then calmly went back to its quiet contemplation while waiting to be ridden. A mule is just more sensible than a horse.

I remember the Grand Canyon Mules. As a kid in the 1970s, we went on that trail ride every year from 1974 to 1979. There was a steel gray mule with black legs, mane, tail and mascara named Bellamy. That mule took one look at me and snorted EACH YEAR then proceeded to completely ignore anything I asked him to do and just went along on his merry way. There used to be a couple of vista points for taking photographs and I never got to stop no matter what- he just kept going. Apparently he was in his 20s at that time, so well over twice my age and didn't think some brat had any need to stop when he knew his feed bag was at the bottom of the trail.

Mules along with draft horses, are under appreciated. You need to be patient and kind with a mule though. Unlike a horse, you can’t just bully them. It’s a more partnership oriented relationship.

Everyone made fun of my jack donkey being only 48 inches, saying he would never breed my morgan. One morning in the dim fog, the sun just coming up, something was doing wind sprints in my pasture. Upon investigation, there was my little mule soaking wet from birth. He raced from one end of the pasture and back. He didnt care about leaving his mom. She didnt care either. I named him Zoomer. He would be 23 years old now. He just came up to the house for a fig newton. One thing about mules...if they know you are going riding, they will load 6 or 7 times into the trailer, by thenselves, waiting for the stupid horse to get in. ❤❤❤

My dad was a believer in horses. He had a team of two that he used in hauling logs when he was a teenager. His dad (my grandfather) was a believer in mules. The last two mules grandfather had were Kate and Jack (which he used as plow mules). Kate was a very gentle girl, while Jack had to be the meanest mule in all of Tennessee. I feel fortunate to be an individual who can, at age 68, handle a team of mules....although I haven't done it since I was 12.

I am a mule lover and loved using them . I am 82 and have hung up my spurs but I have my memoried

I like people who don't horse around. Over 100 years ago our family had two legendary matched mules, Jake and Jehu, who were amazing working animals well into their teens. My grandfather said if a horse gets its hoof caught in a fence it will thrash its hoof off. A mule will wait for help. Great vid. There is no fool who rides a mule.

I’ve more horse experience (virtually) as a grandma of a barrel racer. However one of our horse friends took me on a trail ride on her mule. Unbelievably comfortable and secure. The mule had ideas of her own. It responded to correction. I fondly remember the vertical climbs it made so sure footed. Amazing animal! If I were ever to have enough property I would definitely invest in a mule.

Slow, steady & reliable. Sounds like my Toyota. Great educational video for back country trips. l have heard many of the same pluses about mules over horses for many years. Thanks again

Watch those ears they will point things out you mite have missed

Hi new subscriber here, I have three horses and a miniature horse and donkey. I am very interested in getting a mule for my wife who is a novice but from watching your videos we’re convinced a mule would be a great fit for her, now to find one. Take care

Fantastic video with much common sense. My father was a mule man in the sixties and seventies , everything you have said is spot on target. Thank you for sharing. Mikel

Back east in Connecticut in the '60s, I worked for a Shade Growing Tobacco Company that grew about 1000 acres a year on 10 or 15 farms. One of the old-time managers loved mules and kept about 50+ on the home farm. They were used to cultivate between the rows because a mule walked straight and would not break the leaves. A horse's back end sways and damages the precious leaves. Off-season they sold the manure to a mushroom farm.

Raised mules for over 40 years. Same mule that wins reining classes wins hunter jumper classes and packs elk during hunt season. Nothing like mule hugs❤️

I read a book called "The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey" and it gives a lot of history of the mule and its role in the founding of the US and they really are so underappreciated in that aspect. They also give a lot of historical facts like how prized the Andalusian donkey was that exportation was prohibited by Spanish law because of the superior military benefit of mules to an army. George Washington wrote to King Charles of Spain asking to purchase breeding stock and King Charles sent Washington two jennies and a jack as a Royal Gift and Washington became the first American mule breeder.

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. Very interesting to hear ❤

My dad was born in 1902 and worked teams into the 1940's. He preferred mules. Said they were calmer than horses. They also replaced horses with mules pulling the carriage rides in the Feench Quarter. Better suited to the task in the heat and commotion.

I am 5 ft tall, and think a mule would definitely suit smaller riders like me. Also, the narrower build of a mule would suit my short legs. Many years ago, I rode a mule down the Grand Canyon, and it is a treasured memory.