Oh my goodness TB, Katy is beautiful!!!
Out of curiosity, is the upkeep on mules less than horses? They seem so much more hardy...
Like most kids I always wanted a horse, but now I'm of an age that if I ever had the opportunity a nice-tempered mule (is there such a thing?) might be better and maybe more fun with their personality?
I think she is a dream. My neighbor owns Katy and her side kick Belle along with her small herd of Appaloosas that she breeds.
I used to be the same way, always dreamed of the day I could own horses and now that I have the land and time...well....I'm just not the age I once was and find that two dogs and a husband are enough of a challenge these days.
Besides, it seems that I have always been lucky enough to live close to someone that already owns them and end up being able to get all the horse therapy I ever wanted.
As for upkeep, mules vs horses....well....like any animal...they both have maintenance and if you're looking for personality....Mules definitely have lots of it.
Vet bills and winter feed are what shy me away from owning them or horses....just the other day, old Belle ran them a vet bill of 500bucks. Of course she is up there in age and had to have x-rays because of some back trouble.
Katy is a hug-a-bug but will sneak into the chicken house with Belle if given the chance. Or sometimes, they will see an opportunity to take a stroll along the road to go visit the neighbors.
As for hardiness?....I have talked to a few mule owners that agree mules seem hardier than horses, but they also said because mules are more laid back than horses that it tends to be harder to tell when they are getting sick as it's a little harder to read the signs.
And yes, I believe there is such a thing as a "nice-tempered mule", just like there is such a thing as a nice-tempered pit bull.
Temperament is all in the way they are bred, raised and handled and I would say it reflects the personality of whoever owns one. Hence, if you have a stubborn mule....you probably have a stubborn owner who is lacking in patience. Animals are really good at reading people...specially mules.
I'll ask my neighbor and see if she'll list some of the differences out between the two since she's bred and raised both Mules and Horses for years.
Anyhoots, I better scoot tail off here before I babble on too much more......once a hermit starts talking....sometimes it's hard to get them to shut up.
