Mules are what I do. I raise miniature mules on purpose! My jack was raised with mares since he was a yearling. He won't touch a jenny.
*Mules come from mares so they carry 11 months, just like a horse foal.
*Jacks can be very aggressive when breeding and can hurt you very easily. You must be VERY careful and alert at all times. If you pasture breed, your mare is going to be bitten. Jacks like it rough, the rougher the better.
*Mules are mules no matter what size they are. They typically bond to one person and will be loyal to that one. I try not to bond with the ones I intend to sell just for that reason.
*Mules are much like their father, the donkey. They are very intelligent and need lots of time and patience for training. You cannot force a mule (or donkey) to do something they don't want to do or think will hurt them. Give them time and let them learn it is OK to do what you want them to do.
*Some jacks won't touch a mare and some mares won't go near a jack. You have to watch and see what's going on. If the mare won't stand for a jack, I use a stallion to tease the mare from the front and bring my jack in from behind when she (and he) is ready. Sometimes I'm there for an hour waiting for Kilroy to "be ready"
.
*GELD the johns before they are very old!!!!!! I like to get mine done before they are 3 months old. I'm dealing with a mistake right now.
*Mules are extremely strong animals. Stronger than you'd think. At 3 months, my first mule was fighting being trimmed on his last leg. We laid him down and 200# hubby laid across him so I could finish. Little 30# mule threw him off and let us know he would have none of that.
I'm here and willing to answer any questions you have. I love my mules! I have much more info for you but won't bore the horse community with it all! You can email direct if you want,
[email protected]
My mistake: Pepper is an adorable 2 yr old now. Unfortunately, he was sold to some non-mule people. I told them he needed to be gelded ASAP. OK.......First excuse he wasn't dropped, then he had trouble breathing and the vet was worried about sedation. Then, when they decided it was time (as a long yearling) 3 people couldn't hold him to get him tranq'd. They said they had him hanging from the rafters
. Then they decided to buy a mare and bring her in and of course, she gets stalled next to him. I picked him up and he's home now. He will be gelded on July 1 and will spend the next 3-4 months in rehab here learning that he isn't a stud and respect for others.
and gave it a few days to see if he was seriouse about it. Well he brought it up again today. So I called around and did a barter trade on some farrier work with a customer of mine who owns a tiny 29 inch registered gray mini jack. Saturday I will be bringing him home and getting him preped to breed my mare who is a 33.75 inch bay.
