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VTP Members Write |
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Connie Melton
Cape Fair, Missouri |
Nov 30, 2007 |
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I have been riding these long-eared darlins’
for about 34 years. It all started when my husband wanted to try out
the new thing of coon hunting with mules. It didn’t take long and I
was shopping around for a little bigger saddle mule to use for
trail riding.
I’ve had quite a few mules…some really great; some not so good, but
they all possessed those unique qualities of being surefooted,
toughness and the never ending “I bet I can out think you”
personality.
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Connie & Gunner at Quashita
Mts in Cedar Lake, OK |
I am presently riding a pair of sorrel mules, “Gunner and Gator”
that are full brothers out of a foundation quarter mare and by the
jack “Silver”, son of Texas Scooter. I have logged around 750
hours on these two in the last four years and I have recently turned
in my log sheets for a total of 1200 hours since 1999. I also have a
bay mule that is 25 years old and I have now retired “Rascal” to
light riding. “Rascal” has truly been one of the great ones and he
has logged his share of those 1200 hours.
When I first joined NASMA it was just to participate in the
Versatility Trail Program; I have now learned more about how
dedicated this association is in their efforts to support the world
of Mules and Donkeys.
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Connie, Gator & Zip (dog)
at Solitude Lake in Buffalo WY |
I have really great riding here in the Ozarks of the Mark Twain
National Forest and I am so Blessed to live and ride in this
beautiful area. However, the biggest thrill of all is to ride the
mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico…what a “rush” to spend
several hours climbing a majestic mountain on your favorite mule and
then break over a mountain pass to see a sight that is beyond
description.
I am looking forward to 2008 and my guys wearing out their share of
mule shoes!!
| Remember: |
“It has been said that a horseshoe will
bring you good luck………..
But a muleshoe will bring you their strength, humility and
faithfulness.” |
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By: “CJ” Melton |
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Marguerite Sloan
Forsyth, Missouri |
Jun 25, 2007 |
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"My 500 Hour Story"
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I am just 20 hours from my 500 goal, I
think, so I decide to send in my log to have previous years
submitted. I am surprised to find I have shorted myself and all
ready have reached my 500 hour goal. Yah!
These 250 hours have taken some time to achieve due to my job and
our move from Kansas to Missouri. Hopefully, the next 250 hours with
Jamie will be as enjoyable.
 Jamie
and I achieved my goal to ride in a Competitive Trail Ride
competition. We entered in the Competitive Pleasure division, since
I am not eligible for Novice and both of us not conditioned for
Open. I am so proud of Jamie’s performance on the trail. She worked
the trail calmly, not at all like the first time horses I have
ridden. Her pulse and respiration checks were good (no holds), but
she did lose manner points for moving and not allowing the P&R team
to approach. She is shy with strangers, but by the end of the first
day decided the P&R team is giving her a time to rest.
Unfortunately, we did not place mostly due to rider mistakes, but in
my mind she is a first place mule.
I would like to tell the whole competitive ride story, but I will
spare you that agony with just one exciting paragraph.
I just finish getting a drink and am putting the bottle in the
cantle bag when we see people coming toward us. They
are not only people, but back packers
who look very deformed, and there are so
many! Jamie decides she would like to go to camp in the opposite
direction. I get her under control, only to do another spin into the
safety riders’ space. One safety horse cautiously takes the lead. It
takes all of Jamie’s courage to scoot by those monsters. We meet two
more groups of hikers without such a big reaction, but Jamie watches
them closely as we scoot by.
Fortunately, this was not a judging observation on the trail. It
is incidents like this that make riding so exciting, but getting to
camp in one piece is more rewarding!
Well, I lied; I just have to share more of the competitive trail
ride.
Our Sunday morning check is a trot by the judges. Jamie is sound and
a friend cheers for me. Yeah, I know, misery loves company. They
want me to suffer with them.
We wait awhile to be timed out on the trail. In the meantime, Jamie
is getting compliments such as, “She is so pretty, and I am not even
a mule person!” Many riders are surprised to find Jamie is
half-Arab. I am answering questions about her like, “Where did you
get her?” (She came from Leroy Van Dyke’s Pawnee Ranch in Missouri.)
“What is her name?” “How long have you had her?” “How was your ride
yesterday?” “Is she smooth to ride?”
This is different than on Saturday. I’m sure I could see some
smirks on some of those faces Saturday morning.
Today’s first observation is just off yesterday’s trail. We are to
ride between trees keeping ribbons on our right. Now Jamie is no
fool, and can see where the trail is, and it is right where we left
it yesterday. We have a little discussion, but she finally hurries
by on the observation trail. Jamie does not want to spend too much
time that close to those people (judges).
Reporters from the Associated Press were there to write an
article and take pictures which were published in the Washington
Times, but of course Jamie and I were not in the picture.
Jamie is so aware of everything and points (with her ears) to things
of interest on the trail, sometimes to really scary things, such as
cow-pies. She is sure a monster lives there. I do enjoy seeing more
on the trail, although I have never seen the cow-pie-monster. We
have since moved, and may face new challenges, such as bears and
wild hogs.
Jamie feels stronger to me, and is pulling the hills better this
year by using her rear-end. She changes each season. Jamie seems to
have a continually changing figure, and has reached the tall height
of 14-3. She is 8 years this year and I certainly hope she will not
grow any taller. I need a body that gets younger as she grows
taller. Her changing figure has me looking for a better fitting
saddle again.
Jamie has become very accustom to picking up her feet for cleaning
since we need to check for rocks each day. She expects a treat for
her good behavior, but sometimes she likes to tease me by picking up
the foot on the opposite side. She knows daggum well that I have
cued for the foot next to me. She even thinks she should have a
treat after she has been brushed…..wait a minute; there’s something
wrong with this picture. I think I should be getting the
treat! Oh well, she’s worth it anyway!
I love Jamie’s fun personality, and the rides are always over too
soon.
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Claudia Spain
Napa, California
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Oct 20, 2006 |
 First
I want to say how much I enjoy NASMA. It's a great resource
for anything Mule.I got my first mule about 5 yrs ago. She was 17
hands and a great mule but just to tall..... I found MaeBelle on the
internet last Nov. and had her shipped down from Canada. At 15.2
hands she has turned out to be a great Gal. We have bonded well and
enjoy may trails together. This summer I broke my ankle so lost
about two months of riding but I'm back in the saddle again. So far
this year we have 124 hours on the trail.
Besides Mae Belle I also have two other mules one is a 7 mo old
john and the other is a yearling molly. They are both out of TB
mares and by U.C. Davis Action Jackson. I hope that one of them will
be driving material as Driving is something I would like to learn.
Well that's a little about me. ~ Claudia ~ |
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Patti Dollarhide
Newton, Kansas |
Oct 20, 2006 |
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"Why do you have to ride a
Mule?"
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 This innocent question was asked at the start of the
second day of a competitive trail ride by a horse riding
co-competitor. Although a simple question, it was hard to answer in
one sentence. She had witnessed Redbud, my 9 year old mule, roll six
times while tied up, get loose and curiously wander around camp, and
urinate in the middle of the stream every time we came to one. The
last antic was probably the most frowned upon by the other 41 horse
riders. They were intent on watering their horses at every
opportunity along the trail, and didn’t think too highly of Red’s
relaxation therapy while crossing the water.I’ve owned Redbud for almost two years and we have done a variety of
different events including a couple of NATRC competitive trail
rides, a dog field trial, an organized Quarter Horse trail ride,
other beautiful Kansas day trips, local horse shows, and even the
Kansas State Fair. He is proving to have a willingness to go, has
lots of endurance and stamina, and has a crazy mule personality to
go with it all.
 NASMA’s Versatility Trail Program encouraged us to add variety to
our trail riding. It is a self-monitored project and has shown me
how easy it is to log your time and track your progress. We are
approaching 50 hours of trail riding this summer, and look forward
to more!
At the end of our 2nd competitive ride in which Redbud did every
obstacle and checked out 100% sound after going up and down
difficult terrain for two days barefooted, a co-competitor asked
“Where can I get a mule?”
I’d say Redbud is doing his share in promoting mules after all.
~ Patti ~ |
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Christine Duval-Senty
Verona, Wisconsin
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Sep 14, 2006 |
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 Let
me begin by saying that I haven't had as much time to trail ride
this summer as I would have liked. I have learned that working
full-time and caring for an infant means less time in the barn and
on the trails! Our family did manage a pack trip into the Big Horn
Mountains in August where we rode about 40 miles in 5 days. Each day
our destination was a mountain lake where we fly-fished for
cut-throat trout. The weather was fabulous and we saw plenty of
wildlife (elk, mule deer, partridge, grouse, turkeys, rock chucks,
etc)! I've logged about another 10 miles riding the coulees in
Wisconsin with family and friends. I can't wait for fall trail
riding...the colors, the leaves...and no mosquitoes!
In the photo, I'm on the left (in the cowboy hat) on my mule Pass
the Buck. My mom is on my right on her mule, Sweetheart. We're
overlooking Lake Solitude in the Big Horn Mountains at about 10,000+
feet. ~ Christine ~ |
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Bob and Jan Davis
Auburn, California
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Sep 8, 2006 |
 I’ve
had Brayer Hill Othello for about 8 years and he continues to be a
great trail and camping mule. He’s 16 yrs old. I have around 1100
hours of logged riding time. We did enjoy our annual week long trip
to Hunewill Guest Ranch tucked away in the Bridgeport Valley of the
Eastern Sierra mountains where we rode every day for a week. A month
after that we returned to the Eastern Sierra mountains and camped
for another week and helped our friends stage the annual 30/50 mile
Eastern High Sierra Classic endurance ride that we helped start 21
years ago. For the last few years Jan and I rode in the 30 mile
limited distance ride and also opened gates on the trail course.
There is a funny story about Othello last year on the 30-mile
endurance ride. He was in good shape and decided he wanted to really
move out. We ended up doing the 30-mile rugged mountain course in
about 4 ˝ hours. However, the last mile or two, Jan’s Arab was
loping down a sandy road towards the finish line. Othello was trying
to keep up but I could tell he was getting hot and tired. Finally,
Othello just said “see ya later!” and started walking (although he
wasn’t real happy about the fact that Redman wouldn’t walk too). At
this endurance ride, you weren’t officially finished until your
animal’s heart rate dropped down to 60 beats per minute. When I got
to the finish line a few minutes after Jan, she was taking Redman’s
saddle off, sponging him down, letting him drink, and trying to get
his heart rate down to 60. I walked in on Othello, and told the
pulse taker that I thought he was fine. They took his pulse and it
was 58, so I technically beat Jan on her Arab. I guess that’s just
an example of mules taking care of themselves, which I love.
Jan rides on Monday mornings with a group of ladies who are at
various levels of Parelli Natural Horsemanship training. They do a
trail ride and ask their horses to do different things instead of
just going nose to tail along the trail. All of the ladies wanted
her to bring Othello so their horses could get used to mules. Jan
took Othello last Monday and said he did great. The ladies were
introducing their horses to him. He could care less and went about
his business of quietly ambling down the trail despite all the hub-bub
around him. Several horses wanted to follow him due to his quiet,
predictable nature. Othello is a really nice mule and gets lot’s of
compliments from everyone that meets him. He’s healthy and happy and
has never been sick a day since we got him. I’ looking forward to a
lot more years on the trail with Othello. ~ Bob ~ |
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