Hi! This site is the best I've found for answering farm questions. We bought a small mule today. He's about the size of a large shetland pony. He's 4 years old and gentle to ride and lead.

Will his hooves be easier to care for than a horse's? How can we train him to pull a small cart or a small plow? Does he need the same kind of wormer that horses need?

He shares pasture with goats, ducks, geese, and chickens, all free range animals. Is this ok? He gets good grass mixed with vetch on pasture, does he need grain at all? Or how much if he does need grain? Do mules take the same kind of bit that ponies do?

We had the choice of this mule or a really nice looking pony and chose the mule because we've always heard they're tougher. We want to do right by him and are aware that he could live another 25 years or more. We're in this for the long haul. Any advice would be appreciated. ( We have small children who are just now learning to ride and take care of large animals.)

Thank you.

-- Janet (jjohnson12@hotmail.com), April 16, 2000

Answers

What fun! I love mules, but don't have one (yet). One piece of advice that I can offer concerns grain: be very careful! If you have good pasture/hay and you are not working the animal very hard, he probably won't need any grain at all. This past winter, one of our donkeys foundered from eating grain. It was all my fault, because I just couldn't accept the fact that just because he WANTED grain didn't mean he should have it! Even the small amount I fed him daily was too much for this particular animal. Fortunately, he recovered pretty well, and he gets no grain whatsoever now. Nor does our Standardbred mare. Both are healthy & vigorous on just a good grass-mix hay. If you do decide to feed grain, give no more than what you can cup in your hands. It's hard to get used to feeding such a small amount, but it is healthier. This is assuming, of course, that your animal is healthy, free of parasites, and has good teeth.

-- Shannon Lentz (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), April 17, 2000.

Janet: You will love your little mule. Know several people who have them, and their just like horses as far as care and treatment. My husband has taken several courses and is a certified farrier, and his opinion is that their feet are better than horses, and easier to shoe, if they are tame! Just his opinion. The previous note about grain is true, they CAN founder or colic if given too much. We tend to spoil them sometimes, to the animal's detriment, by giving them everything they want, but don't need. Just as children don't need tons of candy, but the want it! You will need to vaccinate, worm, etc. just the same as you would a horse. Good luck, and enjoy! Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), April 17, 2000.

Janet, I was raised around horses, showing, now I show goats. You need to halter break him first and when he will lead readily, you can simply attach reins with snaps to the halter and have someone walk behind the mule to get him used to it. Then you add some resistance by having the person behind pull on the reins. We then as kids would use or little red wagon (my Mom who even at 72 has horses at the Arab Nationals, is cringing right now!!!) In the Jeffers Equine Catalog they have excellent books, and videos on this subject, 1800-jeffers. Make sure that any grain on your place is not medicated, goat feed that contains Lasalocid or Bovetec can kill your mule. You are going to have such fun! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 17, 2000.