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Post by atticus on Mar 18, 2008 15:31:27 GMT -5
I got this email and we are full of horses right now so cannot take another in, but this guy needs help.
Hi: I've had Smokey (10 yr old mule) for 9 years. I discovered this Feb. that due to leaving him in my green pasture too long last summer that he got foundered (bigtime my mistake). I had been planning on selling him this year because I am not only going thru a divorce but also retiring and moving. I am selling my home w/20 ac and will be leaving the area and have not bought or rented another place.
What can you guys do to help me with this situation?
He is getting better, quit limping now and my shoer says to get him in a stall or small paddock and he should get better by middle of the summer.
He is 16+ hands tall, weights about 1200, dark bay color with red points, and black mane and tail. Half thorougbred out of a mule breeder from Eugene, Or. He has been my riding mule and I truely love him but due to my hard times coming up I need your help. Can u guys take him, I will give him to you? At one time I was offered $4500 for him.
thanks: Amador Aguirre, 13500 NE Brookside Lane, Carlton, OR. 97111
tele: 503-864-8012 (home) or email me amador_aguirre@yahoo.com
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Post by highcountry on Mar 18, 2008 15:58:53 GMT -5
I just sent an email with a few questions to Amador. I'm interested.
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Post by atticus on Mar 20, 2008 11:07:07 GMT -5
HighCountry,
Did you find out anything from Amador?
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Post by watermarkfarm on Mar 20, 2008 12:55:43 GMT -5
Oh man!! This is someone's chance for a dressage mule!
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Post by highcountry on Mar 21, 2008 15:16:42 GMT -5
Dressage mule was exactly what I was thinking.
Yes, I talked with the owner. I'm going that way next week for a training clinic. Looks like I'll probably be bringing a mule back home with me.
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Post by watermarkfarm on Mar 21, 2008 17:43:18 GMT -5
Good luck!
My daughter competes on a TB mule and regularly beats the horses! She is showing in a dressage show tomorrow...
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Post by jenm on Mar 22, 2008 1:23:17 GMT -5
We LOVE dressage mules...please keep us posted on the outcome!
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Post by highcountry on Apr 1, 2008 14:32:42 GMT -5
I picked up Smokey this past weekend. He is officially on a diet and he will get his feet trimmed this week. I was able to work with him last night. He respects my space and gives to pressure. I did get him to move out on a lunge line. He has a very smooth trot. I didn't ask for much because his feet are so long.
He's 16.3 and guessing 1400 pounds. No fancy dressage moves with that waistline. I'll get him slimmed down and find out what else he knows. He does seem to be a very good boy so far. I'll add pictures later.
The previous owner felt really bad that he had allowed him to founder. He wanted to make sure he found a good home. He was a very kind gentleman. Thanks Amadore.
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Post by watermarkfarm on Apr 1, 2008 15:59:59 GMT -5
Great news, highcountry! Keep us updated! Do you think he's a draft mule or he's just "portly?"
Getting him slimmed down will make him feel so much better. Post some pictures!
Katie
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Post by pnp4kidz on Apr 1, 2008 17:39:15 GMT -5
Taffy was in OR I think, and she made 4 mule babies.. draft cross mule babies... :-) might be a Taffy baby... never know!
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Post by highcountry on Apr 2, 2008 11:13:54 GMT -5
He does't have draft feet. I like to word, "Portly". Very PC.
We took the first inch of extra hoof off of him last night. In another month or so we will wittle a little more off. Great hoof walls. I wish my Walker gelding had hoof walls like that.
Anyone familiar with a mule breeder in Eugene? The story goes he's out of a reg. TB mare but have no idea who the Jack was. That would be good information to have if I could find it.
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Post by highcountry on Apr 4, 2008 14:11:04 GMT -5
Here is Smokey, all 1350 pounds of him  To give you a size comparison, I'm 5'8" tall and I can barely look over his back. By the time we finish getting his feet in shape he will be another 1.5 - 2" shorter. |
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Post by watermarkfarm on Apr 8, 2008 15:23:26 GMT -5
He's darling! He definitely looks horsemule to me and could sure be part TB --- his legs and back end are very horsey... Lucky guy to have you! Can't wait to hear how he progresses. Here is our TBx mule....Odie with my daughter, who is 13. This was at a recent dressage show. You can tell that his dad was a spotted jack....But Odie has the movement of a TB (most of the time!)  |
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Post by highcountry on Apr 9, 2008 15:07:03 GMT -5
Considering his size and the condition of his feet, he still has a floating trot. I hope to get on him this weekend. Right after I find a really long cinch for my western saddle.
I moved him one paddock away from my mare last weekend. He's done nothing but pace up and down the fenceline since. He pivots and turns in the same spot. There is now a huge whole and muddy mess from his pacing.
I decided to save my pasture and put him back up near the Mare (I hope she never figures out how much power she has over him). His legs and the ends of his tail were caked with mud from pacing. I decided to try to wash some of it off. Apparently he's done that before and stood pretty quiet while I hosed off most of the mud. Can you imagine chasing a 1300 pound mule with a water hose?
So far he seems to be a very good boy, as long as it's his idea.
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Post by atticus on Apr 11, 2008 10:09:31 GMT -5
HC He looks awesome!!! Thanks so much for saving him!
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Post by watermarkfarm on Apr 11, 2008 11:55:22 GMT -5
>>>So far he seems to be a very good boy, as long as it's his idea<<<<
He sounds like a mule!
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Post by highcountry on Apr 17, 2008 12:16:20 GMT -5
Yesterday afternoon we went for our first trail ride. We discovered Smokey doesn't like bicycles. At least not when they are cruising past him.
My property backs up against a public, non-motorized recreational trail. There are two parallel trails. One is paved, one is not. When they designed the trail they tried to keep the two trails at least a few feet seperated. Due to some physical restrictions the portion of trail near my property, the two trails are right next to each other.
All poor Smokey could understand was there was something moving at him at a high rate of speed and he didn't know what it was. Being the ever cautious mule, you spin and leave. At 1350 pounds, it's amazing how agile he is.
We had a very rude experience with one male cyclist and thankfully ended the ride with a very patient female cyclist. She got off her bike and let us walk up to her so Smokey could check out the scary monster. It's amazing what a little respect will do.
I guess I'll have to put Smokey in the pasture closest to the trail. He can watch the bikes go by until he gets tired of looking.
Overall, the big floppy ears were calm and relaxed, minus the bikes. He's a good boy.
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Post by kidznhorses on Apr 17, 2008 12:32:07 GMT -5
Smokey is absolutely beautiful! You are a lucky duck!  ) I'll bet he will be used to those scary darn bikes in no time. Good idea putting him by the bike path. Can't wait for more updates and pics! You're going to have so much fun with him! |
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Post by pnp4kidz on Apr 17, 2008 13:46:56 GMT -5
Oh I wish we had a bike path!!!
I think Bob Marley needs one! He is also TERRIFIED of those weird wheeled monsters!
well, only on the trail... they are FINE at the horse shows when they are ridden where they are supposed to be, in the street! even if that is only a foot away... but on a TRAIL??? No way! they are MONSTERS!!! worth a spin and run I tell ya!
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) I'll bet he will be used to those scary darn bikes in no time. Good idea putting him by the bike path. Can't wait for more updates and pics! You're going to have so much fun with him!