Doing some changing around

saddlesore · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:34 pm Post subject: Doing some changing around

Since I got banged up pretty good during last Sept ML season from that crazy mule running of with me, I have been doing some re-organizing.
I sold my big gooseneck stock trailer and then bought a little 6&1/2 ft slide in pop up camper for the Dodge and 3 horse slant load bumper pull trailer.

Age is creeping up on me and has slowed me down considerably. Putting up a big wall tent and setting up the whole camp by myself leaves me too tired to hunt so hopefully this new set up will help me out in that respect .

I had to put my older good mule down last spring as he had cancer and one of the problems I had with the mule last season is I borrowed the one I was packing. It kept snatching grass as it was being ponied and that help lead me to my demise with the run away.

I returned that mule and about a month ago I picked up another smaller one, but she is not working out. I think she was let run with horses too long and is to buddy sour. Luckily I had her on trail with no money passing hands, so she is going back.

I'm traveling up to the NW part of the state next month to look at another and it is suppose to be a great bomb proof mule for an old fart like me. It's been roped off of, worked cattle, led pack strings, and packed itself with a lot of different things.

Hopefully I can stretch a few more years in the high country chasing elk with this whole set up.

Magic · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 6:35 am Post subject:

SS, I totally agree with the truck camper decision. Mine has worked wonderful since 2004 with no cold tents and no sleeping on the ground.

Hopefully the new mule will also work for you. Us old farts need all of the help that we can get.

Keep us updated.

GregE · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:06 am Post subject:

INteresting read- hope things work out for you. You aer one of my icons on' keeping on keeping on...'

Buddy sour? Not used to working but hanging with horses?

saddlesore · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject:

[quote="GregE
Buddy sour? Not used to working but hanging with horses?[/quote]

They get so attached to another horse or mule, that you can't get them away. Mules are particularly bad at it. That is why you see most pack strings of mules being led by a horse. The mules will follow one anywhere.

Running mules with horses in open pasture is about the worse thing you can do with a good saddle mule. Fine if you want a pack mule only.