Re: Re: Re: Mules?

["Heidi Smith" <heidi@sagehillcmk.com>]

> *I strongly disagree that they take longer to reach condition than an
> average Arab.

I have to agree with all of your statements with the exception of the above.
You can't lump all mules into one category here.  And while you can't lump
all Arabs together, either, there is less variation among Arabs as a breed
than among mules, simply because mules have a much wider range of ancestors.
If you take a mule that is by a "regular" jack (vs a mammoth), and
preferably one that is a good using animal himself (or of a good using type)
and breed him to an Arabian or part-Arabian mare that has the sort  of
genetics for endurance metabolism and the build for it, you will get a mule
that is as easy to condition as the best Arab.  But even the "average" Arab
will condition more easily than the mules such as we see here in pack
strings, etc., that are bred from any old jack and either big, cloddy mares
so that you get big, cloddy mules that can carry 300# of non-riding dude and
his gear at a 3 mph walk into hunting camp, or out of stout, average-height
mares so that the resulting mule is not too tall to pack but can plod along
nicely with a pack at that same 3 mph walk.  Just as with horses, you tend
to get what you breed for.  And I can just about guarantee you that it would
take you longer to get many of these pack mules into endurance condition
than it does the "average" Arab.   OTOH, I've had a couple of clients over
the years who bred for good saddle mules, out of various types of good
riding mares, and yes, their mule babies were beautiful and athletic,
reflecting the quality of their breeding and the abilities to do the sorts
of things well that their respective parents could do well.  I'd say without
a doubt that if you took the dams of the last few Tevis winners and bred
them to GOOD jacks, on the whole you'd get mules that would condition as
easily as ANY Arab, not just the "average" Arab.  Not all Arabs are created
equal, and mules represent an even broader spectrum than Arabs....

Heidi