Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

At 09:50 AM 9/28/2004, Dyane Smith wrote:
> Lif, what was it about mules that made you swear off?

First, let me say that I was, perhaps unfairly, comparing each other breed 
to Arabians, since that's what I had been riding (although when I was 
growing up and riding, to my knowledge I never rode an Arabian).  Each 
breed of horse I rode came out wanting compared to Arabians, in my 
mind.  To be fair, I hadn't ridden many of each breed, so it wasn't by any 
means scientific.

But the mule I rode - half a day on ETI's Death Valley Trail ride - was... 
well, we were going through a rocky section and I felt like this mule had 
velcro on his feet and each rock had velcro strips too.  The mule was very 
careful.  I had no control over the mule's speed or foot placement, but I 
felt very safe.  When we weren't on rocks, the mule felt like he had velcro 
on his feet then, too.  This was also a very safe, secure feeling.  It was 
also a very boring feeling.  If I wanted to have a safe, secure ride with 
no control, I'd hire a chauffeur to drive an armored car.

Again, I realize that the one mule study is not scientific or fair to all 
mules.  But what I mostly didn't like about that mule was that he wasn't 
into discussion.  I had no say in the matter.  I was just a burden he was 
carrying.  What I like about Arabians (aside from other factors, like 
they're great distance horses) is that I like their reflective 
personalities.  Reflective as in mirror - they reflect what's in me.  If I 
bring trust and boldness to an Arabian, I will get trust and boldness 
back.  And I like the fact that I'm not just a burden on an Arabian's back, 
that we can be partners, with both sides having input.  We can have 
discussions from which we both gain.

I'm sure you can do that with mules and various breeds of horses other than 
Arabians, but Arabians suit my personality.

________________________________
   Lif Strand      fasterhorses.com
           Quemado NM USA
High Country Rider:  An endurance rider's journal
   www.fasterhorses.com/highcountryrider/