Gaited Mules

You really need to go with an older gaited mule that knows its job. That way it can teach u mule 101.

They r different than horses, I prefer them over horses myself. If ur into competing, mule shows dont reguarly hold gaited classes, none out my way do. So thats a consideration.

But my next trail mule will probably be gaited. It will cost u up into the $4-5K range for a well trained gaited trail mule. If u need help with reputable sellers, email me ur state & I can suggest them.

I learned to ride on the back of a mule. My grandfather let me ride as he plowed the fields, from the time i was about a year old. That particular mule died when I was 16 & and he was well into his 20's.

When he'd had enough of me, he'd remind me by deliberately walking between two perfectly spaced pine trees.
Perfectly spaced to his width, me & my knees suffered the consequences. He 'clotheslined' (literally) me once but that was my fault. I think.

Smart, yes, very. A lot of people think so. I still have a soft spot for mules & I expect that one of these days, there is going to be another one in my life. (Gaited would be a bonus!)

Mules take a bit more intuition & kindness to train. I worked with driving mules for a summer. They were not worked with all winter & wild in the beginning of the summer. They got better as the summer wore on & one young one ( most of them were 20+, he was about 10) that got injured got a lot more friendly during the time we kept him in a small paddock so we could catch him easily & work with him (well, me - the lady that managed the place was VERY lazy & did not do much).

Of course when he was turned back out in the some 20+ acre pasture with the 10 or so other mules & two big horses, he went back to his old ways.

Overall, I think proper ground work & training when a mule is young is so much more important than in horses. Mules seem to remember more & r much more likely to hold grudges, so to speak.

Like other posters said, a gaited mule is only half gaited - so he may not have inherited the gaits of the breed. Look for an older mule (7 years +). Make sure he is easy to work with & shows the gaits. Do NOT get a mule that needs a bit of 'reschooling, attitude adjustment'. Bad behavior is so much harder to correct in mules.

Getting a younger mule may be tempting so that u can train it yourself & not worry about correcting bad behaviors, but mules take a slightly different mind set to train & a younger mule may be harder to judge if he really has the gaits u r looking for. If u have someone very mule knowledgeable to help u train & can see the gaits, then a younger mule may be a good option.

ppl say that mules r stubborn
i have never had a mule of my own but have ridden them once before & have seen a few mules at my old stable..
one man owned 2 & another owned 1
mules r very smart u have to listen to them
they r very sure footed & normally have great attitudes
though these arent mules i have been training 3 donkeys
one where i volunteer & 2 others in oregon during the summmer for a few weeks
they r awsome & should be treated with respect
have fun & happy trails

I certainly have to agree with the first person who answered about the mule being very, very smart. I could be wrong on this, but in my opinion, they r either gaited or they r not. I have ridden a half Paso mule & talk about fancy moving, & a smooth seat! I do not think that u can make one, they have to be one. I guess that if one is bred that way, u can enhance the gait with a special harness, but I do not know just how long they maintain that gait without using the harness again. I just do not think that u can find a smoother ride than a gaited mule though.Take ur time & find not only a gaited mule, but one that u r compatible with.one that u like & one that likes u & respects you.

Mules r smarter than most horses & should be treated accordingly. People say they r stubborn, but it is really only that they think about what u r asking them to do & will occasionally think it does not sound like a good idea. A good mule can do anything, though they will never be as fast as a horse, & they can be agressive like the guard donkies. You also have to watch the mule closely to see if it is gaited, since the donkey is not gaited, it only has a 50% chance of being gaited, & horses that r only half gaited tend to need pro training to really learn to use the gait.