Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Size and weight of a good horse/mule?

What sizes and weights are most saddle mules or horses?

"Good" and size don't necessarily correspond. While I like a bigger horse, my 900 pound, 15.1-ish hand QH does it all for me and can haul my 220+ pound (+saddle) bulk handily through the mountains.
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<br>I'm guessing you heard the expression "size doesn't matter?" To a point, that is true with horses. I'll take good over big anyday. If I could wave my magic wand, I'd have an athletic, stable, solid 1200 pound horse of about 16 hands.
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<br>Keep in mind, a tall horse isn't much fun to load an elk onto if you aren't very tall. Also, riding through trees is easier on a shorter horse. That said, I'm 6'4" and am not terribly comfortable riding a horse where my feet hang halfway to the ground.

Speaking of size, has anyone here ever used draft horses in the mountains??? A cold blooded critter that could handle an entire elk (without boning) has some appeal.

I got a big 1100 lb foundation q-hoss thet is a lil' too big. Specially considerin he's only got #0 feet. He can sure go all day, an' I used him hard guidin'. But I really prefer a smaller pony fer mountain work. 900 to 1000 lbs, 15H sounds good. I like good beefy chests and hard (black) feet of adequate size. A 900 lb hoss should have at least an' #0 or #1 foot.
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I prefer the 14 h mules in the 8-900lb class. More handy in the timber, easier to get on and pack, and they can outwork a bigger animal lb for lb. But I'm only 5-6"
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<br>My partner rides 17 h tall walker mule an is 6-4 , like Muley, but he sure complains a lot about getting on and off, and throwing that saddle up high after three or four days,
<br> Probably a 14 1/2 h mule or 15 h horse is about optimal. in the 900 to 100lb class
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<br>I did pack two percherons on one trip many years ago, they each carried a whole elk. But they are too darn big to get around and you practically need a crane to load them, but there is lot to be said for having a little cold blood in your saddle horse. Bigger feet and cannon bones and a thicker barrel make for a better mountain horse.
<br>Today quarter horses are being bred for show , rather than work and those tiny feet don't hold up and are more trouble in boggy country.
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<br>Give me short and stocky any time over tall and gangly

saddlesore, you said a mouthfull about quarter horses being bread for looks and not work. The horsey people are going to be the death of good working horses. They are breeding all the sense out of them too. I am talking cow ponies of course but you can hardly find one now days that has any natural sense. Won't look at a cow. Skittish as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs around any thing that shows fight. Balk at any type of mud hole or water. Then you got the idiots who want race horses and if you get one of those with that blood the fool will kill you because that is all he knows. Where are the old time horses that may look like hell but would work hard and smart? I think they have all gone away.
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<br>BCR

I've used draft mules. Carry a lot. Not easy to load, specially alone. I prefer small, stocky mules with calm dispositions an' a natural attachment to humans.

Boggy, I hope they aren't all gone. My gelding is getting up there in age. Not slowing down yet, but ...
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<br>He knows a heck of a lot more about moving cattle than I do, I can throw an elk on him without him even blinking, he has a great head in the mountains, is sound and we've even caught him chasing bears out of the pasture twice! The only downfall is he can be hard to catch at times. He's running on 100 acres, so that can be an issue occasionally -- unless I bring a bucket of grain along (grin). Wish I didn't need to, but that's a small price to pay for the rest of the package...

Muley, you always have to look past the holes and see the good. About the only good quarter horses being rasied now adays are the the ones they have at ranch sales, and they are bringing a hefty price

Muley Stalker, I have used several horses in the mountains that were bred 1/2 quarter horse and 1/2 Percheon draft horse. These horses were good for crossing the Snake river, but getting on and off was a pain in the rear......best be lookin for a stump, with them standing close to 17 hands tall. I once getting in a hurry to dismount (saw an elk across the canyon) through my leg over the cantel quick like and ended up hanging like a chicken from the front porch waiting to have its throat cut. Damn that was an embaresment to say the least. Draft types just to tall for this cowboy hunter! They seem to have a harder time pulling their weight up a hill too.
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<br>Now I once had a 15.3 quarter mare that was out of a Flyin Bob Mare and a Grandson of Leo on the bottom side, she was one athletic 1/4 horse......weighed in at 1320 pounds, has an assend like a freight train. Now she could turn on a dime and give you 8 cents change.
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<br>My bear hunting buddy uses Mules that he trained. They are pretty good for getting around the mountains, much better than the draft horse combinations understand. Most of those half breed draft horses don't have much of a handle on them and kind of clumsy if you ask me, with those big emnormous hoofs on them. They looked like dinner plates.
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<br>I think the way to go is Mules or a cross between a big 1/4 mare......working type bloodlines (2eye Jack or King breeding) and a good Arabian stud for the other half, plenty of stamina. I would like to keep the size at 15.1 hands high.
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<br>Now of course you know one must acclimate his animals for the mountain hunt. We used to arrive at least 5 days early to get that done.......it help us hunters a bunch also.

I'll disagree on the quarter horse....He is still no. 1 in the arena, racetrack, show ring, cow ranch, cutting, ropeing, and about any other place you want to place him....Don't recall seeing any other breed at the National Finals this year....

Maybe you should get out of that East Texas swamp and take a trip up to the 4 sixes, King Ranch, Big Bend country, where the real ranches are, there you would see some real shiny cow ponies, and all of them are quarter horses..while your there look around Southern New Mexico on those big ranches...

You raise a horse in a pen and you got a pen raised horse....regardless of breed...

Bottom line is all horses are compared to the Quarter horse, that should tell you something...and to say they are getting bred only for show is non since in this day of artificial insemination and control breeding...Todays horse is the best in the history of the world...I'll tie my rope to any bodys saddle horn and ride off and see who tips over.

Size? That is mostly in the heart, I have seen little horses with a big heart and big horses that were just plain counterfiet, kinda like dogs, fighting cocks and men.......

I do believe that a good big horse is better than a good little horse for the most part....15.2 to 15.3 at about 1000 lbs is normally a good all around using horse....

404. your'e just predjudiced. Problem is most of those breedings you talk about are at baseline of $10Kand go up from there. The ranch gelding sales they have sure see some fine horseflesh, but how many common folks that want a good stable, big hearted mount can afford that. The ones you talk about still breed for good using horses. But other breeders are still breeding for the show ring to accomodate what the judges want.

Saddlesore,
You just might be right but I wouldn't know, I don't associate with that show crowd...

Yeah, I probably am prejudice about horses and most everything else for that matter, I made my mind up a long time ago, never saw much reason to change....

404 You are right as rain that the old time quarter horse is hard to beat. Unfortunately the horse fancy people got ahold of them years back. It is hard to find a working horse and those that have them you can't buy them for love or money. There isn't that much need any more for a true working horse, relatively speaking. Most cow work now days is done from a pickup. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Most horses now days are pet horses not working horses. The horse fancy people are doing to quarter horses the same as the dog fancy people did to Irish setters. All looks and no brain.

BCR

I'll chime in here,

Today domestic horse was ruined by US.. yep mankind.. they were a tough breed.. all of them, but we had to get our hands on them and "make them better" in which we ruined them...

A good horse and size don't always go hand in hand I agree...

for riding.. one that fits your size is good... for packing a shorter more muscular horse is good.... for trail blazing I like a tall legged horse who can walk over stuff as much as through it....

Todays quarter horese as much as I hate to admit is too specialized.... anyone would be hard pressed to find a futurity winner who could win in the show ring and then spend a month in the mountains cathering cattle or hunting.... they would become sick or injured.. most of the show horses are kept snug and cozy in a heated barn with a blanket on.. ( which ruins the immune system) that hores might win some reineing competitions, maybe some cutting or roping.. but that horse would be severly compromized in the hills on a 10* day gathering cattle...

I have the reined cow horses, the team penners and the halter horses but of all of them I have only 1 that goes to the mountains... I also have the string of pack horses, and the string of dude horses ( some are interchangeable ) then I have my horses..
smaller, muscular and with lotsa stamina. My best horse ( for now ) is a mut a cross between a foxtrotter, and quarter horse and somthin else I am not sure of.. but what he is .. is adgil, all heart, and trusts me completely as I do him.... so .. a good sized horse.. well, all depends on what you want it for....

I will tell you this, my wife and I are starting some wild mustangs.... ( my parter has several we use in the mountains ) I bet you will find a mustang hard to beat in the hills... tough as nails, intellegent, a whole lotta stamina, and fearless and a heart as big as big is!! can't believe it took this long for me to figure it out....

so all you quater horse show guys... flame away.. but your horse won't last in the hills.. I have seen to many get ruined... guys say my horse is all that and all this.. but only in an arena with the heat on.... very very tough to find a specialized 1/4 that does it all....

Mules now there is a great ride... the man you need to talk to is Jake Clark.... if you can afford it... ;-)

Boggy.As abxter Black says, the cowboy and cowhorse ain't extinct, you just can't see them from the road. A lot of the big outfits still work catle by horse

Wyowhisper,
You been reading those Zane Grey books to damn long....you raise a quarterhorse on a big ranch and use him everyday and he will be a better horse than a mustang which today is little more than a feral horse...Most mustangs are worth shooting but thats about it.

Now if someone wanted a tough horse then I'd go to the area around Ojinaga, Boquillas or somewhere in that area and buy some Mexican horses..They are a flat boned horse and small, but can pack the mail with any mule...

This show horse thing is a bunch of hooey, that is only one small segment of the horse business, and it applies to ALL breeds....I will guarentee you that you can take a race horse that is sound off the track, turn him out ot pasture for 6 months and bring him in and he will make a good horse once he acclamates to his new job...and his previous conditioning will show up, believe me...

You raise a kid in an apartment, and one on a ranch and it won't make a hell of a lot of difference who is folks are, same with horses...

If I am going to ride a horse, he sure as hell is going to be a good looking son of a gun, because I am not going to put time and effort into a dink and when it comes time to sell him, I will get top dollar because he looks good, is good and has his papers....

I get a kick out of folks that knock the quarter horse, they all say their breed is as good or better than a quarter horse, not a Throughbred, not a Arab, not a Tenn. walker, but always a quarter horse, Want to know why, because the quarter horse is still and allways will be Americas number one horse...He owns the rodeo world, cutting horse world, calf roping arenas, show arenas, cow penning, team roping, jerk down roping, and is the horse of preference on all the really big ranches in the USA and Hawaii...

So rave on, but as you learn you too will see the error of your ways, and stay away from those Sunday playdays there messing you up..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I guess this is why I started to ride mules 30 yrs ago. Too darn much arguing as to what's the best horse breed. To me horses are all dumber than a box of rocks and thier only good use in this world is to make mules. I guess my predjudice for mules is probably stronger than 404 's one for 1/4 horses. If they have 2 long ears, a leg on each corner, and do what I want them to do, That's what I need. The best color is broke.

I'm not saying there aren't good horses in all breeds cause there are. I am not saying that good working horses don't exist anymore because they do. What I am saying is that pet horses outnumber working horses by a ratio of about ten to one. Horses that have never known a hungry day, horses that can't live on grass, horses that will go lame on you if you ride them barefoot for five mile, horses that won't bust water or brush unless towed by a truck, horses that don't know how to get out of the wind and huddle up and there is going to get to be less and less sure enough working horses and mules because there is a lot more folks that want pet horses than need working horses. Want them pretty and able to prance and ride down a trail behind a feed wagon and that is about all. Mules may hold out longer because there are few who want them or know what to do with them when they get them.

BCR

404,

Nope don't read Zane Grey can't even say I know who he is nor do I care....

I never said I don't prefer the quater horse.. I have several that are mountain poundin' son's of a buck ...

I only speak from experience in the hills.. I have worked with and around many a mustang that put mules and other horses to shame.... alot can be said for feet that don't need shod and how many of your horses could survive a parasite load 100 times greater than it is.. how many of your horses can get fat on sage brush and then go to work in the hills, how many of your horses can stand the -0 temps day after day and still work..
you cannot deny the Mustang is on of the toughest horses going..
the show horse thing is fun .. keep it keeps you with somthing to do in the winter... I just don't mis the show horse with my mountain horses.. at least until they are done in the ring or whatever they are doing...
I agree you can "teach' any horse to be a hrose or to do a job for ya.. just some are better suited for the job than others.. thats how I pick my mountian horses..

I have papered horses from here to Christmas, I even have a great grandson of Doc Bar, ( and Doc Bar is on the paper ) I have 2 eyed jack, Poco horses, Skiper W, etc, etc....

but your way to cught up in the papered thing.. when it is all said and done it is just paper.. last time I checked you can't ride paper.... for that mater you can't ride looks...

I beleive the original post was about function not looks....

I never knocked the quarter horse why would I own over 20 of them...

for every dink you over look, if you look at him for the horse he is and ability you might find a real good worker.. papers don't work for you.. looks don't work for you...

Now if you a trader or breeder thats different.. My wife is a breeder, I know the game...

my point was I have other horses beside quarter horses that will flat out work them in the hills... I pick and buy for the ability, not looks or paper when it comes to hunting and mountain pounding.....