Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Best type of horse for hunting?

Well said SS. Don't fergit to allays look a mule in the eye. You can see 'em thinkin' there.

I grew up with mules as our work animals, all were either from Walkers or standard breds. Mules are hard to beat, if you have the time and disposition to train them.
The main thing a lot of folks don't savy when dealing with mules is the fact that are smart mule is your partner, not your slave.
We had mules that after you used the scraper on the feed lot and unhooked from the scraper, would just walk on over to the sled and wait to be hooked up.
My family even had some that were bred from Percherons, for hauling out logs. These things were huge, around 17- 18.3.,but very gentle. Grandpa got them from an Amish guy in Ohio, in the 30's, and rode them back to Ky. almost 275 miles! They never replaced them as the small dozers took their place.

Well, I'm new to this forum and thought I'd have a say...I was born and raised on a 100,000 acres of slick rock, cactus and high rough rocky mountains of the Big Bend Country of Texas, near the Big Bend Nat'l. park and next to Mexico. I also had several ranches leased in that area...Grew up breaking mules every summer for the local ranches and a lot of them...One thing I'm sure of, and that is God put mules on this earth because cowboys are natural born sinners and he needed to teach them a lesson.....Mules were handy in the slick rock because if you never shoed them then their feet would stay hard...We used half mamoth half Mexican Jacks, the mexican jack would give the colts some fire. I rode a lot of Hennys and I liked them, but they were harder to break and train, but sure were better looking..Enough wet saddle blankets made them all work like the should..Today we don't use animals hard enough to make them any good. We rode some of those mules every day for 10 to 16 hours a day. today I would consider that a waste of time.

I'll take a good stout 15.2 hands quarter horse over the rest of the breeds...I'll take a good mule if one is around and that ain't often, but I will only hunt off him, he is too slow to catch a cow..but then I'm not a packer persay, I have always worked cattle, roped on Sunday, and gave most of that up for the Hunting business...but its good to sit and read this stuff.

thanks for letting me ramble.

404, There is a lot of wisdom in your words. At my age, I don't have to do anything in a hurry any more. However, there are folks in the Nevada, Utah ranches that work cattle off mules with grate success, and they will out last a horse in the heat. But you know those buckaroos in that country are all crazy. I bought mules form an old mormon down in Kirtland NM , west of Farmington for quite a few years.He ran !/4 s and walker mares and bred to mammoth jacks with a little bit of mexican jacks in them,. He sold 3 times the number of walker mules than 1/4 mules to those buckaroos because they could cover more ground than the shorter 1/4 mules. Since I wasn't buying as many, I always had to plunk money down a year in advance during the breeding to assure I got a few. I sure liked those wallker mules, but time and age got the best of me and now I prefer a shorter mule.

I worked cows in my teens many years ago, and don't care if I ever mess with another one except to eat it, and that is pretty rare as I keep the larder stocked with elk.

Saddlesore,
A lot depends on the country your in I suspect..the walker mules can sure handle getting over the blow down timber better than the Mexican mules, but the little Mexican mule is tougher and can last longer under tougher conditions especially since his mama was probably the worst mare on the ranch and had a habit of killing good cowboys so they bred her to a jack, that colt hated man from day one, but he would always be a wolf and pack the mail...He would also lurk on you and the minute you relaxed you were done for......Man, I loved those days, and don't ask me why?? We use the big mules here in Idaho, but I sure get tired of spurring. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, I suspect the breed is secondary on a hunting horse...I will take the strongest , dirty broke plumb gentle, good footed one in the pen......

Here's my lil' darlin' Annabelle. Notice she ain't tied. She will foller me 'round like a pup.

But she has short ears!!!!!!. My ex wife would follow me around too. Then I learned she was only looking to steal my wallet. How's that new saddle feel?

Fits Annabelle real good, but she won't answer when I ask how it feels. The big tank will git set up for Tonka. You can see from thet picture thet its a lil' big for Annabelle. I sure like the lighter weight factor. Too bad my biggest hoss gits the heaviest saddle throwed up on him.

Dear Beagle Hunter,

You have received excellent advice from wise & experienced horse & mule people. They clearly know what they are talking about!

My perspective is a bit different. You are in east Carolina, and I am north of you in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. As you might guess from the colour of my coat, a lot of my hunting is done in pursuit of wily Reynard and his tree-climbing grey cousins. I have also done a lot of trail riding up on the Blue Ridge and in the Alleghenies. In the 1970's, I worked as a mountain climbing guide in Wyoming, British Columbia, and Alberta, and packed into the backcountry with many different outfitters & wranglers - and with many different sorts & conditions of horses & mules. Some real ladies & gentlemen, and some blasted infernal rogues! (I refer to the horses and mules; let's leave the humans out of it.) There was one black, 18 hand Thoroughbred with little piggy eyes named Genghis Khan who deserved every syllable of his name! Last summer, I went twice into the Sawtooth backcountry in Idaho with a first rate outfitter, who used various horse breeds and mules. So, I have seen something of horses & mules, East & West.

Over the years, I have been involved in training a number of fox-hunters and have learned a lot from experienced mentors. A loud AMEN! to the comments recommending patience and a sense of humour. I find that a rather rubberoid anatomy helps as well.

In our fox hunt and in the neighboring hunts, you do see folks out on mules. The mules jump the fences - a little square, but they jump them. A mule has a well-developed sense of self-preservation. If a mule decides that jumping a four foot fence at a hand gallop and landing on downsloping ice on the other side is a poor idea, that mule is just not going - the end!! A horse will have a go, if you know your mind and leave no doubt about it, and, if it is a good horse, will usually stand up. That's not an enterprise for every afternoon, but, when the pack is running on, the busy road is ahead, and you are the whipper-in, well ... you just have to go.

Here are my views on breeds - for what they are worth. A good Morgan of the old cavalry stamp, with bone and substance, - first rate! The various big German/Dutch/Danish/Swedish warmbloods are called "dumb-bloods" for very good reasons. I have on occasion been so foolish as to ride my wife's Thoroughbred on the sort of expedition described above. Good-looking, fast, lots of staying power, braver than Bayard, quite insane, excellent jumper, would drop dead before quitting, and won't tolerate any mistakes in riding by whoever is on board. A tremendous engine requiring a skilled hand at the throttle. In the barn & out in the pasture? Not called "Thoroughbad" for nothing. I think that's true of many, many TB's - not all, but many.

Muleskinner is right about Apps. The present day version is not as of the days of yore. I have two App/TB crosses. One is a great character, a dreadful spooker, and will actually try to save my posterior in a tight spot. The other is the finest horse, all round, that I ever hope to have, but really could care less about anything other than food. With any cross, you are not sure what you'll get - could be great; could be ... the reverse.

Many "Eastern" horses do not have the tough feet to stand up to Western conditions. They would get stone bruises just thinking about some trails in the Selkirks, Canadian Rockies, or Sawtooths. Too many buyers have been too long seduced by good looks and have forgotten Jorrocks' dictum: "No foot; no horse." But it's true.

I have two recommendations for "all-round" hunting horses that are big, powerful, carry weight, jump, have good feet, are not loonies, and don't spook at every falling leaf. Horses that will, with training, let you pack out an elk, will pull logs, will try to take care of you, are not stupid, and live out a long service life. They are "medium" breeds - not drafts (despite the name) and not TB relatives - and you can find them in Virginia: the Cleveland Bay and the Irish Draft.

That said, good individuals and bad individuals come in every breed and type.

Good riding & hunting to you! Forrard ever!

Redcoat

Good post Redcoat. In my early days, I packed with minimules that were wilder than a march hare. We packed everything in GI ammo cans because they bucked like crazy and everything had to be bullet proof. Packed once with two percherons. One was +30 yrs old the other +25. The older one bit like the devil and lifted me off the ground by my shoulder. They packed 3 elk out in one trip though, bone and all. I don't mess with those crazy ones anymore.

I get a lot of entertainment up in the hills watching folks come up wth thier saddle horses that have never packed before and they tie all thier duffel onto riding saddle and walk in. I have found a lot of good gear following them in.
One group came in with abunch of styrofaom cups that got lose on them. With them blowing all around, those cups spooked every animal that went by.

I have had to shoot 3 horses up in the hills whose owners let them get messed up by falling off the mountain or getting tied up in pack ropes, and litterly had to cut a good saddle off a horse that was stuck upside down in a snowdrift , wedged againsta log .

This has been a entertainin' thread. Overall, horses an' mules is like people: some's tolerable, some's crazy, a few are a joy. I keep waitin' til I get all mine in the last, or at least the 1st category, but it don't ever seem to happen. My only no. 2 category horse died a month ago. Good riddance. Damn thing cost me plenty havin' her put down an' buried, one last measure of exasperation she caused me since I got her with my wife. Not really the last measure, I still get a pain in my foot where she jumped on me 10 years ago while tryin' to flee a passing horse fly. I still got the arab mare my daughter rides. She don't like horns, but is overall a tolerable horse. The t-bred my wife has now has all the markings of becoming a class 2. Jus' when I git her straightened out on one vice, she figures some new way to make trouble. I'd trade her for a new mule in a minute if the wife would let me. So I reckin' out of the five, I got two fine animals, an' two tolerables. Bo's gonna be a joy, but I ain't got him far enough to know fer sure. I rexkin' I won't be 'round too much for a while. I got projects, an' I been bored with this whole internet thing for a while now. So until our trails cross agin, take these words of wisdom tolt me by an apache mediceen man: "Sardna con gusto no pica". Don't know what it means fer sure, but the feller had lots of wrinkles on his face an' no teeth, so I 'spect its good advice.

BH

Forget the Mule, I know a lot of people here in these posts really like them, that is fine by me, but very few buckaroos are skilled enough to work with them.

In the 1800s, the Mule was supreme in crossing the early West. However, take a look around you (at least here in Colorado) and you'll see about 99 horses for every one Mule. Maybe more. For what most people do in regards to the 4 legged critters, a horse will do everything just fine, "with a lot less trouble getting to fine." I have nothing against Mules their good animals, but I'm more inclined towards the horse (as are most people that I run into riding in these here Mtns., there must be a reason.)

Prospector

EVERY TUB HAS TO SIT ON ITS OWN BOTTOM.

I agree with prospector. I don't have a lot of experience with mules, but what I do have I will share. Mules don't have accidents. If they hurt you, they meant to and it was thought out long ago. In one of the earlier posts it was mentioned to look into thier eyes cause you can see what they are thinking. Could not be truer. With our mule it is like looking into the gates of hell. If you are not experienced with mules, or have someone close that knows them I would take my chances on a horse.

i hate horses...

but then i'm 78" 365 lbs, and most horses don't think much of me either...... back in the spring of 98 a guide stuck me in the saddle of an appaloosa/percheron cross and for 4 days that critter carried me up, down and around some of the prettiest (toughest) country i've ever travelled. a couple of times i got nervous but the critter, it's name was coalie, seemed so business like and calm that i just held on.....

i hate most horses....... john w

Back in 68, We rented two percherons from an old sheep rancher outside of Questa NM. The colt as he referred it, was 26, the mare , some older. Both bigger than a house.
While putting the pack saddle on, the mare turned around a bit me on the arm, picking me of the ground. That hurt. My buddy says I can't hit her, because the rancher is looking on. So we packed up and started up the trail. About a mile in, we had to adjust the pack. That damn mare turned around and bit me right on the tit. Now that hurt damn bad. I took a 3 inch log and whacked her acros the head, and she fell off the trail, down into a gully. Of course we had to unpack her then , get her up to the trail and repack.

We reached where we suppose to camp and after setting up camp, my hunting partners, both in there 40's said we couldn't keep the horses on the mountain and someone had to take them back down. Being only in my 20's, of course the coin flip was won by me. So I had to walk them back down the mountain and walk back up, about 6 miles each way. After I was out of site, I climbed on the pack saddle and rode down.

The first morning, we shot 3 bulls at day break, We got back to camp about 10 that night. Damn if I didn't win the coin toss to go back down the mounatin and get the horses then next morning.

We packed all three elk on two horses in one trip back to camp. Then off loaded for the trek down the mountain with lighter loads.
On the eay down, the mare spooked and charged through a rock area, running over one guy. He was out cold. We got him revived, stripped one horse and packed him out and got him to a hospital with a concusson. The next weekend I had to go up and pack out the rest of the meat ( some of which a bear had got on) and the camp.

But that horse nevrer bit me again and we had a working truce.
I had another horse that reared up and went over backwards with me and dislocated my neck. Another one tried to back off Trail Riders Wall down in Pecos Wilderness, a 800 ft drop.

In all my years with mules, the worse thing that happened was that a young black molly I was riding laid down and crushed the eggs and a bottle of Jack Daniels that where in the saddle bags. I could do without the eggs, but when we got home I sold that mule for breaking my bottle of Jack.

Never knew anyone, that once they started riding a good mule ever went back to a horse.