AboutSue King Expertise I've owned saddle mules for over 25 years. After running a 30 stall boarding barn for horses, I established my farm, Brayer Hill Farm, producing National and World Champion saddle mules and standing two jacks to the public. I have also written and published articles concerning mules and maintain The Saddle Mule News online and serve as the Executive Secretary for The North Anerican Saddle Mule Association.
Experience I have 25 Years experience in owning, breeding for, raising, and showing quality Saddle Mules and own Brayer Hill Farm. In addition, I am a Charter Member of two National Mule Associations. I also publish The Saddle Mule News available online. www.saddlemulenews.com
Organizations
North American Saddle Mule Association (Executive Secretary),
American Gaited Mule Association,
American Donkey and Mule Socitey
Publications
The Brayer,
Mules and More, and
Owner/Publisher of The Saddle Mule News
Education/Credentials Under and Post Graduate work in Education.
Awards and Honors ADMS Farm Versatility, Hall of Fame
ADMS, Versatility Hall of Fame Winners,
ADMS Breeding Versatility Hall of Fame,
NASMA Registers of Merit , National and World Champion title winners.
Expert: Sue King Date: 4/29/2007 Subject: gaited mules
Question I AM CONSIDERING RAISING GAITED MULES. WHAT IS THE BEST BREED OF HORSE TO BREED THE JACK TO ?
MY SECOND QUESTION IS. DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JACK THAT HAS GAITING TENDENCIES OR WOULD IT ALL COME FROM THE MARE ?
LASTLY HOW BIG SHOULD THE JACK BE ?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Answer There are a number of gaited horse breeds which you can use. It depends on what kind of gait you want your mule to have. There are Walking Horses, Foxtrotters, Pasos, Spotted Saddle Horses........................ There is no one good breed, but there is a good type within the breed. Make sure whatever mare you choose, gaits naturally without enhancements and she is not pacey. Many Walking Horses today are pacers and then squared up with "Big Lick" built up shoeing techniques to get them to "walk". You do not want this type of mare. The old bloodlines in Walking Horses are best.
My experience with gaited mares has been that about 40% of your mule foals out of naturally gaited mares will gait under saddle. That is very different than gaiting in the field.
If you have a gaited jack, that would be the one to use. There are several around the country who are truly gaited. Ask to see a video, however, before you either take your mare to the jack or have semen sent.
The jack should be of substance and riding size. However, remember that the jack and mare both bring to the breeding the traits of their ancestors. Find out as much as you can about their parents and grandparents in terms of size, temperament, color, etc.
Having said all that...............breeding for the hybrid mule is not an exact science. The best you can hope for, after doing your homework, is a healthy, gregarious and trainable mule. I would suggest not to sacrifice these three things for a gait.
My husband's mule Bubba is out of a gaited mare, but has never shown any signs of gaiting. He is, however, athletic and done well in Western and English events in mule and horse shows. Cisco is out of a gaited mare who threw a National Champion Gaited Mule. He too is athletic but only does a single foot on the trail while walks, trots and lopes in the show pen. Cisco's and Bubba's mothers also produced gaited mules.
If there were definite answers to your questions, the price of gaited mules would not be so dear. It is my personal opinion based on experience in breeding that a mule is NOT gaited until it demonstrates a gait under saddle.
