Last week someone poo-pooed my speculation that a mule could do second level. I not only stand by my original statement, I'll go ya one more. Take a good look at the yearling minature donkey below. I say this one will go Grand Prix!
Oh BTW, this little guy is for sale (email jim-fish@sbcglobal.net).
.jpg)
Oh I'm sorry I didn't get to the bottom of the story. He has done 3rd level. :)
ReplyDeleteThat lil guy is cute. Here is the story of a mule that has done second level: http://www.luckythreeranch.com/documents/dancingwithmules.html
ReplyDeleteThere was a mule at Devonwood last week (or was it the week before?) named Porter who did Second Level. A friend of mine was there and said he was incredible. She posted a bunch of pictures of him on facebook. If I can figure out how to post one on here, I can...
ReplyDeletehere are some links:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090608/NEWS0107/906080305/1001/NEWS01
http://agweekly.com/articles/2009/02/14/country_life/equestrian/equine74.txt
Ahahaha! you got me! I was really looking forward to hearing the story!
ReplyDeleteI got fooled. I was looking for the story. He's 'upper level' cute though!
ReplyDeleteDon't dis the minis - our two follow my daughter over jumps (she's on her pony) and they do quite the collection and extension going around the arena here. :)
ReplyDeleteLast fall at a dressage competition here in Washington state, a mule won 1st place in Intermediare II, competing against horses. The horses that placed in the top 4 were all trained and ridden by professional dressage riders. Everyone was so shocked that the mule won that the news travelled rapidly! I heard it from the woman who won 3rd. Mules can be more challenging to train, but they are starting to cross large donkeys with sporthorses to produce sportmules that can be absolutely gorgeous, and athletically talented. There is no physical reason why a well-bred mule cannot perform upper level dressage. And I have heard that their level-headedness can allow them an upper hand in stressful situations, such as competition, where many horses fail to perform.
ReplyDelete