Mules? Cost of keeping, etc?

Question

Hey guys, for two years I have half owned an EXTREMELY high maintenence arab called Jessy, who I love more than anything in the world. However, someone wants to buy her and I know he will take care of her well. Sadly, Jessy became lame a year and a half ago and recently recovered until we had a bad fall and she messed up her back. I do not properly own her (it's complicated) and basically cannot afford to buy her and pay for her vet bills, so I've done everything I can for her. I wouldn't let her go without knowing she was going to someone who will love her just as much as I do, and I will of course visit her reguarly.
Anywhoooooo, does anyone know anything about mules? After years of owning this delicate arab with matchsticks legs, I was reading about them and they are much hardier than horses. They can do pretty much anything a horse can do, but without injuring themselves as much (I know they can still, but I won't have to be as cautious as I am with Jessy - not taking her out at all on hard ground, avoiding all cross country even though it is my favourite event.) So, I was wondering...
1. Are mules as expensive to keep per year??? (I know they cost less to buy initially, but what about keeping them? Baring in mind I live in england - hot summers, COLD winters) Could you name the annual keeping cost?
2. Would I be able to enter my mule into horse shows? Cross country etc. In england, mules are pretty rare, so I'm not sure if I could.
3. How long do they live??? F.Y.I, I would be looking at the larger mules, 16hh ish +. Jessy is a tiny 14.3hh and I'm 5'9, probably too big, but I've been so attatched to my pretty gal. I find it easier to ride large horses and I won't feel like I'm crushing them. 
4. Is 16hh even the right size? Like I say 5'9 about 65kg (I'm pretty athletic, if that helps. So most of my weight is muscle?)
5. Accommodation???? I live on a farm, though we do not have any animals. I have 2 very large fields, and I have kept horses at my house before. As they are generally more hardy animals, when should I keep them out and when should I keep them in???
6. Tack? Dumb question.. Can they use horse saddles and bridles (I ride english style, not western!)
7. Colours? (not so much a care question.. I'm just curious. Do they only come in solid colours like bay and chestnut?? Jessy is a bay.
8. Life span??
9. Company? I would be buying one mule, and in one of my fields there are sheep in the summer (they're not our sheep, the farmer rents out the field). However, I could get an animal to keep with the mule like a goat? Is this good enough company?? I have friends across the road who I would hack out with.
10. Accommadation #2. Should I let him/her have the whole field (it's pretty big -16/17 acres, with a river.) It's a pretty interesting field for a horse though, with lots of hills, trees, bushes and a river.
11.Disadvantages of owning a mule?
12. Advantages?
13. Behavior?? In and out the saddle. I'm an experienced rider and can handle bucks/rears/bolting, I just wondered if they're considered tempremental???
14. Any other info I would need to know??
Sorry guys, I know it's long, but I couldn't find much on the web. Thanks xox

Mel · Accepted Answer

Keeping a mule isn't too different from keeping a horse!
1) It would cost the same really, depending on if it lives out in summer etc.
2) You'd have to check with the show you're entering in - some shows will allow mules in some categories, or all or some won't allow them at all - just worth checking it out
3) 30-40 years (if looked after well of course)
4) A rough way of getting a horse/mule the right size is if your eyes are in line with its withers - but it just depends how you feel sat on i suppose
5) keep the mule like you would a horse - they are hardier but they still need looking after - maybe keep it living out with a field shelter and hay/haylage in winter? up to you really
6) as long as you make sure it fits properly horse tack is fine
7) all colours :) grey, black, chestnut, spotty everything!
8) life span same as 3) -- 30-40 years
9) it depends on the mule - like horses some don't mind being on their own and some like having company - but im sure a goat would be fine! as long as they got on :)
10) just make sure they don't get too fat! you might need to restrict the grazing or use a muzzle
11) + 12) depends on the mule you get! just like horses you get easy ones and you get difficult ones
13) some say they are temperamentall but some saythey'ree fine - depends on the one you get and the bond you have


I'd say that because you've had horses before and you're an experienced rider you'd be fine :)

good luck!! :D

Kassi · Answer

i dont know about the showing and such but my grandparents own a mule.  He lives outside 24/7 and i live in Canada. He cost just about as much as any of our other easy keeper horses do. He eats hay in the winter and grass in the summer, Nothing special. When i ride him i just use the same tack i would use on my own horse. He currently lives with other horses but sheep or goats tend to make good company. I would personally let the mule use the whole field. 

Our mule is very stubborn. his feild is down the road from my grandparents house so i always have to walk a good Km to get to his feild then i have to find him then i have to walk back. He thinks he's a stud and is currently living with mares so if i go to get him it takes forever to get him to walk back to the barn because he doesnt want to leave his girls but once he's away from them he's fine. If i havent ridden him in a while he's a little hard to get going but once i've ridden him for a bit he gets better. 

The only disadvantage to owning our mule is that anytime we get a new dog we have to take it out and introduce him to it or else he'll try to kill it...He had a bad experience as a baby.

What "type" of mule are you hoping to get?
Our mule's Mother was a registered Arab and his dad was a standard donkey. This puts him on the smaller side at just under 15HH. i would try to find a Mammoth donkey X with a bigger built breed like the QH or something along those lines

Mules? Cost of keeping, etc?

2 Answers