{"id":246,"date":"2018-02-05T17:24:07","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T17:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/?page_id=246"},"modified":"2021-12-09T17:34:46","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:34:46","slug":"mule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/mule\/","title":{"rendered":"Mule Saddles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A mule saddle looks like a horse saddle in many ways, but underneath it all they are built fit a mule&#8217;s conformation instead of a horse&#8217;s conformation.<br \/>\n<!-- BEGIN TOP newor -->\r\n<div class=\"showMB\">\r\n<div id=\"waldo-tag-5501\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<!-- END TOP newor --><\/p>\n<p>While a mule is half horse (a mule is a cross between and male donkey and a female horse), their backs often take after the donkey side of the family. A mule saddle is built to recognize this.<\/p>\n<p>Mules are popular among many riders for trail riding, pleasure, ranch work, or any other riding activity that horses are also commonly used for, so mule saddles come a variety of styles. For more information about mules and mule saddles please scroll down beneath the saddles for sale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A saddled, dark brown mule walks down a steep, rocky hillside on a competitive trail ride.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"See mule saddles on eBay\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/sch\/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_nkw=mule+saddle&amp;rt=nc&amp;LH_BIN=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/shrsl.com\/rijo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/MuleSaddle02.jpg\" alt=\"A mule saddle on a dark brown mule\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<h2>Comparison Shop For Mule Saddles<\/h2>\n<p>Below are mule saddles for sale from eBay and HorseSaddleShop.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #00c; font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">From eBay and HorseSaddleShop<\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN --><br \/>\n<iframe class=\"ifrm1\" src=\"\/horses\/ml-sddls3\/\" onload=\"this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight + 'px';\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<!-- END --><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn01\" href=\"http:\/\/shrsl.com\/rijo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See more mule saddles on HorseSaddleShop<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn02\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/sch\/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_nkw=mule+saddle&amp;_sop=12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See more mule saddles on eBay<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<p style=\"color: #00c; font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">About Saddles On HorseSaddleShop<\/p>\n<p>[include-page id=&#8221;36&#8243;]<\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<h2>About Mules<\/h2>\n<p>A mule is a cross between a male donkey (called a jack) and a female horse (called a mare). A male mule is called a &#8220;john&#8221; and a female is called a &#8220;molly.&#8221; Both male and female mules are almost always sterile. Even though males are typically sterile, they are often castrated (gelded) in order to prevent the behavioral problems inherent in many studs.<\/p>\n<p>Mules are often prized for their level-headedness, endurance, and for being sure-footed in rough terrain. Even though a mule is one-half horse, its conformation is usually very different and many if not most mules benefit from a saddle made for their body type.<\/p>\n<p>A hinny is also a cross between a horse and a donkey, but the cross is just the opposite of what produces a mule: A hinny is a cross between a male horse (called a stallion) and a female donkey (called a jenny). Like mules, hinnies are almost always sterile.<\/p>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A mule walking up a rocky hillside.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/MuleSaddle01.jpg\" alt=\"A mule in a roping saddle walks up a hillside\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A chestnut mule walks quietly down a rocky slope.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/MuleSaddle03.jpg\" alt=\"A mule on a trail ride\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A gray mule wearing a roping saddle in a ranch rodeo.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/MuleSaddle04.jpg\" alt=\"A saddled mule wearing a roping saddle\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<h2>About Mule Saddles<\/h2>\n<p>All mules (and horses, for that matter) are individuals with individual conformation. In general, though, most mules benefit from having a saddle built for their confirmation as opposed to a horse&#8217;s conformation. Below are just a couple of differences in mule and horse conformation that will affect saddle fit.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"noIndent\">\n<li>Mules tend to have a flatter topline when compared to the topline of a horse. In other words, while most horses have a downward curve in their topline, most mules have a topline that (comparatively speaking, at least) is much flatter.<\/li>\n<li>Mules also commonly tend to be narrower through their shoulders when compared to a horse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are other difference between horse and mule conformation of course, both in general and when it comes to saddle fitting. However, the two differences mentioned above are common, they are easy for most folks to see, and they can have a big impact on saddle fit.<\/p>\n<p>A poorly fitting saddle on a mule, at best, will mean the saddle requires an overly, and uncomfortably, tight cinch just to stay on (and that might still easily slip or tip out of position). At worst, a poorly fitting saddle might mean that the mule is pinched or squeezed, causing minor to major discomfort that could lead to physical damage or behavioral issues.<\/p>\n<p>Not all mules require a mule saddle for proper saddle fit. Some mules are built similar enough to their horse mother, as opposed to their donkey father, that a horse saddle will fit them just fine. However, if your mule has conformation more like the typical mule than a horse, a mule saddle might provide the best fit for them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A mule showing the flat topline typical for mule conformation, and that will have an affect on saddle fit when compared to a saddle built for a horse.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/MuleSaddleTopline.jpg\" alt=\"An unsaddled mule showing typical mule conformation\" width=\"400\" height=\"263\" \/><\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<h2>Mules Are Hybrids<\/h2>\n<p>A mule is a hybrid. While the definition of &#8220;hybrid&#8221; can vary somewhat, in this case it means the offspring of the cross between two different animal species. A mule is a hybrid because it is the cross between a female horse and a male donkey. Although both male and female mules are almost always sterile, male mules are commonly gelded (castrated) in order to prevent the behavioral problems inherent in many studs.<\/p>\n<p>Mules benefit from &#8220;hybrid vigor,&#8221; which means that many of the traits it receives from its parents are enhanced, or superior in the mule than in either of its parents. For example, mules are commonly considered to be smarter, stronger, possess more endurance, and healthier than either of its parents. Concerning a mule&#8217;s hybrid vigor, Charles Darwin said:<\/p>\n<p class=\"quote\">&#8220;The mule always appears to me a most surprising animal. That a hybrid should possess more reason, memory, obstinacy, social affection, powers of muscular endurance, and length of life, than either of its parents, seems to indicate that art has here outdone nature.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the animal world (plants can also be hybrids) mules are probably far and away the best known example of a hybrid. Other, but lesser known hybrids, include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"noIndent\">\n<li>Beefalo &#8211; The cross between domesticated cattle and an American bison (which is commonly referred to as a &#8220;buffalo&#8221;).<\/li>\n<li>Hinny &#8211; A\u00a0cross between a male horse and a female donkey. A mule, of course, is also a cross between a horse and a donkey, but the genders of the parents are swapped: A mule is the cross between a female horse and a male donkey.<\/li>\n<li>Liger &#8211;\u00a0The cross between a male lion and a female tiger.<\/li>\n<li>Tigon &#8211; The cross between a male tiger and a female lion.<\/li>\n<li>Zebroid &#8211; The cross between a zebra and any other member of the family Equidae (which, besides zebras, includes donkeys, ponies, and horses). Some of the crosses have their own names. For example:\n<ul>\n<li>A &#8220;zonky&#8221; is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.<\/li>\n<li>A &#8220;zorse&#8221; is a cross between a zebra and a horse.<\/li>\n<li>A &#8220;zony&#8221; is a cross between a zebra and a pony.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"howToLabels\">Below: A hybrid known as a &#8220;zony,&#8221; or a cross between a zebra and a pony. While there are numerous hybrids in the animal world, the mule is probably the one that is best known.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/images\/Zony02.jpg\" alt=\"A grazing zony, which is a hybrid like the mule\" width=\"400\" height=\"263\" \/><\/p>\n<hr class=\"threeFour\" \/>\n<p class=\"sddlsHeading1\">You might also like:<\/p>\n<nav id=\"bellows-main-15\" class=\"bellows bellows-nojs bellows-main bellows-source-menu bellows-align-full bellows-skin-vanilla bellows-type-\"><ul id=\"menu-mule-saddles\" class=\"bellows-nav\" data-bellows-config=\"main\"><li id=\"menu-item-1260\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-1260 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/mule\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Mule Saddles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-1258\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-1258 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/dakota-mule\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Dakota Mule Saddles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-1300\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-1300 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/tucker-mule\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Tucker Mule Saddles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2575\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-2575 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/tucker-high-plains-t60\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Tucker High Plains<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2464\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-2464 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/tucker-pine-ridge-mule\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Tucker Pine Ridge Mule Saddle<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-1259\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-1259 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/wade-mule-saddles\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Wade Mule Saddles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A mule saddle looks like a horse saddle in many ways, but underneath it all they are built fit a mule&#8217;s conformation instead of a horse&#8217;s conformation. While a mule is half horse (a mule is a cross between and male donkey and a female horse), their backs often take after the donkey side of &#8230; <a title=\"Mule Saddles\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cowboyway.com\/saddles\/mule\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Mule Saddles\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-246","page","type-page","status-publish"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mule Saddles For Sale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A mule saddle is built for mule conformation. Ranch, trail, and other mule saddles for sale. 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