Partying with Horses and Mules

ppine · 02-18-2012, 11:11 PM

Has anyone ever had a horse or mule that likes to hang around camp looking for handouts? Some critters get so broke they like to be with their people. I have taken 2 of my mules on tours of the garage. They like to sniff everything. I have seen pictures of mules in front of the fireplace in people's houses. Some horses like to stick their heads thru open windows into the kitchen. In the "stay up late" thread I talked about bringing my mule up to the fire one moonlight nite with my Dad. She finished most of the appetizers, then I cracked a beer and she drank it out of my hand. Please share an experience when an equine acted like a family pet.

Judy Ann · 02-18-2012, 11:30 PM

We were at a horseshow and between events we were eating our lunch by the stalls. One of the horses reached out and stole my mother's dill pickle. Seemed to enjoy it too.

My mom used to walk the pasture fence to get her miles in each day. Behind her was a parade of animals including horses, burros, goats and labs all walking behind her in single file like the Pied Piper.

All foals came into the house as soon as they were steady on their feet for a visit to the kitchen. I don't recall if there was a method to the madness!

DMan · 02-24-2012, 09:48 AM

It is funny to see huge animals like this act like they want to be someone's lap dog. Our neighbors actually had a couple of horses that were really friendly like that.

Pathfinder1 · 02-24-2012, 10:22 AM

Hi...

The wild Chinkatigue Island horses like to be fed by humans. But, as the signs say, beware, as they are WILD, and cannot be trusted. People still like to take their chances and feed them, however. They're a popular tourist attraction.

SmokeyJoe · 06-09-2012, 10:39 AM

A long time ago, when I was just a teenager (I'm 50 now), my sister had this pony she called Sissy. Well, she taught this horse to walk up the front steps of our home (there were probably 20), go into the house, turn around without breaking anything and walk back out and down the steps. The horse didn't even have to be on a lead, it would just follow my sister. Funniest thing I ever saw.

Grandpa · 06-09-2012, 11:08 AM

I guess I was too rough on the horses cause nothing like that happened to me. But we sure had cows that loved attention. My kids loved riding the old milk cows and the cows loved having them. One in particular but I've all ready told that story a couple of times.

Neighbor had a horse that rode in the back of the pickup. When the pickup had to be used for other things, the rack would slide out. One morning with the rack out, Lamar went out and there was the horse in the back of the truck without the rack. Needing to go check the cows, he went ahead and took the chance of letting the horse ride without the rack. He never had to put the rack back in. Horse rode just fine without it. Eventually the day came to trade off the truck for a new one. Lamar went outside one morning and his horse was gone. (Horse was noted for getting any gate open but always just went to the house and waited for Lamar to come out) A few minutes later, Lamar got a call from the truck dealer, "would you please come and get your horse out of our truck"?

ppine · 06-09-2012, 01:37 PM

Grandpa,
Good story. Baxter Black tells one about an old side by side trailer parked in a field on a slope. When no one was around, an old mule used to get in the trailer which unweighted the tongue and allowed it to go downhill. He took rides in it all the time. The trailer moved on its own all over the guy's ranch and was a big mystery until some one saw the mule going for a ride.

dinosaur · 06-11-2012, 05:39 AM

I've got a horse named Sheba that loves beer. If I take her camping I carry a case of the stuff, 12 on each side and she'll drink better than half the case. Took her to a bar once and she drank two pitchers. Also had a steer named Barney who linked beer. Of course he's just a memeory now. Good steaks.

And I had a milk goat who used to follow me around like a puppy. She loved to be petted. You could sit on a hillside and pet her until she fell asleep with her head in your lap. She's gone now but there's still a road on my ranch named after her: Red Hannah's Way.