By:
Linda Barker - Williamston, NC
Member of the North American Saddle Mule
Association and the Carolina Mule Association
There are not many show mules in eastern North Carolina and sometimes it is very difficult to find an open show that will welcome mules.
Ten year old Leslie Nell Stuber is shown in the above photo with Lucy in a hunter jumper class at the East Coast Open Show Series in Williamston, NC. This is an open circuit that draws horses from several surrounding states, and the competition is much more difficult than breed shows. I am the proud owner of Lucy, and before she came to live at the Barker Horse and Mule Farm in Vanceboro, NC, Lucy was just a trail mule. Now everyone wants to ride her because she shows in English, hunter hack, barrels, pole bending, and other fun events.
Leslie is my neighbor and she has been riding in field hunter events and hunter jumping since she was three years old. At this particular show Lucy placed eighth out of 22 horses, and some of those horses were ridden by trainers and others by riders that ride every day with a trainer. This was Leslie’s first time to ride Lucy and she didn’t even school her before the show. Keep in mind that Lucy is the only mule at that time that had participated in the circuit. However, I purchased Sonny’s Boss Man from Locust Creek Mules at Shelbyville, TN last July and now he is showing in the circuit and doing very well. He is also a very special mule who brought home two blue ribbons at his first NASMA show at the North Carolina State Fair in 2007.
It is amazing how people have accepted the mules, but I think it is because they are surprised that mules can do so well. We have well-wishers and admirers that come by the stalls to talk to and love Lucy and Boss. It is my desire to educate people about how wonderful mules are, and show them mules can do anything as good, or better, than horses. I do have to admit I have a very special quarter horse that another neighbor’s daughter is riding at the shows, but she thinks she is a mule because she acts just like them. She has been raised and in the pasture with mules and donkeys for her entire life.
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