Making the Connection
by Marjeanna Smith, Nevada, MO
Center Photo (left to right) – Clyde’s Brass Ring, KYLEE and DWAIN FRANCIS, JW’S Electric Zap, KAIL and SAMANTHA FRANCIS, Tyler’s Arti Sweet, MIKE and MARJEANNA SMITH, Mules N Motion’s Styx, JASON CRIST. All four of the mules made the finale Drive for Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Halter. Clyde’s Brass Ring Model Mule Photo by Avalon Photography
Top Left – JASON CRIST and JW’S Electric Zap 2006 Barrel Race Houston, TX Photo by Don Trout
Top Right – KAIL FRANCIS and JW’S Electric Zap 2007 NASMA World Show Youth Pole Bending Photo by Dawn Baxstrom
Bottom Left – JASON CRIST and Clyde’s Brass Ring, 1st Junior Western Pleasure 2007 Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show, Shelbyville, TN Photo by Avalon Photography
Bottom Right – JASON and PRESTON CRIST and Clyde’s Brass Ring, 1st Lead Line 2007 Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show, Shelbyville, TN Photo by Avalon Photography
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Take ‘mule crazy’ owners, a young trainer, and a few innocent bystanders with some knowledge and desire to experiment……then hold on, because the mule world has seen a connection that is working.
Dwain and Samantha Francis of Richards, Missouri, their daughter, Kylee and son, Kail are the ‘mule crazy’ owners. The Francis’ first got into mules through Dwain’s longtime friend and mentor, Bob Branstetter of Farber, Missouri. Bob has ridden and trained mules for over 30 years, and anyone that knows Bob knows he loves his mules.
Dwain started out by buying Hank, a big bay mule for himself. Hank has carried Dwain through the mountains and on the trails. Then Dwain bought a few more mules for the family to ride along on. Kylee decided she would like to start showing mules and Dwain went to Bob for advice on where to start looking for a show mule. Bob introduced Dwain to Roger and Julee Smith of Rocking S Mules, Jackson, Ohio, at The Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Roger had Mr. Murphy, a mule he felt would make a suitable partner for Kylee to learn on. Mr. Murphy had been everywhere, and he adored Kylee. Mr. Murphy was an excellent teacher for Kylee; a little set in his ways, but definitely a good starter show mule for her. Kylee did well in the youth classes with him during the 2005 show season. They were constantly in the ribbons.
Dwain and Bob decided to build a partnership, Mules N Motion, and start raising quality mules of their own. Their first purchase was a jack, JR, they bought from Dave Golian of New London, Missouri. Next they purchased Mules N Motion’s Tyler, a son of Scooter’s Banjo Boy, and was purchased from Dwayne Peterson of Peterson’s Quality Mules, Ottumwa, Iowa; Dwayne also owned the jennet that Tyler was out of. They also acquired JW, the sire of JW’s Electric Zap. Dwain and Bob purchased a variety of mares to see what crosses were going to be the best with which jack.
Then there is a young trainer. Jason Crist of Greenville, Ohio has trail ridden and shown most of his life. He started off in walk-trot, moved into 4-H, then into team roping, and rode with the 1995 Ohio State University National Equestrian Team. In 1993 Jason began shoeing mules and horses. Jason originally got his start into mules through trail riding and showing in local shows. In 2002 he started team roping from a mule and went on to start showing on the North American Saddle Mule (NASMA) circuit in the amateur division. Jason won the year end title in 2003 and 2004 on Boomin Barnyard Barney. He also started a compact little gray mule, JW’s Electric Zap in gymkhana classes.
Jason and Dwain met through the mule shows. Their personalities seemed to fit each other and in the fall of 2005, with a little prodding from Dwain, Jason began training professionally. Preston, Jason’s 5-year old son is also starting to learn some of the tricks of the trade. Jason says there is nothing more fun than going to local shows, competing against horses and winning.
What began as a ‘let’s see how this goes’, has become a whirlwind for both owners and trainer. The Francis family and Jason share in the showing of JW’s Electric Zap, Clyde’s Brass Ring, and an up and coming junior mule, Mules N Motion’s Styx, sired by Tyler.
JW’s Electric Zap
NASMA Champion Mule
ROM in Amateur, Halter and Youth
Superior in Barrel Racing, Halter,
Keyhole and Pole Bending
Hi Point Gymkhana Mule
2004, 2006, 2007
Hi Point Halter Mule 2004
Reserve High Point Halter Mule 2006
High Point Cattle Mule 2006
Reserve High Point Cattle Mule 2007
Top 5 Mule Youth Division 2006, 2007
High Point Youth Gymkhana Mule
2006
High Point Youth Gymkhana Mule World Show 2007
Clyde’s Brass Ring
NASMA Champion Mule
ROM in Amateur, Halter, Performance and Youth
Superior in Halter and Western Pleasure
High Point Halter 2006
High Point Junior Mule 2007
Reserve High Point Junior Mule 2006
Reserve High Point Western Mule 2007
Reserve High Point English Mule 2007
Top 5 Mule Youth Division
Junior High Point Mule
World Show 2007
Junior High Point
Great Celebration 2007
Champion Halter Mule
Great Celebration 2007
Champion Halter Mule All Star 2007
Champion Halter Mule
North American Livestock
Show & Expo 2007
Look for Brass in 2008 in Senior Mule and in the Youth classes with Sarah Mills aboard.
Kail Francis started getting the fever for the show ring towards the end of 2005; first it was in gymkhana classes and showmanship. Zap was Kail’s first choice of mount, but as Kail has grown, his confidence has also grown and he has started riding in rail classes, first on Magnum’s Aces Billy, and now on Mules N Motion’s Styx. Kail still has several years to compete in the youth division.
As for the few innocent bystanders, Dave and Stacy Golian, of Golian’s Saddles and Tack, New London, help to select and choose the appropriate and best fitting show equipment to be found for the mules. They are not only a great source for tack needs, but also good people and great friends.
Mike and I helped Kylee fine tune her riding skills for the show ring with Murphy, then decided to breed two mares to Tyler. Both mares brought forth excellent mollies in the spring of 2006. Dwain made his choice and Mike and I kept the other molly, Tyler’s Ardi Sweet. Ardi has only made her presence known in the halter ring thus far, but has brought home her World Show class wins in 2006 and 2007. I also showed Good Golly Miss Dolly during the 2006 show season.
Mules have given the Francis family, Bob and Jason a lot of joy and fun over the past several years. Dwain and Bob continue to raise some foals each year, and invite you to contact them if you are looking for your own mule friend. For more information about any mules that might be for sale, or breeding information about Tyler, JR or JW, please contact Dwain at 417/667-2744, or Bob at 573/249-4613. If you would like more information about upcoming show prospects or finished show mules contact Jason at 937/459-0150.
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