One for the History Books: : 2026 Chrome in the Canyon Marks First Six-Figure Mule Sale
World’s Highest-Selling Mule: Sugar, Lot 34, offered by Petersen Mule Company and sold for $100,000. Photo by HerStory Western Lifestyle Photography
by Cori Daniels
Records were broken, and history was made again, for the second year in a row, at the Chrome in the Canyon Premier Mule Sale. Marking its seventh year, this sale was held once again in conjunction with Bryce Canyon Mule Days in Tropic, Utah, an event that draws mule enthusiasts from across the country for a packed schedule of scenic trail rides, competitions, educational clinics, demonstrations, and live music.
For those looking to take home a new long-eared partner, the Chrome in the Canyon Premier Mule Sale, held this year on May 9, is the undisputed main event. MM Auction Services delivers a premier buying experience, and this collaborative effort creates an unforgettable weekend - never more true than for those in attendance this year.
“The 2026 Chrome in the Canyon Premier Mule Sale was truly one for the history books,” said Colby and Codi Gines, who own and operate MM Auction Services. “After setting a new world record selling mule in 2025 (PairADice Mules), we did it again in 2026 (Petersen Mule Company). Chrome in the Canyon officially became the first mule sale in the world to ever sell a mule for a six-figure price.”
To understand what attracts these top-tier mules and buyers to Bryce Canyon, one has to look at the sale’s core philosophy. “From the beginning, our vision has always been simple: quality over quantity,” said Colby and Codi. “We could fill a sale with as many mules as possible, but that has never been what this is about. Our goal is to bring together respected sellers, honest consignors, and the very best mules in the country to create a buying experience that people can trust.”
Reserve Highest Seller: Playgirl,Lot 43, offered by Black Mountain Outfitters, and sold for $68,000. Photo by HerStory Western Lifestyle Photography
Consigned mules undergo a vetting process before the sale. MM Auction Services requires a recent veterinary exam (no more than 30 days before sale day) for each accepted consignment, and those are made available online. After the mules check in on Wednesday, the sifting process begins the following day, on Thursday. This process evaluates age, soundness of limbs and wind, and overall fitness for sale. If any concerns arise at any point during the week, MM Auction Services reserves the right to remove that consignment from the sale.
Thursday also brings the Sale Mule Trail Course, which can also be viewed via the livestream for those not on the sale grounds. Following the trail course is the first of two two-hour “Try Before You Buy” time slots, with the other held after the Sale Mule Preview on Friday (also available to watch via livestream).
The Gines expanded a little more on the steps required to appear in Saturday’s sale ring: “Chrome in the Canyon Premier Mule Sale continues to be unlike any other mule sale in the world. We are the only sale that requires veterinary exams on every mule and puts every mule through two separate selection processes. Not every mule makes the cut, and not every consignor is the right fit. This opportunity is earned, and we take protecting the integrity of this sale seriously. When someone is given the opportunity to be a part of Chrome in the Canyon, we expect them to uphold the standard that has made this sale what it is today.”
It’s this rigorous standard that clears the way for the nation’s finest mules to take center stage. And this year, one exceptional molly mule, Sugar, proved just how high that bar could go.
To read the rest of this story, which includes interviews with the High-Selling and Reserve High-Selling Mule Trainers, see the July 2026 issue of Mules and More, available for purchase here: https://www.mulesandmore.com/back-issues/p/726
For more on Chrome in the Canyon, visit https://premiermulesale.com/