I've never ridden a mule, but I know a lot of people who do. I'm sure they make great trail mounts, since they're surefooted and calm and good walkers. I'm just wondering how athletic they are, as in working cattle. Do they have "cow sense" like a Quarter Horse, and can they cut and stop and successfully handle a cow? I've never seen a mule work cattle, but I've seen a lot of people ride them along on cattle drives. Other than following behind the herd of cattle, they seemed rather useless. Just wondering what your thoughts are on the subject?

My sister owns and trains mules in southeast Idaho. She has a bareback rigging she uses to train them to ride at first. She uses them to trail cattle to summer pasture, but I think she prefers a horse for sorting or pen work. I haven't ridden hers, but they seem to be fine animals. I know a lot of people just love mules and prefer them over horses. My opinion is if you have a well-trained mule, they are super-smart and will out-perform a horse in some things. But I think they are more difficult to train and handle, until you get past the basics.

i was on a cattle drive in the mountains one time and some of the cows left the trail and took off running up a gully in the mountains, a guy who was on a mule didn't follow them up the gully - he went straight up the mountain and straight down the edge of the gully and cut them off! i couldn't belive what i was seeing! this mountain was very steep and this mule went up and down it like you wouldn't believe. i didn't know what to say, i was very impressed with the mule and rider.