Mule Bars

If you stopped by to read about dark, smoky places where longears drink beer and shoot pool, I'm sorry to disappoint. Today I'm going to talk about the kind of mule bars that are found in saddles.

Once I knew that Lucy, the most magnificent saddle donkey in the world, would be coming into my life, I started researching donkey saddles. It was the first time that Google let me down. I found a little bit of information on mule saddles (and we all remember that mules are a cross between a horse and a donkey, right?), but precious little scoop on how to properly fit a saddle on a donkey. I was confused, befuddled, and bewildered, and in dire need of professional help. Shortly thereafter, I learned that donkey trainer and saddlemaker Steve Edwards was coming to town, so I postponed a saddle purchase until I could get his advice. And boy am I glad I waited. Having spent the weekend at his training clinic and the balance of my checking account on a new saddle, I can take comfort in knowing that I've bought my first and last saddle for Lucy ...  because it fits.

There are saddles for horses and saddles for mules, but sadly no saddles made specifically for donkeys ... probably because there are very few donkeys who are ridden. I predict that will change once folks catch on to the fact that donkeys are way more fun, and safer to boot. But that's a subject for another time.

Meanwhile, a mule saddle is the current best fit for a donkey, and here are a few reasons why.

Pictured above on the left is the western saddle I used on my horses. On the right is the mule saddle I bought for Lucy.
1. The seat angle on the mule saddle is a little bit deeper so that the rider's weight is not thrown forward.
2. The skirt on the mule saddle is cut back and away from the mule's shoulder. The shoulder of a mule or donkey moves up and down like a piston; a horse's shoulder moves up and forward. It's critical that the saddle not interfere with the movement of the shoulder.
3. A mule or donkey's back is generally shorter than a horse's back, so the saddle skirt is not as long.
4. The back cinch on a mule/donkey saddle is more important than the front cinch when it comes to keeping the saddle in place. Steve recommends that the back cinch be adjusted tighter than the front cinch for mules and donkeys so that it doesn't rock.

But the most important difference between a horse saddle and a mule/donkey saddle is the contour of the bars. The yellow lines below are my attempt to illustrate the bars of the saddle trees which lay beneath the leather covering.

The backs of horses and mules/donkeys are shaped very differently. A mule/donkey's back is straighter, so the bars of the saddle are curved less than on a horse's saddle. This is the part where I confess to knowing enough to be dangerous. Seriously, if you're in the market for a saddle to fit your donkey or mule, consult a trained professional. Just know that the saddle you've been using on your horse will probably not fit and you owe it to your mule/donkey to get one that does.

And if it has a little bling, all the better.