The Mulinade 2025

On April 19, 20 and 21, 2025, in Giriviller, a small village of 71 inhabitants, the Easter Mulinade was held: meetings around the mule... and passion!

But... what is a Mulinade?

Under the auspices of the Mule Qui Peut association, created at the end of 2023 by mule enthusiasts, this event, initiated by Rémy Pipet, aims to allow mule (and hinnie!) owners to meet in a warm and friendly atmosphere to discuss their shared passion and share their knowledge. This gathering brings together professional and amateur muleteers from all walks of life and ages: from stevedores to trail riders, including carriage driving, dressage, and leisure riders. And what are we talking about? Mules, of course!

For this second Mulinade, we received a warm welcome in the village of Giriviller, thanks to Pascal and Francine Garnier. Pascal is no stranger to the mule world, and our hybrid has been used in his family for six generations! So, naturally, he was asked to give a fascinating history of the mule on Saturday afternoon, from Antiquity to the present day.

In the morning, the day opened with a lively and open discussion on the theme: what's the difference in approach between a mule and a horse? And I can tell you, it's a whole world! While politeness is ethical with a horse, it becomes a matter of survival with a mule...

Late Saturday afternoon, Carole Drogoul, who had brought her pink satin digestive tract (everything was there: esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, etc., and life-size, please!), gave us a thorough and fascinating presentation on equine digestion, highlighting the particularities of mules.

On Saturday evening, we attended a screening of the film "The Foal Fair of Flumet in 1991," narrated by Bernadette Lizet, ethnologist and honorary research director at the CNRS. She explored the world of horse traders in the Tarentaise Valley in the 19th and 20th centuries, a boom time for mules. It was a powerful and informative experience, and Bernadette is adorable.

On Sunday morning, we visited Pascal Garnier's temporary exhibition at the Château de Qui-Qu'en-Grogne. A real treat for enthusiasts: Sambue saddles dating from the Renaissance, collars from all ages, a cacolet, cabestres galore... A true treasure trove of mule heritage!

The afternoon was devoted to a look back at Bernadette Lizet's film, with a screening of a rush and discussions on the world of mules in France until their decline with mechanization. The afternoon ended with a presentation by a naturopath, a member of the association, on natural solutions for fighting insects - a very useful subject at this time of year.

On Saturday evening, we attended a screening of the film "The Foal Fair of Flumet in 1991," narrated by Bernadette Lizet, ethnologist and honorary research director at the CNRS. She explored the world of horse traders in the Tarentaise Valley in the 19th and 20th centuries, a boom time for mules. It was a powerful and informative experience, and Bernadette is adorable.

On Sunday morning, we visited Pascal Garnier's temporary exhibition at the Château de Qui-Qu'en-Grogne. A real treat for enthusiasts: Sambue saddles dating from the Renaissance, collars from all ages, a cacolet, cabestres galore... A true treasure trove of mule heritage!

The afternoon was devoted to a look back at Bernadette Lizet's film, with a screening of a rush and discussions on the world of mules in France until their decline with mechanization. The afternoon ended with a presentation by a naturopath, a member of the association, on natural solutions for fighting insects - a very useful subject at this time of year.