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Why the year of the mule??? Because this year will see the first event to revolve solely around the mule, this innovative RMMO and MMO is a first in France and Europe. The association that works for the recognition of the mule-riding world, the animals of course, but also breeders, teachers, connoisseurs, good professionals, equipment manufacturers, and even the Tête de Mule brewery! The mule-riding world is isolated, and newcomers struggle to find the right companion, get the right equipment, find the right shoeer or groom, even a vet... The association has its place there, we talk about mutual aid and solidarity, what better than these two words to block out isolation, individualism and the ambient gloom, we say it enough the mules are going to save the world, because the mules are first of all love, and love implies respect, sharing, authenticity, human values still present, we know it the muleteers, they whisper it permanently in our ears. We believe them, we the members of the board and those who turn around, the little helpings to the right and to the left, which make our project come to life, and that only thanks to the friendship and love of our animals. As president, I'd like to thank all of you, members of the board and those who work with us, for managing Insta and TikTok, for giving us their photos, ideas and occasional helping hands, thanks to Nadine, our designer, thanks to all those who talk about it and work so hard, thanks to the mule ambassador, thanks for the help of the computer muleteer, thanks to the Globes-Crotters who got off their mules and got down to work, a big thank you to the Mini family who will welcome us, thank you to the members of the jury, the equine law institute who helped us, and above all to the trainers who accepted this challenge, to find a small place for it in their more than full lives, it's a wonderful human adventure with the key words friendship, love and solidarity, thank you our mules, you're right, you're going to save the world, even if they make us completely mulopathic. Our best wishes of love and respect for this Mulannée Thanks to our partners Back on Track SAFE Horseshoes La Brasserie tête de Mule Et parcequ'il faut les nommer, notre assureur équiliberté To join the Mule Qui Peut association, you need to be a mule driver.

Every mule is unique, every mule has a unique back... If you're lucky, your mule's back is close to that of a horse's. All you have to do is find the right saddle, but this is rare... A mule worthy of the name has a flat back and no shoulders, reminiscent of a trestle... She gets her flat back from her daddy, unlike mommy's more or less hollow back. Mumule's back is more like a curved board. So you need a mule tree, with very little rock, as Aurore Saddlery - La Tanière will tell you, and no twist. In average human language, this means that the horse tree is banana-shaped, the mule tree is flattened banana-shaped, in short, it's confusing, but if you put a horse tree on a mule's back, the tree will rock back and forth, pressing down on the center and lifting up from the front or the back. You can put a padd on the back, yes, but the front lifts off, a padd on the front, yes, but the back lifts off, and in both cases, the tree will press very hard in the center. Another peculiarity of "tight shoulders" is that there's nothing to block the saddle in front, so it slides forward, and sometimes we do too, but that's not all: the mules' shoulder blade moves up and down, and if the saddle is too far forward, it interferes with this movement. To solve this problem, we've come up with the solution of a gullet, which is much more comfortable than the crupper, and a second strap that can be tightened under the belly. In short, saddling a mule is a choice. Adventures and galleys, there is no brand of horse saddle that will fit a mule, it doesn't exist, but there will be a mule back that will fit a model, if you're lucky enough to have a mule with a back close to the horse's. Made-to-measure Bringing it in from the U.S., the most functional is the Steve Edwards. To start work with a young mule, treeless mules may be suitable until growth is complete, but only for light work. And the same goes for poles. To understand the notion of rock and twist

Elevage Les Grandes Z'oreilles Nathalie Rami Nathalie used to breed horses, but since 2020 she's been raising mules, a small family business with 1 to 2 mules a year. Well-drawn foals close to humans Lieu-dit La Chapelle, Le Thieulin, France Stallion: Gedeon des collines Juments quarter Ecurie d'Oz Erika Pons 31210 bordes de rivière Stallions : Baudet des Pyrénées, Baudet du Poitou and American Baudet Mothers appaloosa foundation Colorful mules in their hooves Breeder of mules since 2011, the only farm in France to supply frozen semen. Marie Layral After starting out with Merens-Pyrenean donkey crosses, this small, recent breeding operation has now embarked on a PSA or DSA/American Baudet cross, Erika's mammoth jack. Bloody foals bred on several hectares of pastureland in Cirbieres, Cucugnan

They're so versatile! Of course they can be found in the world of live performance. Aymeric Chevalier Equus on a stud The one who makes the mules climb higher and higher on studs Manu Bigarnet in his show "Mon royaume pour une Mule" (My kingdom for a Mule) Jeremy Garric Medieval artist Céline Fabry The equestrian magician Elise Roméo Softness, complicity, aesthetics Muriel Herion in its own time

In Europe There are a few isolated muleteers in Belgium, but some of them are really good! Florence Hurlet (Planet Ster), Muriel Herion England is a bit like France, without the mountains and the south! But there are a few mules, who are pampered, with a special mention for Ellen Cochrane. In Italy: History has left its mark here, and mules are still frequently used for mountain transport and timber hauling. An extraordinary man, Enrico Maria Scolari, an Italian, put his mule to the test. In Spain, the famous Aréna mule fair in Andalusia demonstrates the country's attachment to mules, of which there are many more than in France. ​ North America In the US, the mule is king, with its own day, the Mules Day, and its own challenges, the famous Mules Makeover. A specific discipline is practised here: free mule jumping. The event ends with an auction, where the amount reached is between $10,000 and $20,000. In Canada, it depends on the state, but overall it's not a popular animal, even if the winner of the 2023 Missouri Mule Makeover is a Canadian from the state of Alberta. This has to do with climate and history; as feeding horses in winter was too difficult and expensive, early settlers used donkeys almost exclusively, as they were easier to train, so there were no donkey-horse encounters. SOUTH AMERICA A land of mules too, magnificent animals, an age-old culture, not always subtle, but very beautiful. In the rest of the world No or very little information for the moment. This blog post will be completed as and when it is available.

The mule route Old Europe is criss-crossed by mule trails, and let's not forget that the mule guild was the ancestor of truckers. They have all more or less disappeared. But thanks to the initiative of Equiliberté, the mule route has been reopened. In Poitou, and more specifically in the Mellois and Gâtine regions, the breeding of donkeys/mules has held a significant place since the Middle Ages. It was in the 19th century that this Poitou activity reached its peak and achieved exceptional results, especially in terms of export. In 1886, more than 20,000 heads were exported, and the total population was 240,000 heads. 80% of sales were exported to Spain and Italy. The exportation was either entirely on foot to Dauphiné, the south, and Italy, with a possible return to Spain, or by boat to Spain from Nantes after a journey on foot. From 1890 onwards, this situation deteriorated, lasting until 1977... Mainly produced in Poitou-Charentes, young mules were transported to the East of France to be raised, trained, and finally handed over to users. The transportation of travelers, goods, the army with its equipment, and challenging agricultural work—all these tasks could only be accomplished with sturdy animals like the mule, which has often proven itself throughout history. Under the auspices of the national federation of equestrian hikers EquiLiberté, Guy Bouillaud, founder of UDRE 79 (Union of Equestrian Hikers of Deux-Sèvres) / EquiLiberté 79, and EquiLiberté National, wanted to rehabilitate the "Route des Mulets" with the aim of highlighting this activity concerning the history of mules and its impact on communication between regions and countries. Many traces can be found in cities and villages, and they are highlighted during this equestrian activity of past years. In 2021, the Route des Mulets came back to life, with Christian Michel starting from Champdenier, the starting point of the Mule Route, to Bourganeuf in Creuse. In 2022, Philippe Baudet and Gérald Yart, in charge of major routes at the EquiLiberté federation, embarked on the Route des Mulets but had to interrupt their journey in Marcenod (42) due to an injury to one of the mules. In 2023, a team of 7 mules and 3 humans, Emile Brager and his 13-year-old son Olivier, and Gérald Yart, resumed the journey from Marcenod to finally complete the Route des Mulets. Following these various journeys, the initial itinerary will be slightly modified. The itinerary was made possible thanks to the work of some EquiLiberté members and, for the alpine part, thanks to some professionals in equestrian tourism—all of whom are thanked here! A nice site to visit

Florence Hurlet and Jacob the Mule Belgian champion in 2017 and 2019. Runner-up in 2016. 3rd at the 2019 European Cup. I'll have to take a look at the Belgian Cup. 24th at the european championships in Italy in 2018. 34th at the world championships in France in 2022. Nathalie Rami, élevage des grandes zoreilles, carriage driving Here is the story of two Mules and two Mules de Sport. French T.R.E.C champions in Driving pair category in 2012 , 2013 , 2014 and 2017 ! French T.R.E.C champions in team driving in 2015 -2016 and 2018! Vices Champions de France de T.R.E.C en Attelage catégorie team en 2017 et 2019 ! Les Globes-Crotters Anouk and Dominic, 19 months with 4 mules across Europe from the Atlantic to the Black Sea and back home 10,000 Km Joined by Koutche in Bulgaria, an unusual dog, just like his traveling companions. Des nouveaux talents se profilent...A suivre donc...

Writing about mules is pretty rare, unless you speak English. But here's what we have on hand: Le Mulet Intime, by Adolphe Guenon, the bible, republished in 1999 under the title "la grande histoire du mulet" thanks to Olivier Courthiade and Jacques Clouteau. The Meredith Lodges Books Mule stories, by Olivier Courthiade The Cordoba bibliomule (comic strip) L'école des Mules, children's book Le Mulet Valésien Mules and Mules, exceptional animals, Eric Rousseau Loys Bastide and his Charline Pierre Albert Clément, a must-read Les Muletiers, by Pierre Pancrazy Bibliography for long-distance riders And our last two, our favorites Brèves de Mules, collective work (à commander sur brevesdemules@outlook.fr) La folie des glandeurs François ou l'or des muletiers Authors: Escoulen, Daniel

The mule is a versatile animal: if you choose the mother's origin carefully, you'll find her in all equestrian disciplines, where she often excels. Let's not forget that the animal is intelligent, and once it has chosen you and given you its heart, it will do anything to please you, and it has the means to do so... She does very well in TREC, Mountain horse, equifeel and all Western disciplines, depending on her mother's origins in dressage, Wallace the Mule being a good example, in show jumping and eventing. Harnessing and animal traction remain the mules' preferred fields of activity. Thanks to their intelligence and great sensitivity, they excel in equicoaching and equitherapy. Long-haul travelers, who can set off for anywhere from a few weeks to several years with equines as crew members, also give mules a very special place. Emile Brager, co-founder of CALC (Cavaliers Au Long Cours) and author of the essential book "Techniques du voyage à cheval", has made a major contribution to their promotion. Each mule is unique

Immerse yourself in the eccentric world of mules with "Brèves de Mules". "Brèves de mules" is a collective and associative work made up of 95 short stories and anecdotes, funny or moving, illustrating both the joys and difficulties of working with this animal, little known to the general public. Some are very short, others several pages long, slices of life, small anecdotes, very personal feelings - in short, a patchwork of varied stories that give an idea of the mule's uniqueness, temperament and incredible qualities, and of what it means to have a relationship with this animal. Reading these stories should delight those already familiar with our hybrid, and perhaps inspire others to get closer! The book has no author, but 67 co-authors. It features some fifty photos and as many drawings, by some twenty illustrators. With 244 well-crafted pages, its aim is to raise awareness of the mule as a hybrid animal (or mule if it's a male!), as books on the subject are rare in the French language. The associations "La Maison du Mulet" and  "HIPPOTESE" contributed financially to the production of this book, as did several members of the CALC association (Cavaliers Au Long Cours). Rémy, a member of these three associations, was the driving force behind the idea, gathering together the stories and designing the layout of the book with the indispensable help of his wife Véronique. The book, which sells for 15 euros (plus postage where applicable), can be purchased in several ways: You can purchase it at the boutique of the Maison du Mulet in Seyne les Alpes or by contacting this association through the HIPPOTESEassociation. You can also submit a request via email to the following address managed by Rémy: brevesdemules@outlook.fr.

Mule who are you? The mule is a hybrid, resulting from the crossbreeding of a mare and a donkey, referred to as a mule for the female and a mulet for the male. As for the crossbreeding of a jenny and a horse, it becomes a bardot or bardote. Similar to a bardot, the animal is complex, being brilliant and intelligent; it reasons, discusses, negotiates. It is a highly sensitive being that never forgets. It is better to spend time winning over its heart, in which case it will lead you to the ends of the earth, than to strike it, which could result in, at the very least, hospital stays. It is an epicurean, enjoying taking the time to live, contemplate, play, and lie down to watch the clouds, all while nibbling on a few blades of grass within reach of its snout. It is a hard worker when motivated for the job; without motivation, it becomes bored and remains stationary. If you have a good connection with it, it's just like having a big dog. However, it must express its opinion— the mule chooses you! There is no question of saying, "he/she is a beautiful model, I'll buy it." No, no, no. It's a love story; I love you, do you love me? This inevitably leads to an exclusive and often deeply bonded relationship. "You have to live it to feel it; it doesn't express itself with words," muleteers often say. Mule what do you eat? The mule is a frugal animal that is content with little. An old proverb states that it can feed on a field of stones, and the corollary is that on fertile ground, it can quickly gain weight. It inherits its feeding behavior from both parents, adopting both the grazing behavior of its mother and also that of its father, consuming branches, brambles, tree leaves, and woody plants. Despite this, a supply of trace elements is necessary, including a regular portion of salt. Mules in France They are present in the folklore of southern France, where enthusiasts preserve the ancient traditions. In the Alpes de Haute Provence, there is an important association that acts as a guardian of mule culture: La maison du Mulet Still sometimes used for carrying loads in the high mountains, they have found a new role as leisure animals, replacing horses for some or serving as pets. Olivier Courthiade one of the oldest French muleteers and an adopted Ariège resident, has spent his life educating mules, writing, playing the piano, and lovingly cooking for his friends. He exemplifies the qualities of a muleteer - sensitivity, intelligence, love. The ancient art of muleteering still exists in France, but be aware that whether young or older, they can be counted on one hand. Mules in the high mountains Sure-footed, afraid of nothing, she is the ideal companion for hikes, carrying, where she can show initiative, hence her interest Stronger than a horse, agile like a cat, thoughtful, tender and affectionate when you have won her heart In animal traction For working in the vines, her little feet, the alignment of her steps, her calm and reflection make her an ideal companion. We also find it in logging, hauling mules with unrivaled strength and always this notion of reflection which characterizes these equines.

In the gentle French countryside, where fields stretch as far as the eye can see, fascinating and unique creatures are born: mules. Resulting from an unusual union between donkeys and mares, mules are the fruit of a delicate and complex nature. Natural Challenges of Mulesque Breeding Breeding mules is a challenge, an unnatural challenge even. Donkeys and mares do not share the same codes of seduction, making reproduction complex. A donkey may refuse to mate with a mare, and vice versa. Differences in scent, posture and behavior between the two species add a layer of complexity. The mare, expressive and sometimes aggressive, reacts differently from the donkey, who is more docile. The act of mating can be tumultuous, sometimes requiring prior familiarity between the future parents to ensure success. The Importance of Selection and Handling In the world of musk breeding, parent selection is crucial. Since mules are hybrid beings, part horse, part donkey but also neither, they behave differently, requiring special attention. In France, two breeds of mules are recognized: the Poitevine mule and the Pyrenees mule. In addition to these breeds, there are donkey/mare crosses giving birth to mules with papers. These documents determine the level of participation in official equestrian competitions, establishing performance criteria. Genetic and Behavioral Challenges Genetically, most mules are sterile due to their unique chromosome configuration. During meiosis, cell division, hybridization creates an individual with 63 chromosomes, making the animal sterile. However, despite this sterility, mules can exhibit reactions typical of stallions or donkeys, requiring castration to prevent behavioral problems. Education: Key to Success Raising the mules is a crucial step. Hypersensitive hybrids, they require a gentle and consistent approach. Breeders play an essential role in establishing bonds of trust from the first days of life. Daily handling, awareness of various situations and the creation of bonds with humans are fundamental. Each positive experience helps build the mule's trust in humans, establishing a deep and respectful bond. The Role of Passionate Breeders In France, a few passionate breeders devote themselves to breeding mules. Their expertise and commitment are invaluable as they preserve this complex and unique tradition. Among them, names such as the Grandes Z'Oreilles breeding, the Erika Pons breeding and the Marie Layral breeding are recognized for their quality. Mulesque breeding, a demanding and exciting profession, reveals the beauty and complexity of these hybrid creatures. Each mule, with its unique character, is a testimony to the commitment of the breeders and the magic of the union between two species. Educating, understanding and respecting these extraordinary hybrids are the keys to perpetuating their legacy and making them travel, confident, alongside humans. A mule is much more than just an animal. It is a lesson in humility, love and trust, embodied in every look, every stride and every moment shared.