Original motorcycles

[Tom]

IF the apocalypse came and there wasn't gas available etc.  How many horsemen are out there on the forum?  Myself, Mike and Muley.  I'd use a snaffle bit bridle and an English saddle, most of the time.  Winter, I'd rather go bareback, you ride on the shoulders of the horse for more control, warmer too.  For carrying loads a McClellan saddle.  Least favorite, Western saddle.

Favorite horse would either be a Quarter horse or Morgan.  The Mule would be up there too.  Mules are like American pu's.  Quarter horses are like HD's with quirky handling traits.  Morgans are like Guzzi Californias, good for a lot of different uses.  A burro would be like a scooter.  Arabians like Ducatis, MV Agustas.  The older Beemers like Morgans.

[unclepete]

I have several bicycles ; even have studded tires for one . They don't eat when not in use .

[fotoguzzi]

I'd want a Mule or maybe a Jackass.



I once went to the national Mule, Donkey and Jackass rally..BLAST!  it was in Austin Mn that year..

[oldbike54]

I'd want a Mule or maybe a Jackass.



I once went to the national Mule, Donkey and Jackass rally..BLAST!  it was in Austin Mn that year..

 Don't forget the Hinny .

 Dusty

[Darren Williams]

Before I broke my wife of her nasty horse habit and got her full time on motorcycles...   

We've had a few horses and the last and most enjoyable for her was her Tennessee Walker. It was a tall horse with that smooth gait.  My favorite was a little paint that was trained as a cutting horse. It had excellent brakes and seemed to know where you wanted to go before you told it. Was a rough ride in a trot.

People that have horses must really love them, because they are expensive to take care of and time consuming. It pains me to see so many that are neglected.   

[Tom]

I agree.  They need love and care.

[Triple Jim]

I have several bicycles ; even have studded tires for one . They don't eat when not in use .

That's what I was thinking... I'm pretty sure that on a multi-mile trip, I can go farther and faster on my bicycle than a rider on a horse.  It's better for me, too.

[blackcat]

"Both mule and hinnies have more endurance than the horse, more resistance to disease, and have much stronger hooves.  They require less feed, and are less likely to be startled or spooked.  The horse has a flight reflex when startled and the donkey is more likely to freeze and evaluate the situation."

Given the scenario, I would have to go with a mule.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 But they don't have handlebars.

[Tom]

Bicycles don't count on this thread.  You guys overshot the runway.      Good try on the thread drift. 

[oldbike54]

 Besides , horses , burros , mules , and hinnies are better off road than any bicycle , being 4 hoof drive .

 Probably given the choice , either a burro or a hinny . Sweet tempered , cooperative . Besides , realistically you will be walking more than riding anyway .

 Dusty

[sib]

"Both mule and hinnies have more endurance than the horse, more resistance to disease, and have much stronger hooves.  They require less feed, and are less likely to be startled or spooked.  The horse has a flight reflex when startled and the donkey is more likely to freeze and evaluate the situation."

Given the scenario, I would have to go with a mule.

Only a mule could get someone without any riding experience whatsoever (me) down from the rim of Grand Canyon to the floor and back up again the next day without mishap.  They have my complete respect.

[charlie b]

Being an old Army type, I'd have to go with mule's too.

Father-in-law worked with them when he was younger.  He said mules were best at hauling stuff.  They'd load up a wagon and the mules would pull.  If it was too much for them they'd stop.  Wagon would get some stuff unloaded and mules would be urged to try again.  If it was an ok weight they'd just start moving it.  No fuss, no bother.

But, for looks I'd have to go with Clydesdales.

[Tom]

Only a mule could get someone without any riding experience whatsoever (me) down from the rim of Grand Canyon to the floor and back up again the next day without mishap.  They have my complete respect.

Thanks for that story.  Reminded me of the ride that I took with the girlfriend on Molokai Mule rides.  Sure footed and for the most part, no problems.  Before the ride I asked the wranglers if it was okay to give both mules...apples.  They said yes.  So that probably helped.    Any equine, doesn't hurt to give a little bribe.  They still wanted to inhale and hold when I went to tighten the belly cinch straps.  A quick knee fixed that however. 

[Devildog]

McClellen saddle always looked like torture. My father had one from the time of TR's Rough Riders.

[Guzzistajohn]

image share


We have a bug mule show in Ozark every year. After all, it is Missoouri

[Tom]

The McClellan saddle only looks that way.  They're more comfortable to me than a Western.  I'm 5'8" and weigh in at 155lbs.  So maybe larger guys may have a problem.

[Ncdan]

The buckskin on the end is 30 years old. We'll eat him first if times get hard enough and ride the other two.

[wymple]

Used to have 13 of them, now down to three.

[Sheepdog]

I've spent my fair share of time around horses, but I'd not call myself a horseman. I had to muck out too many stalls, I guess...it always seemed more a chore. Expensive, too. Great for hunting out West...but I'm just as happy to rent one.

However, I'm fascinated with machines...

[DaSwami]

I've spent my fair share of time around horses, but I'd not call myself a horseman. I had to muck out too many stalls, I guess...it always seemed more a chore. Expensive, too. Great for hunting out West...but I'm just as happy to rent one.

However, I'm fascinated with machines...

+1, grew up riding Appaloosa's and learned to ride well at a young age, but was not a horse whisperer by any means.  Got bucked, kicked, run over, you name it, lol.  Me likes the machines much better.

[screamday]

Me likes the machines much better.

[wymple]

"1, grew up riding Appaloosa's and learned to ride well at a young age,"


You know why the indians rode Appaloosas?  So they'd be good and mad by the time they got to the fight.

[Lannis]

Fay likes horses ... matter of fact, she's a one-woman Horse Welfare Inspection service, such that when we see horses being obviously mistreated when we're on a trip, she does something about it.

I've offered to fence our pastures and build stables and bridle trails (we could do miles of them) if it were her dream to keep horses, but she doesn't want to ride one - she thinks of them more as pets.

I'm somewhat relieved by that, since from what I've heard and seen, keeping horses requires resources similar to keeping a 12-meter racing yacht, a Formula One team, or keeping an Italian supermodel on the side in a Rome apartment with her own credit card ....

Lannis

[lrutt]

I had nothing but an Apolosa with nothing but a rope halter for riding. No saddle, no nothing. I'll stick with my bicycle as I hated hauling horse crap out of the barn all winter in Ontario....and that's a long winter :(

[troyhamilton]

We have a mule jump thing up in Pea Ridge Ar. But personally I aint riding nothing that weighs that much and has a mind of its own!

[Muley]

Morgans are like Guzzi Californias, good for a lot of different uses.

My main riding mule, Applejack, was a Morgan mule.  I rode by the pasture he was, well, pastured in when I bought him, and it's grown up in weeds and pines.  My tack is dusty and covered with spider webs.  My wagon is derelict, and the harness is getting brittle.

I miss them all :  Jack, Pearl, Blue, Henry, Rebel and even Billy Bob (not really, Billy Bob single handedly tore down most of my fence)

Only their bones, pictures and memories remain

[Tom]

I would have preferred a Morgan Mule.     From what I can see mules has a more developed personality than a horse.    Whenever the Quarter horse that I had would drop it's ears, I'd tell him "What are you a mule?".  A quick slap to the side of the head and his ears would go back up.  A mule to me is like having a Heinz 57 dog.  Out here we call them "poi dogs".

[pebra]

I have several bicycles ; even have studded tires for one . They don't eat when not in use .

That's right, but then there's the reverse of that.....

[Muley]

The other red meat?