|
We're
selling mules to people who don't want to and can't afford to get hurt. They want a saddle mule they can get right on and
ride - right now - not after 2 hours of lungeing, or 3 months of outside training...
Equines by Design mules are
not the "cheapest"...but I'm sure we're not the most expensive as far as how our mules are priced - and if you take
into consideration the time, training, trailriding, hauling and quality and sincerity that goes into our mules, then maybe
we are the least expensive...
Let's say you find a mule for sale for $1,500 - but it's got some holes in its'
training - the first chance it gets, it finds something to "spook" at, dumps you and breaks your arm. Emergency
room bill will probably run you at least $2,500, even with insurance. Now you've got a $4000 mule...not to mention
the pain, hassle and time off for the broken bone. What's cheaper now?
|
By
the time you figure a year's worth of care for the mare while she carries the mule foal, and then several more years care
of the mule including feed, coggins, vaccinations and any other vet care..., worming expenses and farrier. Add in the cost
of fuel for hauling these mules out trailriding, to teampennings and ranchropings, to shows and private ranches plus the cost
of incidentals (stall fees, current travel papers/health certificates/ buying feed and supplies while we're away from home)
you can see that it adds up quickly. Some mules more, some less.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING MY TRAINING. Here in Texas,
trainers get between $500 - $800/month for basic training. Other places may be cheaper, but others are a lot are more
expensive. We don't rush a mule's training in order to have something to sell. We take the time it takes
to get the mule broke and confident. We don't use gimmicks when training and we are careful not to treat the animal
unfairly or scare him--that's where I know our animals are the strongest -- if something happens, they look to us for help
and don't worry that they might get hurt.
|
|
Some mule dealers/breeders were here
some time back and we were visiting...they are getting out of the "mule business"...they weren't even breaking even on the
mules they sold.
We have a few advantages over them, we stand our own jack (so I don't have jack fees), we raise
our own coastal bermuda grass so don't have to buy much hay except some extra alfalfa for the broodmares and mules that are
needing a "boost"...they don't break and ride colts so were sending them out to various trainers where I love starting and
riding the young ones...but it just goes to show that by the time you put good time and money into a mule, it's hard to get
your money back. Nobody is going to get rich in the mule business--we've been raising mules about longer than anyone out
there right now. And we've seen a lot of people come and go. They thought they were going to make some money. You have
to "do mules" because you enjoy it...which we do (and James won't let me keep them all)!
For those of you who don't
know us...we don't derive our livelihood from selling mules...this means we can offer them at a reasonable price and without
pressuring a prospective buyer--we want to sell a good mule to a good person that will enjoy them.
|
So, you can see that a truly good mule
from anybody should cost you more than $500...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. We advertised a mule in the newspaper a couple
of years ago and one caller hung up on us when he found out we had the mule priced at $1,800 - he said that he had seen
a mule go through a Cow Sale the week before for $500. Well, there was a reason why the mule was at a Cow Sale obviously!
(At least obvious to us, evidently not obvious to him!)
I like a good deal just as well as anybody, but have learned
with mules, not to scrimp. You don't want your wife or kids hurt...you can't afford to get hurt...and you're not getting
any younger. A good friend told me "Life is not a dress rehearsal"...you don't get another life or two to finally get the
mule you've been wanting to enjoy! The perfect mule at a ridiculously low price is probably not going to just fall out of
the sky.
If a trader has a mule for $1,500 that sounds like it is too good to be true, it probably is. He probably
paid about $750 for it because the owners couldn't wait to get rid of it, and he can afford to sell it for $1,500
- if he gets it sold within a month or so, he's made a quick $500 profit. And if he sells 10 like that a month, he's
doing pretty good. Of course, he hasn't had time to even get on the mule to check it out...but if he can get someone to take
it, so what?
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
|
