I saw my first Peruvian mule in 1962. To tell the
truth, I scarcely noticed it. A few seconds earlier I’d seen my first
Peruvian horse, and my attention was focused there.
I think it’s safe to say that mules are an acquired
taste. Most aficionados learn to love mules because a mentor helps
them develop an appreciation for these much-maligned hybrids. Never having
been around anyone who knew much about mules, I hadn’t given them much
thought.
That quickly changed while I was in Peru. Many of the
farmers there preferred mules to horses, and why not? Peruvian Paso horses
produce wonderful mules with a smooth, ground-covering, lateral gait and a
remarkable docile nature.
My interest increased when I found a historical
reference to Peruvian mules ridden by a squadron under the command of
Lawrence of Arabia, during his famous World War I campaign against the
Turks. I was fascinated to discover that Peruvian mules have proven their
worth in deserts far from those they so comfortably navigate in their
homeland.
Since it began in 1945, the National Tournament of
Peruvian Paso Horses has offered classes for these remarkable hybrids.
Listening to spectators year after year, as they admiringly discussed
Peruvian mules, I came to realize that here was something special and
deserving of respect. I was also intrigued by the commercial
possibilities.
However, I soon discovered that importation costs
eliminated any possibility of bringing these animals to the States for
profit, and I gave up on that idea. So did everyone else involved in the
early importation of Peru’s National Horse. Nonetheless, a few Peruvian
mules reached our shores during their native country’s agrarian reform.
Peru’s paso horses were bred for work on plantations,
and their market was temporarily destroyed when the government confiscated
these establishments. Less than two years later, the horse market would
rebound dramatically, with the help of buyers from the United States.
On the other hand, the market for mules flourished
during those two "down years," and thus some high-quality mares
were bred to donkeys. A couple of these were sold to Americans and were
imported before giving birth.
When these U.S.-born mules grew to riding age, they
created quite a sensation. It quickly became evident that there is
enormous potential for gaited mules in North America. If they could
somehow be produced here – and therefore be free of importation costs
– Peruvian mules could be very profitable. Several American breeders
looked into the possibility, but a complication soon appeared.
The Peruvians had ambling donkeys with an exceptionally
high-quality gait, and these were the key to producing laterally gaited
mules. No one was inclined to import those donkeys, however. They were
scarce, expensive and too small to produce mules for people the size of
Americans.
The Peruvian horse’s lateral gait is deeply bred-in
and passes without fail to the offspring of a pureblooded mare and
stallion. However, no one was unduly surprised when it was discovered that
this gait passes much-less-reliably when these horses are crossed with a
trotting jack.
Several years ago, at a Peruvian Paso show in Moab,
Utah, a man brought a pair of mules he’d produced using Peruvian mares
and American jacks. He said that he’d been doing this for a while and
was selling his mules at unbelievable prices. In fact, he’d stopped by
the show on his way to deliver two mules to a buyer.
Upon learning that the judge, Jose Antonio Dapelo, was
a great aficionado of mules, the exhibitor graciously offered to
let him try out the paso mules after the show. Sr. Dapelo enthusiastically
accepted.
Jose Antonio was obviously looking forward to riding
the mules, but I was sure he’d be severely disappointed. Without
comment, I watched as the mules were brought before him. He complimented
the breeder on their size and conformation. Then he rode.
To my surprise, more compliments flowed. My initial
impression was that Sr. Dapelo was being polite. However, his enthusiasm
grew lavish, far beyond good manners. He was genuinely impressed and
commented that these mules were as well-gaited as those produced in Peru.
Further conversation revealed that North America, too,
has laterally-gaited donkeys. Though I’ve never since seen one with a
gait the quality of that done by Peruvian donkeys, a very good lateral
gait is reliably transmitted to mules produced by crossing these with
Peruvian horses. Most have enough "ambling blood" that a
talented rider can get them to gait, and many will gait for anyone who
rides properly.
Peru’s mule owners are every bit as colorful as their
counterparts in other parts of the world. Among them is Juan Pardo who
loved horses with a passion but preferred mules. He enjoyed nothing more
than to needle his fellow horse lovers by reciting the long list of
reasons he considered the mule superior to the horse.
Once while riding in the thick foliage of a sugar cane
field, Pardo rounded a corner and came face to face with a bear. There was
little time for thought, but he remembers being thankful he was on a mule
and not a horse. The next sound he heard was the thud of his mount hitting
the ground.
The poor, terrified animal had fainted!
Pardo’s luck was good that day. The bear was a pet
that had escaped from a neighbor’s private zoo. He was well-fed,
accustomed to people and so pleased with his sudden freedom that he
continued on his way with nary a look at the man standing next to his
prostrate mule.
After telling his tale a few times, Sr. Pardo decided
to turn it into a testimonial for his beloved mules. This required only
one small adjustment. Pardo began reporting - with a huge smile - that his
mule was so intelligent it had decided to play dead!
He can be forgiven for his small exaggeration. After all, his point was
(and is) valid. Mules are generally smarter than horses. They’re also
tougher, and in the case of Peruvian mules, they cover ground more
comfortably and with a ground-covering gait that will put non-gaited
horses into a fast trot.