Stephen Cooper introduced mules to America

FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, from pg. 5

“Mules inherit from their jack fathers the faculty of saving themselves when forced to work hard and for a long time and they are therefore less likely to suffer from overwork than horses.” Hmm…

Since I have a tendency to be timid, it’s nice that mules are generally smaller than horses — although they come in a variety of sizes. They will plod along at a steady, less fatiguing pace and can work in heat. To me that means when it is too hot to work, a trail ride on a mule would be the perfect way to spend a summer day.

We would have had to have a small pack of mules, as I am inclined to over-pack — even for an overnight trip. So by my estimate, we would need four mules. One for each of us to ride and two to carry my camping gear.

Cooper was on to something when he introduced the mule to America. Who knows? Maybe someday we will add mules to our farm. It would be rather pleasant to hear the mules braying (which apparently also comes from the father). At this point, it is barely an idea. So my mule time is better spent listening to the stories of other people who know mules — such as this one from a friend. The true tale takes place in Wyoming.

Work was well underway at the Wheeler Ranch as Mr. Wheeler and his outfitters planned to guide another hunting expedition into the Teton Mountains.

Each planned hunt went deep into the wilderness into areas that were only accessible on foot or a pack train of horses or mules. On this particular trip, Wheeler was utilizing mules.

Mules can work quite well in rough terrain, as they are surefooted, tend to follow a leader and can carry a goodsized load, which comes in handy if the hunt is successful. The one drawback is that each mule usually has a contrary trait.

In the case of Sebastian (not the mule’s real name, but since this is