Mini Mag Mar 9 2021

High Jumping Mules Prove To Be Applause Earning Crowd Pleasers By Frank J. Buchman

“That 49-inches-tall mule stood flatfooted and jumped over a 62-inches-high horizontal bar.” Baxter is one of the highest jumping mules in the country proving his ability during EquiFest of Kansas in Salina. Jerry and Cyndi Nelson of Crooked Creek Mule Company at Cameron, Missouri, demonstrated the sport of mule jumping at EquiFest. Most important to the presentation were the jumping mules with Nelson family members assisting as Cyndi visited with the audience.

“We have 17 mules at home with diverse abilities, but we are best known for our jumping mules,” Cyndi said. A mule is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey or “jack.” The donkey part of their bloodline gives them unique muscular characteristics that enable them to do a standing high jump. “A female mule is called a molly and a male is a john. Both are sterile and will not reproduce,” Cyndi said. “Mule jumping originally began when raccoon hunters taught their mules to jump fences on hunts. “Hunters dismounted their mules and placed a blanket on the fence,” Cyndi explained “Standing on the opposite side, hunters urged their mule to jump from a standstill. That avoided a long walk to the nearest gate.