Can Mules Barrel Race?

Yes they have barrel races at mule shows. Theres a guy from NM that shows up at Denver Stock Show every year and I know those mules of his would compete on even ground with 1D horses. They are phenomenal.

My friend has a barrel mule that is slowing down in her old age, but she has the heart for it.

I pleasure show, so my guys don't do speed events.

Wellllllll the donkey is doing donkey barrel racing at Stock Show this year, but as we all know, thats definately not a 4 D time :)

Edit-- on your mule, it just depends on the heart of it. If it likes speed, go for it, if not then pleasure show or drive it. Just take it slowly and do not whip and spur it for added speed, you will make it ring sour quickly. If a mule is preforming what it feels you are asking and you start whipping it for more, it doesn't understand and believes its undeserved abuse and you will lose that mules trust in you. If anything, verbal cues to increase speed and then add spurs later, but sparingly. None of my mules want to race, but they all excel at something.

I am personally not a mule person but I have a friend who set goals with her mule that none of us on horses thought she would reach and no matter what they were she got to them. If her goal was to be jumping 3' in a year then you could bet when you saw her at camp the next year she was in the intermediate jumping class. So I guess you can do just about anything with a mule that you can with a horse. I never thought I would admit to it but when the facts are there you have to go with them. Give it a try, and even if its not good at barrel racing then you will find something that that mule will be awesome at.

Mules can do anything a horse can do except reproduce, and usually do it just as well if not better. I've known a couple of walkers that were great barrel racers. And I believe I've read in old books how mules, at one time, were considered to sometimes be better at racing than most horses.

I personally havent. I dont like to ride Jackasses...lol jkjk I have never ridden one.....But they are just as good as horse at some things. I have seen them do hunter/jumpers and dressage. I think if it isnt a forward moving mule, then barrel racing wont be its thing.

MULES--Mule halter classes will be Saddle type or those best suited for riding purposes and Draft type which are bigger, draftier mules. Pack mules can be entered into either category, but no mule may be entered as both types.

MULE & DONKEY FLAG RACE--Flags will be 2 different colors. Rider races to 1st barrel and picks up flag and races to 2nd barrel, deposits flag and picks other colored flag, races back to 1st barrel and deposits that flag, then races to finish line. Rider must keep barrels on right or left at all times. Disqualified for hitting animals with property, knocking over barrel, dropping flag and breaking pattern.

here you go

of course they can! if there is anyone here to answer this question, it is Mulereiner! i THINK she has said that she ran barrels with her mules.

If your mule is out of a TWH which as you probably know is a gaitet horse not a sporting horse. why would you want to risk hurting your horse their musculature and leg structure is not as strong as say a quarter horse I currently own 6 TWH and would not think about barrel racing. that's would be a task for one of my Quarter horses give it some thought and don't ask your mule to perform in ways he was not bred for.

Yes mules can barrel race. And they ar'nt to bad if i do say so my self!

Mule Barrel Racing

mules can do anything horses can do and some say they do it better. so why not?!?