Got a debate going here at the True West World Headquarters. Found an old photo in our archives and the ID on the picture says it's a "White Horse Stage," but some of us think those are mules. What do you think?
Schribner White Horse Stage from Walcot, Wyoming to Saratoga, Wyoming, circa 1900
We asked our mule experts and here's what they had to say:
"Look like mules to me."
—Deb Kidwell "The Jackass Lady"
"My first thought is Pissed off Horses. Reason one, I have never seen a mule with a Roman nose and the lead one on the left has a very good example of a Roman nose. Thats the front bone shape sort of arches out. Not to say it has never happened to a Mule but just what I see. Because the ears are pinned back they appear to be larger, and the builds are more of a draft cross so the ears would be a bit larger than the average horse. They have draft cross mules as well. When the Donkey is mated with the Grey Percheron the Mules would be that colored. I have a book that has huge Grey Horses pulling a fire pumper and they look just like these in your photo. I put $98.00 on HORSES! So keep me posted on who wins. Love the Photo."
—Sylvia Durando, Three Rivers, California
PS: "Seldom were Mules hitched to Coaches due to their unpredictable temperament!"
"A very nice set of mules."
—Richard Underwoord, Bishop Mule Days
"Yep, they're mules. Back in 1976 for a Bicentennial Event I spent a week on the Crook Military Road staring at my mule, Monte's ears. The son of a gun bucked me off up near Woods Canyon Lake.
My dad loved mules. We had a couple of them when I was a kid. I didn't like 'em much as they were much smarter than me."
—Marshall Trimble
"It may have been called the White Horse Stage but it's being pulled by mules. The longer ears for sure and the nose of a mule is often larger and less .. uh ...'delicate' than that of a horse. The nearside lead mule is a good example and if you study the others close they have the similar characteristic. Regardless, it is one impressive well matched six-up."
—Lee Anderson, equine historian and True West contributor
"Cayuse hosses. Not a mule in the six up."
—Raymond Isenberg, a Mule Man, extraordinaire
"Cayuse hosses. Not a mule in the six up."
—Raymond Isenberg, a Mule Man, extraordinaire
Horses. Heads on trailing pairs narrow and nosy
ReplyDeletehorse ...
ReplyDeleteMore likley was originally a 6 white horse team http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/hotel-wolf https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/38/39/da/3839dad25668e03cef703c85bcba32aa.jpg then everything after labeled that way if seen. Here's a picture from the hotel with a mixture a mule at the front right and a horse or two and mixed together http://www.wolfhotel.com/assets/old_wolf.jpg
ReplyDeleteDefinitely they are mules
ReplyDeleteI'm going to put my chips down on the pass line & go with horses...
ReplyDeleteHorses , look at their feet a mules foot is shaped different , It is a nice Hitch though, I drove a 6 horse hitch and a 6 mule hitch for Wolverton Mountain Stage Lines in Tucson
ReplyDelete60+ years working with equines of all kinds says those are mules undoubtedly.
ReplyDelete