When you have been riding your mule at your home and you really think they are solid, think again. There are three things in this world that will keep you humble: toddlers, drunks, and your mule. My mule has surprised me in good ways and bad ways while traveling with him in the past. In order to...
E.I.A. are the initials for Equine Infectious Anemia. A Coggins test is used to test for E.I.A. When I was 8 years old and living in Texas, I had a life-changing lesson about just how deadly E.I.A. can be on our herd of horses.
You see, our horses never went anywhere. My father was a farmer and...
It really is that simple. If you want a safe finished mule you are going to have to make it a priority to take the time to take the time it takes. There are literally no shortcuts. My mules and horses all took years to develop into the herd they are now. YEARS, not months.
So many people want ...
Some mules tell you when things are wrong: sore hoof, sore back, tired, need their sheath cleaned, itchy ears, and the list goes on. But on the flipside, some mules are stoic and will absorb any hint they could give you about what is going on behind the scenes.
I have two mules, one is stoic and...
With owning a trail facility, I get to see a lot of different mule and horse people throughout the year. Lots of different levels of riders, lots of different equine, and lots of different confidence levels.
One of the issues I see that has caused all sorts of issues is buddy sourness. I have se...
The mounts that are used by the Mounted Police must be desensitized to everything! That is exactly what Celeste Bennett and Brandy Von Holten did this summer while attending the National Mounted Police training with Instructor Bill Richey.
Celeste’s mule, Tucson, is a 13-year-old Molly mule from ...
What do you keep in your saddle bag when you are heading out for a trail ride? Water? Chapstick? Hoof pick? Vet wrap? Bear spray? Pop tarts and cheetos?
Sometimes, no matter how prepared you are, you just cannot prepare for some situations. With my husband and I owning a trail riding facility...
Country Tough Trail Versatility (CT2V) is a nationals versatility association. Competitors have three events in trail, obstacles, and a ranch horsemanship pattern. All scores are combined for an overall versatility placing.
2020 is the third year for CT2V. In 2019, the association grew over 100%...
Luke, the donkey, has hit the jackpot in terms of finding a forever home at our trail riding facility in Missouri. He will have the task of being loved by children and adults during birthday parties and being kissed by brides that want to have unique wedding photos. It is a pretty good gig that is...
Just to think that Country Tough Trail Versatility (CT2V) had 38 participants in 2018, and has 165 members in 2020 is humbling. CT2V was founded by David and Brandy Von Holten in Mora, MO. CT2V is a competition association that is a combination of obstacles without any points for speed, a ranch...
Adventures at Von Holten Ranch is a book series consisting of six books with each book featuring a different horse or mule from Von Holten Ranch in Mora, Missouri! Book number two and six, bring a mule to the spotlight for different character development lessons. Book number two, Adventures at Von...
JoJo, a 9 year old Missouri Fox Trotter John mule, is rocking the mounted archery world! A national mounted archery competition was held Oct 26-28, 2018 in Mora, Missouri. With mounted archery just now making its way into Missouri and Kansas, every competitor present was able to say that it was the...
