Monday, September 28, 2009

Fall Reading

Packing season is coming to a close but that just means it's the perfect time to start planning for next year.

If you are looking for an informative and entertaining read this fall pick up a copy of our Mule & Horse Packers Guidebook. Available through our website at www.mtcanaryco.com or by email at mtcanary@msn.com.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

A new packing year started for us the 27th of May 09. Denny Dargan and I packed a trail crew up into the DuckaBush (Oly. Nat. Park). it was a beautiful day but very long. That was the longest 6.5 miles in the park (rough). We both came out licking our wounds (must be getting a wee bit older each year.

Friday, May 15, 2009

New Packers Bulletin #15

We have added a new packers bulletin #15 "For the Loss of a Shoe!"...Subjest how we deal with a loose or lost shoe. ...To view the whole article go to our web site ....www.mtcanaryco.com

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Getting Ready To Get Out There

This the time of the year that we go looking for our shoeing hammer and visit the farrier supply store for a fresh supply of mule and horse shoes. It is also the time of the year that we dust of the pack saddles and pull in the mouldy looking(half shed out) gang and, surrounded by a storm of loose hair, check the fit of each one on last years user. This is a very important ritual because our horses and mules can and do change their body size from time to time. They can grow or shrink for age or conditioning. If we size our gear early we have time to get the trees or rigging set up well before we need to use them.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Do You Think I Ought To Own a Mule?

Here's some food for thought if you are thinking about adding a mule to your gang:


"We are long-ear advocates. We are constantly visiting with folks in an effort to take the sting out of the idea that mules belong in the horse world. Seven out of ten times when someone finds out you are a mule owner they are lighting fast to spout off, spreading mule horror stories. We are equally as fast to ask them how many mules they have ever owned? They usually get a dumb look on their face, and fess-up that they never have owned a mule. I guess the better you are, the less you are understood and, the faster folks are to spread any short comings they can conjure up, true or contrived about your (mules).

We have been asked over and over again by well-meaning folk the following question: “Do we think they should own a mule?” Goodness what a loaded question! Well, never let it be said that we ever backed away from a chance to put our foot into our mouth; the following is our canned reply. If the querying person does not answer affirmative to our three questions then we think that they ought to reconsider living with a mule.

#1 Do they like kids? Mules are a lot like children. They are honest, do not like pain and are always watching you.
#2 Do they like dogs. Mules are also a lot like dogs. They are honest, do not like pain and are always watching you.
#3 Would they ever consider owning a good Arab Horse? This one usually is the wash-out question. After their eyes roll back to the normal position in their head they get the picture. Mules are a lot like Arab horses they both have an opinion about self and are aware of their own presence. Thus the idea or fear of their stubbornness. With both of these animals you learn to look for the opportunity to negotiate, rather than to order them around.

We do not believe that everyone would be happy living with a mule. We do not believe the mule would be happy in this situation either. Besides you have to be smarter the critter you ride. This is the case with a mule if you can not read them, do not ride them."

For more information like this visit our website at www.mtcanary.com

Welcome to the Mountain Canary Blog

Howdy! Just getting my feet wet on this blogger stuff.
Check back soon for articles on mule and horse packing, caring for your stock and all things life in the backcountry.

Looking forward to hanging out and shooting the breeze!