Look in their eyes

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The secret is in the eyes, said judge Leonard Bowen, describing what he looks for in a mule.

Bowen, of Marble, Ark., has raised mules for 17 years, but raises mules for trail riding - pleasure mules, he said.

Composition is key, Bowen said, explaining that he looks at a mule’s feet, the straightness of his legs, the thickness and width of the neck, the back.

“You can tell 95 percent about a mule from its eyes,” Bowen said. “A soft-eyed mule is easier to handle.”

Bowen said there are many different kinds and sizes of mules depending on the breed of horse used.

“Color will catch your eye, but you can’t judge on color ... Mules have come a long way,” Bowen said, adding that formerly, people didn’t selectively breed mules like they do now. “A long-bodied mule will be easier to ride. They’re bred for that purpose. It just takes a certain kind of mare to get whatever kind of mule you want.”

Bowen is a brother-in-law of Dr. Gary France, veterinarian, of Pea Ridge.

Mule Jump, Pages 13 on 10/13/2010