Mule Jump delights and thrills

"Back.

"Back.

"Back.

"Hey!"

So instructs Les Clancy, standing 30 feet away at the end of the rope connecting him to Sadie's halter.

Sadie, a mule, watches Clancy, her ears upright, attuned to his words and posture.

She won the 2015 Pea Ridge Mule Jump clearing 64.5 inches, although Clancy says she's easily cleared 69 inches.

Sadie and her fellow mules from Ozark, Mo., will return to northwest Arkansas this weekend to compete in the 28th annual event.

In addition to jumping, there will be mules from Arkansas and Kansas competing in the halter, barrel racing and pole bending.

Pea Ridge Mule Jump

Thousands of people attend the annual mule jump, enjoying the camaraderie of seeing old friends as well as watching and encouraging the mules.

Kent Morris will again be the announcer, said Nathan See, event chairman. Rick Stanley will be the judge.

Food vendors, bounce houses and events for children round out the activities.

The weather is predicted to be beautiful -- sunny with high temperatures in the low 70s.

"We are expecting a crowd," See said, adding that the price of the prize for the pro jump has been increased.

"We have upped the first place pro jump money," he said. "We have received phone calls from people who haven't been here before. We'll have quite a few people coming in from out of state."

See said the Marriot Courtyard set aside two wings with a special rate for people attending the mule jump and those rooms are already booked.

"That's never happened before," he said.

The entrance to the event will be the driveway to the Primary School and the exit will be at the four-way stop with McCulloch Street. There will be parking all over the school campus and shuttles available.