The 31st annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump is set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. The pro jump will begin after other jump and speed events but won't begin until 1 p.m. or later. It will be held on fields on East Arkansas Highway 72 near Busey Lane.
What began as friendly competition between coon hunters has become an annual event attended by thousands of people. For 31 years, people from around the nation have traveled to Pea Ridge, the town just west of the Pea Ridge National Military Park and the ridge after which both take their name to watch mules and their owners battle wills over whether the mules will jump a curtain raised regularly until all but one are eliminated.
2003 — First Pro Jump
1st — 62 1/2” Big Red, Kenny Friend, Huggins, Mo.
2004
1st — 65.5” Missy, Steve Foster, Front Royal, Va.
2005
1st — 65.5” Red, Kenny Friend, Huggins, Mo.
2006
1st — Red, Kenny Friend, Huggins, Mo.
2007
1st — 60” Red, Kenny Friend, Plato, Mo.
2008
1st — 63” Tie
• Maggie Who, Kenny Vaught
• Radar, Mike Call, Union, Mo.
2009
1st — 56” Radar, Mike Call, Henley, Mo.
2010
1st — 63” Maggie Who, Kenny Vaught, Crane, Mo.
2011
1st — 65” Radar, Mike Call
2012
1st — 60” Radar, Mike Call
2013
1st — 62” Radar, Mike Call, Henley, Mo.
2014 — Jump cancelled due to rain and flooding
2015
1st — 64.5” Sadie, Les Clancy, Ozark. Mo.
2016
1st — 63” Sadie, Les Clancy, Ozark, Mo.
2017
1st — 63” Sadie, Les Clancy, Ozark, Mo.
2018
First — 61.5” Sadie, Les Clancy, Ozark, Mo.
Local residents gathered on the downtown school campus in the fall of 1985, attending the Chamber of Commerce sponsored Battlefield Daze which included a mule trail ride and a United Kennel Club Coon Hunters' Association coon dog hunt and show. For the next couple of years, the event was called the Fall Fest and, by 1989, the Lions Club took it over and named it the Pea Ridge Mule Jump.
Over the ensuing 31 years, participants and spectators have increased with as many as 4,800 people attending to watch the mules' antics.
"How high is it?" calls out announcer Kent Morris to the crowd encouraging them to cheer for their favorite mule. The heights cleared vary with winning jumps ranging from 61 to 72 inches. In 2018, the winner, Sadie, cleared 61.5 inches and three mules, including small Pedro, cleared 60 inches for a three-way tie for second place.
In 1989, Sunny owned by Don Sams of Barnstall, Okla., cleared 72 inches in the 51 inches and over mules. Over the next several years, the winning jumps for the bigger mules were less -- 61 inches by Sunny in 1990, 65 inches by Frosty owned by Negel Hall of Pea Ridge in 1991, 67 inches by Powder River owned by Kenny Vaughn, Crane, Mo., in 1992.
For the next 14 years, there were two categories for the jump -- one for smaller mules, those who were less than 51" tall at the withers and one for larger mules, 51" and over. In 2003, the first pro jump was established with a $1,000 cash prize. That year, Big Red, owned by Kenny Friend of Huggins, Mo., cleared 62.5" to take first.
Historically, in the mules over 51 inches and the pro jump categories, the greatest heights cleared and the mules who jumped were:
• 72" by Sunny in 1989;
• 67" by Powder River in 1992;
• 66" by Frosty for second place in 1992; and
• 65.5" by Chiquita in 1990, Missy in 2004, Red in 2005.
Radar, a crowd favorite, owned by Mike Call of Henley, Mo., was known for his antics of jumping, prancing, and reacting to Call's flamboyant encouragement. Radar first competed in Pea Ridge in 2001 winning first place as he cleared 58" in the taller mule category. His record reflects six first place wins and five second place wins from 2001 to 2017. He did not compete from 2002-2006 and there was no jump in 2014, as rains caused cancellation of the jump.
Radar's record
• 2001 -- 58" 1st, 51" and over
• 2007 -- 58" 2nd, pro jump
• 2008 -- 63" tied for 1st, pro jump
• 2009 -- 56" 1st, pro jump
• 2010 -- 60" 2nd, pro jump
• 2011 -- 65" 1st, pro jump
• 2012 -- 60" 1st, pro jump
• 2013 -- 62" 1st, pro jump
• 2015 -- 62" 2nd, pro jump
• 2016 -- 60" 2nd, pro jump
• 2017 -- 62" 2nd, pro jump
Over the years, various speed events were added including the barrel race, flag race and pole bending. Points are tallied from the mule jumps and speed events and the mule with the most points is awarded the Negel Hall Memorial High Point Award in the youth, adult and senior categories. A boot race is held for fun but garners no points.
There are vendors selling food, drinks and other items and events for children including bounce houses. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12, and free for 5 years old and younger.
General News on 10/09/2019