New LOOK British Mule Society

Please be aware of fraudulent sites posing as The British Mule Society.

Mules are going to Burghley this year!!

The British Mule Society team have entered Burghley Horse trials, no, you haven't heard me wrong, there will be four mules going round the cross country course on Sunday. So I if you are there come and say hello. 

We REALLY are going round the cross country course, but we will be going AROUND the fences as The British Mule society team has entered The Burghley Sponsored Ride on the 4th September 2016. This is a chance to ride along the famous four-star Land Rover Burghley Horse Trails Cross Country Course on the final day of the World Class International Three Day Event. 

Making up our team is me, Helen Brodie riding Betty, a 15hh bright bay out of a Hanoverian x shire mother and Mammoth jack donkey, Sarah Hemmings riding Honey, a 13.2hh bay mare 

out of a 16 hh Holstiener mother and a 10hh Jack donkey. 

Jacqui and Clive will be riding two of their four Spanish Andalusian mules, to be decided nearer the date.

We are taking this fantastic opportunity to enjoy a 12km leisure ride alongside the huge fences and explore the tracks and pathways of the Burghley Estate while raising money for charity.

Thanks to the support of Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Burghley Estate, Stamford XT and the sponsorship of SEIB Insurance Brokers, 100% of the money will go to charity.

The day includes completion rosettes, a photographer and special Burghley prizes for the most money raised.  It's great ride to do with friends, as a yard or club and it is open to riders 5 years and upwards so if anyone wants to join us with their own mule can contact Helen (details on contact page of journal) to find out how to apply. 

This will be the fourteenth ride held on the Sunday of the Burghley Horse Trials, cumulative proceeds for charities is now over £200,000. Numbers taking part have varied from 300 – 500 each year and is suitable for horses and MULES of all ages, sizes and abilities to come and take part, provided they are fit and well. The ride allows walking, trotting and some designated cantering areas. There is no jumping. 

About the money

100% of the funds raised go to equestrian and local Stamford charities, and event costs are paid for with the generous sponsorship of SEIB Insurance Brokers

Charities that received funds from the 2016 ride are:

• World Horse Welfare
• British Horse Society
• South Kestevan RDA
• Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall extension appeal

If you would like to sponsor The British Mule Society Team please contact

Helen Brodie on

07895107346 to find out how. 

Happy 2016!


Meanwhile over on facebook.

The greatest mule show on earth! We can't wait to see you at this years Bishop Mule Days Celebration on May 24-29, 2016!

Posted by Bishop Mule Days Celebration on Friday, 8 January 2016

Mule Camp  24th-26th July 2015

Turn up on Friday 24th  Settle in and Meal out at the local pub in the evening.

Saturday 25th: Day - hack out in the local countryside. Set up and practice
Western night in the evening £5 per person £10 for a family ticket.

Includes  veggie or beef chilli and mulled cider and soft drink.
Please also bring your own drink and a wrapped cheese for the cheese board!

Sunday 26th. 10am: Open to the general public free admission 

Western theme with events including
Condition and turn out
Barrel racing
Jumping
Driving
Agility
Key hole
Dolly Parton race!
All events can be done ridden or in-hand!
BBQ
All campers must pre reserve. £20 for non members for the weekend.
Also ticket only for the western night!

Contact Jaqui  01959 523801

Please support our event with or without your mule.

New Arrival

Thanks to Francine for these pictures of Toby a little mule foal and his amazing Mum Beauty who had to overcome the loss of an eye and having a baby all in space of 12 weeks since she was rescued.

With a huge stallion donkey as a dad,  Toby is sure to be a really big hit with his new family!

Remembering the Mules of WW1

Picture from http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205298236

British troops taking up supplies on a mule drawn light railway. Balkan Front, January, 1917.

2014 is the Centennial year of the First World War. You only have to look in any parish church to see that the casualties of this war were immense and widespread - in nearly every village there is a list of those that fought and died in the conflict. In every town the toll was equally high and changed the shape of our industry and transport systems. There were changes to our society that can be followed back to the effects of this war. It is difficult to imagine and overestimate the effects this conflict. Not listed on the memorials were the animal casualties which were at least as high and widespread.

Mules have a special place in war even today - they are highly valued for their resilience, and the same self determined calm and sometimes obstinate nature that means an almost endless ability to stick to whatever task they have taken on.

People trusted mules with their lives.

Harder to document is the effect of a mules natural ability to warm the hearts of whoever the mules trusted. They naturally form a bond with their handler, and in times of tragedy, conflict and dismay their winning natures still managed to shine through in the darkest of times.
Please go over to http://www.warmule.org and take a look at the stories and pictures of their sacrifice.

Thanks to the Blue Cross Burford Rehoming Centre

for letting us use their venue for the BMS AGM May 3rd 2014  and their very interesting tour.    They are doing some really great work finding homes for cats, rats, dogs, rabbits, and horses, chinchillas  & degus.

Of course, my favourite bit was the horses rehoming part, and they seem very well organised, turning out some lovely rescued horses.

Trying hard to not take anyone new home

If you are at all interested in caring for a new equine or know someone that is, give them a call.

See how happy we are!

Once again, Thanks to all those who helped make it a great day.

Falling through the gaps.

Imagine if near where you lived there was a field loaded with horses starving in flooded paddocks amongst the bodies of their dead fellows.

Instinctively you may think that it would be a straightforward matter to get those horses moved immediately  to one of the equine welfare charities there are in this country.   This as it stands is not necessarily so  - there is no right of any organisation to seize an animal for its welfare.

 Imagine if near where you lived there was a field loaded with horses starving in flooded paddocks amongst the bodies of their dead fellows.

Instinctively you may think that it would be a straightforward matter to get those horses moved immediately  to one of the equine welfare charities there are in this country.   This as it stands is not necessarily so  - there is no right of any organisation to seize an animal for its welfare.

.  A police constable, or an inspector may be able to help as in  Section18 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006

Powers in relation to animals in distress
(1)      If an inspector or a constable reasonably believes that a protected animal is suffering, he may take, or arrange for the              taking of, such steps as appear to him to be immediately necessary to alleviate the animal’s suffering.
[.....]

(5)      An inspector or a constable may take a protected animal into possession if a veterinary surgeon certifies—

(a)that it is suffering, or

(b)that it is likely to suffer if its circumstances do not change.

(8)     Where an animal is taken into possession under subsection (5), an inspector or a constable may—

(a)remove it, or arrange for it to be removed, to a place of safety;

(b)care for it, or arrange for it to be cared for—

(i)on the premises where it was being kept when it was taken into possession, or

(ii)at such other place as he thinks fit;

Then  it gets complicated, i.e. slower and the suffering continues.   Magistrates courts, untraceable or deliberately obstructive owners, vets naturally cautious about being sued, the lack of police expertise, resources, or inclination even all work against the welfare of the animal.  The sad fact is that animals can be suffering and dieing whilst organisations like the RSPCA are "monitoring"  helplessly.


That is why Hope For Horses  are going  down to the house of commons on April 16th
to petition for a change in the law.
( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-the-horses-of-Fosse-Park-Leicester/215018828693901)

Follow the below link to sign their petition online.

Change in law for Equine charities to remove suffering animals  


Change in law for Equine charities to remove suffering animalsResponsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsDue to the increase of Equine abuse, there are many horses whos suffering is continued as many Equine charities do not have the legal power to remove such animals from the land/premises where they are neglected. The time it takes to get police involved, then make arrangements by staying within the law, many of these poor animals have already lost their lives through suffering, or worse been killed and dumped by such owners. We ask for a change in the law to give such charities more power to seize an animal should its suffering be apparent


Success!

Thanks to all those who have campaigned to end the suffering of horses dumped on unsuitable land

Control of Horses Act 2015 has passed royal assent  will come into effect in 2 months time.

A BIG WELCOME 

To our NEW Members! 

   Hi
I'm Helen Brodie the new British Mule Society membership secretary.  
Please complete Membership Form and return  with payment to the address below. 

Thank you and welcome to THE BRITISH MULE SOCIETY! 

 Helen.

membership@thebritishmulesociety.com

Here's my address:

Membership fees & benifits can be found on the Join us page.

Wishing all mules and muleteers 

everywhere a great 2014

A new year dawns


Lots to look forward to this year. More shows, more adventures, and more pictures. 

Mule Gathering 2013

So what happened?

Plenty of riding, some even on the beach, a dash of long reining. 

(we love donkeys too)

 Much talking and tea drinking and lots of long-eared fun.

Missed it?

From a note just in:

Make your mule a star!

Malvern Autumn Show 

on 

28th and 29th of  September  

would like some helpers and a mule. 

"There is a mule for one day but we could do with a mule for the other day. It would have a stable and a pen and be on show to the public.  There is also an optional breed parade in the afternoon."


Go on, you know you want to!

(Contact bmsblogger2@gmail.com for more information)

We know that mules are intelligent but exactly how smart are mules?

As it turns out, pretty smart.

http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/blog/7067

We're Back!

Some of the many mules at Town Barton getting a chance for a run.

Once again  thanks to The Donkey Sanctuary  for letting  us use one of their eight
farms, Town Barton in Devon as a base for our Annual General Meeting on the 11th May.

This very special place is home to over 200 happy donkeys and mules of almost every size and colour
and only open to the public a few times a year.

With plenty of friendly mules to make a fuss of, and something of interest to see every where you looked,
 it was all in all a great day to make and renew  quite a few
human and long-eared friendships.

Muleylympics!

Come Join Us At The Muleylmpics!!

Sunday 2^nd September at Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary

Schedule

10am Start

Marathon with a twist!!

Bicycle obstacle class

Catchey donkey

Lunch

2pm Grand Parade & Condition and Turn Out class

Barrel Racing

Mule and Hound Class

(This class is one for the bookies, bets will be taken)

Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary, Church Lane, Huttoft, Lincolnshire LN13 9RB   Tel. 07940146330

Show Date Updated

 The gorgeous Mellie will be visitig the East of England Autumn show.  (S)Mellie (as she is affectionately known) will be ready to meet her many fans after a busy start to her season as a pro lead rein mule.

Mule Weekend!

Mule Weekend (South) will finally be here this weekend!  

Taking place:  2nd -3rd June in Shoreham (Kent) - TN14 7RX

Friday 1st - ride out & explore
Saturday 2nd - set up & training day - beware the film crew!
Sunday 3rd - SHOW DAY (mind the cameras again!) AM Parade with condition & turnout awards, Dressage - ridden/driven/in-hand
PM Jumping - ridden/in-hand (coon style!) Agility - mule/dog & handler Obstacles - ridden/driven

We will have reports and pictures from the weekend here for those of you that couldn't make it.  The weather looks good, the mules are all ready and Clive and Jacqui are looking forward to seeing you all - have a fabulous muley weekend!

In the meantime to wet your appetite some pictures from last year....

What Can Mules Do?

Please see our updated page, 'What Can Mules Do' to see some wonderful new pictures of beautiful UK mules enjoying themselves in varied ways around the country.  If you haven't already got a mule you'll want one when you see these pictures! 

There are also updated links in the 'Supplies and Trainers' and some new piccies.

A big thank you to all the mule owners that allowed us to share their pictures.

New Site!

Welcome to our new blog / website!  The site is under construction so please view it as a work in progress....  I will be updating the 'What Can Mules Do' page with lots more info and pictures, links will be expanded and hopefully soon there will be a method for you to join us online.

The intention is to use the blog to let everyone know about events that welcome mules, news that mule enthusiasts will enjoy and anything else that we think will appeal to any mule fan.  Please let us know if you have events to add or contact us for anything else (see Contact Us page).

Enjoy reading and please come back soon, we will be updating regularly, you can even sign up to receive our posts by email on the right hand tool bar.