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Brayer Hill Farm
is involved in the breeding for and showing of quality saddle
mules. Owners Jim and Sue King-Joling are committed to the promotion of
the saddle mule as the equine of choice for trail riding, showing, ranch
work and family activities. Convinced that mules have been the subject
of "bad press", Jim and Sue founded Brayer Hill Farm in conformation and
performance mules to present to the public. The farm moved to Boyd,
Texas in 1989.
In 1992, Sue started
The SADDLE MULE NEWS, a magazine
devoted to the mules used under saddle and in light harness. The
magazine reflects the growing professionalism in the mule industry and
the increasing numbers of saddle mules being sought for pleasure riding
and as exceptional trail and show animals. Jim,
a retired executive in the telecommunications field, trail rides and
shows his mule Brayer Hill Bubba.
In 1994, with a group of generous Charter Members who shared, not only
their financial support, but also Sue's vision of a mule
organization which would establish standards for showing the
saddle mule and recognize members' achievements in competition and trail
riding, Sue helped found the North American Saddle Mule Association.
She became the first executive secretary for the charter of NASMA,
serving during the inception of the association with the first two
presidents of NASMA,
Greg Sefton and Bill Duncan. For
five years, the office of The SADDLE MULE NEWS provided the
initial executive office space for the new national saddle mule
association. At the second NASMA executive meeting in 1995
at Shelbyville, TN, the executive committee awarded Sue a beautiful
Montana Silversmith buckle reading "Founder of NASMA". Sue
will always treasure that buckle, but knows it must be shared with the
most noted mule people in the country who helped charter NASMA.
Each year, Brayer Hill Farm offers for sale a few select saddle mule
babies out of Walking and Quarter Horse mares. These babies are
imprinted at birth and carefully paired with owners based on temperament
and intended use. Each owner receives videos of the foal's birth and
training milestones.
The philosophy of Brayer Hill Farm and Jim and Sue includes the belief
that mules bred from quality mares and jacks are the best saddle equine
one can have. When bred from quality donkeys and mares, their
conformation and attractiveness is comparable to horses. When raised and
trained properly, their temperaments are generous. Mules are
unquestionably superior trail mounts with their surefootedness and
donkey intelligence and sense. Mules are fast proving they are
competitive in shows and competitions. But, most important, mules share
a very special bond with their owners, one of mutual respect and
cooperation rather than dominance. For this reason, mules endear
themselves to a very special kind of owner and rider.
Brayer Hill Farm also believes that the time has come for the old
stereotypes of the "stubborn" mule to end. It is now time for the mule
to overcome the image of a work animal and move into the twenty-first
century as a leisure and companion equine under saddle and in light
harness. |