Don and Patty Jo Schmalz's Mountain Mules BECOME mountain mules because they begin developing their mountain skills soon after they are born! We have the Sheep Mountain-North Slope, which rises at least a thousand feet from the barn to the top of the pasture they are in-and over 3000 acres to roam! Large boulders, steep talus slopes, and yes-maybe they will run into a rattler or two on their way between the best feed and the water each day! Their muscles are developing, as well as their skills to negotiate these obstacles-skills that will be used on a day-to-day basis in later life-no matter where they end up!

Our  7 year old granddaughter with one of our two week old colts, Easterette.