Rooster

 Unlike his jet-setting brothers and sisters, Rooster has everything you’d expect of a Cookie baby - stunning good looks, babydoll head, shapely ears and three solid, comfortable, easy-to-ride gaits that will take you anywhere you need to go in comfort, safety and STYLE.  Unlike Rooster’s Euro-sibs, this ol’boy’s still got a lot of Missouri left in him.  He’s a real character, friendly to a fault, and likes to holler to his friends… this Rooster has a big crow! He likes cows, horses, people, other mules. This can intimidate a novice or nervous rider, or someone who has only ever been around horses - but it’s just noisy, and a part of who he is. The right person is going to find it charming, for as long as it lasts. Most mules like this grow out of it as they gain more maturity. We expect he will, too.

 On the ground, Rooster is friendly, easygoing and loves to be messed with. Usually, he’ll be trying to catch you!  Rub his ears - he likes it!  A nibble of grain is always appreciated, but rarely necessary.  Rooster’s one bright, curious guy and interested in what’s going on around him. A graduate of both our PlayPen program and our Mule Boot Camp, Rooster has only known a life where humans are always there for him, to the point where he considers human companionship to be a reliable source of comfort, friendship and safety.  Because of this upbringing, and also because of his inborn temperament (gotta love a Cookie baby!) Rooster REALLY wants to interact on a one-on-one level with whatever human is handling him. He’s a bit of an extrovert, and would enjoy being someone’s pet. 

As far as gaits go, Rooster has a nice range of gait, with adjustable speeds so you can ride with your buddies - whoever they are.  His flat foot walk is forward and comfortable, and his running walk is relaxed, smooth, and ground covering. Neither require a lot of gait knowledge or experience to keep him smooth or in gait. He’s an uncomplicated ride. Just sit back and enjoy.  For those of you who like speed? Well, here’s your little Red Corvette! Rooster can really pick ‘em up and lay ‘em down! While he’s not the fastest racking horse ever- (remember, his momma’s a Foxtrotter - made for comfort, not speed!) - his rack is pretty respectable, speed-wise.  Even better, it’s easy to find, easy to keep him in, and when you’re ready to slow down or stop Rooster is ready too. He doesn’t get all wound up or silly if you want to go fast, and he doesn’t have his own agenda - his chief goal in life is to be friends with everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) and make people happy. 

Out on the trail, underbrush, and country roads and byways, Rooster has seen just about everything there is to see and is afraid of nothing.  Over this last winter, he’s done a months-long stint working a trampoline for his Amish trainer - this means he’s been asked to deal with the most rugged of terrain where there aren’t even trails for an animal his size - AND contend with dead animals flopping all over his body. There are no shortcuts out there - it’s these kinds of experiences that make a good using mule that takes everything in stride, doesn’t waste energy on foolishness, and doesn’t take a wrong step!  As a working mule, Rooster’s been kept saddled to use for transportation at any time on a farm for use during the workday, so he’s as patient as patient can be on a tie line or tied to a trailer. He’s used to kids and their antics, dogs, and chickens underfoot, cows and pigs in the pens and wildlife popping out from everywhere - and he’s afraid of NOTHING.