When Mules Fly

Competition a tradition in Pea Ridge

John Higgins Sr. of Greentop, Mo., encourages his mule over the jump at the 2008 Pea Ridge Mule Jump.
John Higgins Sr. of Greentop, Mo., encourages his mule over the jump at the 2008 Pea Ridge Mule Jump.

Mules of all sizes -- from the miniature Billie, at just 34 inches, to the statuesque Bulls Eye -- and colors -- buckskin, sorrel, red, white, black and spotted -- will descend on Pea Ridge for the 27th annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump, set to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in fields on Weston Street, just south of the school

For years, raccoon hunters have used mules to jump fences. Jumping mules for entertainment began in Pea Ridge as just one of many events at the 1985 fall festival called Battlefield Daze. The festival, held on the downtown school grounds, included a trail ride, coon dog competitions, craft sales and other events.

FAQ

Pea Ridge

Mule Jump

WHEN — 9 a.m. Saturday, with pro jumping at 1 p.m.

WHERE — Junction of Weston and McCulloch streets in Pea Ridge

COST — $2-$5

INFO — 451-1122

Mule jumping comes from a tradition in coon hunting of having mules jump over fences rather than finding gates. Hunters throw a blanket over the fence so the mule will jump it. Mules can jump flat footed. Once a mule walks up to the jumping barrier, it has three minutes to jump.

The mule has two tries to clear the barrier without knocking it down. Trainers cannot touch the mule. They must get the mule to jump by word commands. They can hold the reins and tug them.

Mules are eliminated until only one remains, and that mule continues to jump until it reaches its limit. The mule seems to know instinctively when that limit is reached because it just won't jump anymore.

The highest recorded jump in the list of winners was in 1989, when Sunny -- owned by Don Sams of Barnstall, Okla., -- jumped 72 inches.

-- Annette Beard

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 10/09/2015

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