Rendezvous at the River Archives

Mule Jumping Competition

People love to compete. Who is better? Whose car or horse is faster. The mule jumping competition tries to determine which mule can jump higher.

Bonita is a little under 52 inches at the withers. This jump at the mule jumping competition is a bit over 40 inches high. Her owner is leading her up to it.

Missouri Mules

A mule is a cross of a male donkey and a mare. They vary a lot in size from miniatures to big and tall. Height is measured in hands (four inches) to the withers or top of the shoulders.

Mules were popular for work in pioneer days. They were strong and didn’t need as much care and feed as a horse. Missouri bred many of the finest mules.

Stubborn as a mule is quite true. If a mule decides to not do something, it doesn’t do it. But this is also a bit of temper on the part of the owners as mules are smart and many of the refusals were because the mule thought a path was too dangerous or had another good reason.

Mule Jumping Competition

Horses have riders as they race to a jump and over it. Steeplechases are popular races around a jumping course.

Jumping mules are not ridden. The owner walks them to the jump and urges them to jump over it.

There are several classes for the mules. One is for little mules. Another is for those thirteen hands (52 inches) and under. The third is for the tall mules.

The Set Up

Two poles are set up, each with a moveable bracket. A third pole is wet in the brackets. A cover is over this pole making it look like a solid barrier.

If a mule doesn’t clear the cross pole, it will fall down. This way the mule isn’t hurt.

Watching the Competition

A crowd gathered at the Rendezvous at the River to watch the mules jumping. We sat around on hay bales or in chairs set up in the shade.

A mule was led over to the jump. It stopped and looked at the barrier. Then it jumped over this two-foot high pole. When all the mules in the class had jumped, the bar was raised two inches and the mules jumped it again.

As the barrier got higher, one by one the mules refused to jump it. The winner was the last mule that would and did jump over the pole.

One little mule was fun to watch even though the owner was very frustrated. It decided not to jump that day. However, it needed to go over the barrier to make the owner happy. It walked up to the pole, knocked it over and walked over.

There are only a few of these mule jumping competition events. The next big one will be at the Missouri State Fair.

It’s been years since I was last at an author event. Perhaps I should make an effort to go more often.

My book display for the author event used two tables. There was not enough room to really spread the books out.

Packing

Of course, the most important items to pack are my books. I spent an hour sorting, counting and packing five boxes with books. A plastic sheet was included to set the boxes on the ground.

Then there are tables to display the books. I own one and borrowed another small one. Both needed covers.

Food is an important item as well. Since the author event was an all day affair and my stomach demands lunch, I planned out food and herbal tea to put in a cooler. There would be food booths, but I prefer to not depend on them as I may or may not like what they offer.

If the event were held inside, this would be everything. This event was held outside. I borrowed a canopy.

The Art of Packing

I suppose everything could be stuffed into my truck. It could be sorted out once I was there and setting up.

However, it makes more sense to me to pack things carefully and in some sort of order. The boxes of books went into the truck. The canopy and tables plus a chair went into the truck bed.

At the Author Event

Fourteen authors set up at the event. Many had only a book or two. Several of us had many books.

I knew one of the authors: Titus Benton with his new book “65560”. This is very popular at my library. Eventually my name will work its way up the hold list so I can read it.

Everyone sold at least a few books. We got to talk to lots of people. Maybe some will check out our books later on.

It was a great opportunity to meet other local authors. We know there are quite a few of us, but we only get to meet each other at an author event such as this one.

Busy Place

Authors weren’t the only people there. Across from my booth was a music booth. I enjoyed the fiddle music much of the day.

The highlight was the mule jumping contest. This was something new for me and I joined the crowd going down to watch.

Although I didn’t sell very many books, I am glad I went to this author event.