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  1. Pam
    October 20, 2017 @ 12:34 pm

    Hello Meredith, I use a breaching & just started using the cruper, I have all ways heard about how bad the cruper was to use. I to carry a lot of weigh around plus 30lbs. saddle. I weight 195, & ride a 14 hand foxtrotter Mule. My question is when I ride my saddle some how loses up & my saddle pad comes out the back of my saddle. Not sure why. Was thinking of using a different saddle pad. I use a 1” 5-Star pad. Any ideas how to make the saddle pad to stay in place? Thank you, Pam Towner

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  2. Lisa McMeans
    March 2, 2024 @ 12:46 pm

    Dear Meredith,

    I love John Boy Walton’s mule Blue, and lately, the subject keeps coming to mind.

    I am writing a novel, and while joking with a fellow writer online who was trying to push my buttons, I drove back by sending him a song with a message—
    “I Dare You”.

    Greg responded by sending—
    “Mule Skinner Blues”.

    “Hit me with a freight train.” God had my attention, and following the trail led to a company in Bandera that I hired to take a horseback sunset ride on a mule ranch for my 53rd birthday in 2019.

    They forwarded me to the ranch’s trainer, Paul Garrison.

    I did an internet search first, and a photo pulled up.

    Dear sweet Jesus! Talk about a blast from the past. I remember this guy hanging out with my friend Ballan Grant Keen and her momma Bungee in the eighties when I was young and dumb, sowing my oats, bartending, and horse wrangling, among other things.

    I called him, and Paul was very patient, answering all my questions.

    Then, to learn more, he recommended a YouTube page and stressed I follow the right one—Paul Garrison III.

    Seriously? Did he just say three?

    Three is how God personally interacts, letting me know I am in His will.

    We exchanged numbers, and Paul sent me a link to his seminars so I could review the financial numbers with my husband, Bruce.

    Filling him in on my next adventure, I assured Bruce that this was just the beginning and wouldn’t jump into the deep end first. I want to do this the right way and learn from the best while waiting for God’s best.

    We ended the call and had a good laugh after I sent Bruce a YouTube video that began to play on its own after we hung up—When God Says Wait by Dr. Charles Stanley.

    Yes, as usual, God is awesome, and I am so glad to have captured another “searchin’ a rainbow” traveling the red dirt road with the Lord’s story.

    While watching Paul’s video about how to saddle mules, I had a question about cruppers, which led me to another “three marks the spot” trust and follow the breadcrumbs treasure hunt leading to Lucky Three Ranch.

    I Love Bay Bee, and she’s the all-around type of Mule I envision.

    My childhood best friend was a Bay Quarterhorse named Sundance, who was neglected and abused before me. But earning her love and trust, we learned together, and there wasn’t much we couldn’t do, within reason.

    Some of my favorite memories involve her, and I pray someday we will be reunited in Heaven.

    But I miss riding, and my heart is aching to get back in the saddle, including everything behind the scenes that goes with it. Hopefully, this time, it will be with a long ear mule.

    I also love your Sheep to Mules story that points to God.

    Things on my bucket list:

    Finding the right mule to grow a relationship with and learn together—barrel racing, maybe cross-country racing, and trail riding again with friends.

    Running a ranch takes time, but if you get a few, please call.

    Through the years, I have learned if you want to do something right, learn from the best with common goals, and this has worked well.

    I am 57, and this dream is important to me. I have undergone six surgeries since 2018, three being brain tumor removal. And I am scheduled for what I hope to be the last one on April 12th.

    I am researching and hoping that my next best friend will be a mule, but for now, the road has led to you.

    Sorry for the detailed story. I believe that people deserve to know who they are dealing with, not just the highlights you want others to see.

    Sincerely,

    Lisa McMeans
    4416 Pepperhill Dr.
    Montgomery, TX 77316
    (210) 725-1081

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