Tennessee 20 Mule Team - Hauling Logs 

Way to go mule Skinner 😉😉😉

You are right - they have assigned places like a football team's lineup. And the pairs are matched for size and stride length if possible. The wheelers, closest to the load, are usually the biggest and best pullers. The leaders are voice-commanded to go left or right, and as you see here, have reins. The ones in the middle just follow the butt in front of them, and pull or stop. They also have to sidestep when needed on some turns, but don't have to be as well trained. A childhood neighbor had Shire draft horses for logging and mowing fields unsuitable for machines. The loggers would tow a single log down to the collection area unattended, get a treat and some petting, then go back up unattended for another one. If I was REALLY, REALLY good, he would let me sit on the horse as it worked. (total bliss for a horse-crazy child).

@@lazygardens Thank you for the information. Also, more evidence that the carrot is mightier than the stick!

@@lazygardens Your explanation has helped my understanding a lot. One feature missing from this wonderful video was the skinner actually hitching up the mules and explaining what he was doing, and why. I live in a country whose history is in its infancy compared with the US, I cannot recall any 'country folk', post-WWII (for example) using mules, just horses, and occasionally oxen.

People born before you have said the same thing for thousands of years. Big deal.

@@christophersmith2871 ...thank you for your input Karen. Your contribution to this discussion is important and will be given all the consideration that they deserve. *clic* [sound of paper shredder]

@@eaterofclams I'm glad I found your soft spot Karen. Are you saying my comment isn't true?

Christopher Smith I doubt it has been happening for thousands of years, but I see your point. Technology didn't advance as quickly in the past as it has now.

We had Amish neighbors as well. I was always grateful that we could plow a field in a few hours that took them a few days.

"Not driving yourself into debt" 20 mules? In my grandfather's day, buying a mule was as expensive as buying a car. They were a capital investment. Raising your own meant you had to be able to buy the mares and pay the jack's stud fees, and feed them until they were old enough to work and then train them. He bought mules and hired farmhands.

Wondering how much it would cost to feed and stable 20 mules compared to the cost of a truck or tractor. That's the reason it all changed.

If you understand debt it can work in your favor.

While I appreciate the sentiment, that's about $200,000 worth of mules, if you could get them five grand under market price. 20 of them working every day are going to eat 400 lbs or so of high protein feed per month at least, plus hay. Not cheap weed/grass hay either. Actual hay, like an alfalfa/timothy grass mix. If they're being worked, the cheap garbage will starve them to death. So while it may be simpler in many ways, it isn't necessarily much if any cheaper.

You might want to check out Engels Coach Shop YT channel. Dave Engels built an exact copy of the 20 Mule Team Borax wagons and has a playlist including a parade in DC. He mentions the weight of the wagons and, if I recall correctly, the cargo they hauled 100+ miles in desert heat. The rear wheels of the 2 freight wagons weigh 1080 lbs. each. I don't recall the weight of the front wheels, the wagons, or any stats on the water wagon.

Depends on surface type, rolling resistance, drag, grade and friction. On rails, I suspect a team could pull a loaded freight train over level grade

A 4 mule team could pull that exact sled.

@@clayboist True, but surely not as far.

I believe the weight of the borax, wagons, and water hauled was in the 70,000-75,000 lb range. The wagons alone are about 4 tons each. 17 miles per day. 11 days to the railhead, 9 days back.

Which work great until they don't.

@@kevindouglas8768 exactly. Horse logging is still strong in places here in the US and In North and east Europe.

You mean this guy in the video who died