John from Michigan
Member
The Amish use horses for power bur I have never seen a picture of them using mules. Does anyone know if they do or do not or why not.
- Thread starter John from Michigan
- Start date
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
They sell Mules around New Holland PA at sales so I'd say the Amish there use them
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
FYI, Kawasaki does make a diesel powered mule. So you never know, the Amish may own one someday.
Amish buggy for a family of 4
Amish buggy for a family of 4
timcasbolt
Well-known Member
There's lots of 'em at Amish farms around here.
gene bender
Well-known Member
tractors are gas powered and they use them along with diesel powered ones
They do use Draft Cross between Belgians or Percherons and donkeys, which are mules. They make good draft animals.
A lot of the Amish are using the Belgian Draft Horses as well as some of the Percherons as the price to the English has skyrocketed and they are selling them on the side. That plus the fact that there are so many of the Belgians and Percherons that are being bred by the Amish to sell for high dollar, which in turn usually means that there are many that don't make the grade. Thus the need to sell them cheap to make room for more that might make the grade.
A lot of the Amish are using the Belgian Draft Horses as well as some of the Percherons as the price to the English has skyrocketed and they are selling them on the side. That plus the fact that there are so many of the Belgians and Percherons that are being bred by the Amish to sell for high dollar, which in turn usually means that there are many that don't make the grade. Thus the need to sell them cheap to make room for more that might make the grade.
John in Md.
Member
Lancaster Farming lists them weekly at different farm sales and horse and mule auction around the area.
Brendon-KS
Well-known Member
- Location
- Goessel, KS
It all depends on the particular community. South of Hutchinson, KS there is a large Amish community and as you indicated they use regular tractors for both field work and for general transportation. In that town it is common to see tractors with two-wheel trailers in tow motoring down the streets and parked at stores. Other communities will use modern tractors in the field but only when equipped with steel wheels. My understanding is that this is based on their interpretation of Ephesians 2:2 and maybe other scriptures that suggest that the devil is the ruler of the air and thus making air-filled tires "bad". Steel wheels would also prevent the tractor's use for general transportation purposes. Still other communities, and the ones typically thought of when talking about the Amish, avoid all "mechanized power" and use only "horse power".
Phil in Pa
Member
We drive by a farm regularly that has and uses mules. Some fine looking animals.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
This is true as I was told directly by an Amish fellow in the auction barn in Shipshewanna, IN. Around that area the buggy horses were generally ex sulky racers.
The gentleman went on to say they were having a hard time affording to buy good horses. And was putting the blame on the europe markets desire for horse meat.
I am 74 and around the farm all my life and never have heard of or seen a mule on a farm, horses yes, mules no. And I have been working with the amish for over 20 years now part of that time was daily. The only place I ever heard of around that used mules was the Great Miami and Erie canal when it was in operation and was abanded in the early 1800's. A few sections restord and they have mules for that but that is all the mules I have ever saw or heard of. Yes the driving horses are a lot retired race horses that just were not up to winning the race but if they act up they are gone, they don't put up with a horse that cannot be trusted. Family is way to important to mess with a horse of any kind that cannot be trusted. Just ate supper with my Amish friends at their house monday. Have to make the 55 mile drive again this monday.
Yes, in some areas mules are very popular with the Amish. In other, not so much.
Many of the Amish buggy horses are off the track Standardbreds that didn't make the cut. The Amish also breed their own horses and mules.
I will repeat my assertion that simply referring to "The Amish" is about like saying "The Italiains" or the "The Polish" or "people from New York" or "Catholics" or "Southerners". The Amish as a group are not one dimensional carbon copy clones across America. They vary widely from settlement to settlement and area to area.
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