Our Mules and Horses
One special way to support Mission Mules is through our Adopt-A-Mule Program. Visit MountainMulePackers.com to learn more about our mule packing courses.
“In the heart of a mule lies the spirit of persistence, unyielding to the weight of its load.”
APACHE
Apache is generally the lead mule in the pack string. He is a true leader, and the string trusts his instincts and are happy to follow behind him. He’s a character and likes to play jokes like picking up and running off with your bucket of fencing tools when you’re doing pasture fence repairs.
Apache came to North Carolina with us from California, and is an excellent riding and pack mule who has been all over the Sierra Nevada mountain range and competed in many packing competitions. He is recognized by many for some of the large military weapons he has carried in training, and that shows the amount of trust we have in his capabilities. His nickname is “Patchy,” and his favorite treat is pears!
BUZZKILL
Buzzkill was added to the string here in North Carolina in 2016. His prior owner and his wife would trail ride on him and liked to enjoy adult beverages along the trail.
Buzzkill loved to carry the Mrs., but when the husband tried riding him he showed his disdain by dumping him into the briar patch, earning himself the name of Buzzkill!
In his new position here as a pack mule, he is perfectly happy to carry his loads, and still has a fondness for the ladies! His favorite treat is watermelon rinds!
JEB
Jeb is a gorgeous bay mule and one of our main saddle mules for the pack string. Jeb was a gift from a retired Marine who had went through a flood in New Bern, North Carolina, a few years ago. Because he wanted him to have a good home where he could be used while he was rebuilding, and since we were training Marines and other special forces, he felt it would be a great fit.
He has turned out to be one of our best mules. It’s a little ironic that we received him because of a flood, and he was crucial to our relief efforts in the flooding due to Hurricane Helene! Jeb’s favorite treats are Equine Quality Treats!
LIL’ WAYNE
Lil’ Wayne is a dark bay mule that was added to the string two years ago as a team with Kev, so he also drives and packs. He is slightly smaller than Kev was, and a year younger, but they were full brothers.
Lil’ Wayne has aspirations of being a jumping mule, and likes to jump the 5′ to 6′ fences often when he’s feeling mischievous or doesn’t feel like being caught! His favorite treat is apple slices.
MAX
Max is Mike’s main saddle mule that generally leads the pack string. He is confident, sure-footed, and a leader to the whole string. He’s all business, with a sweet side that you get to see once he knows you. Max also packs and rides as a drag mule (last mule behind the string), but generally you will see him leading them all.
He’s a super cool, versatile mule and has actually jumped 4-foot-tall jumps with our daughter Faith riding him! His favorite treats are Mrs. Pasture’s Original cookies.
SMOKIE
Smokie is a molly (female), and the queen of all of our hearts! She is so special, with the sweetest soul….and has been a beloved part of the family for many years.
Smokie has not only been a riding and pack mule in both the Sierra Nevadas and the Blue Ridge Mountains, but has also competed in barrel racing and gymkhana events at mule shows and youth rodeos. Her favorite treat is graham crackers by the campfire!
CHARLIE
Charlie is a beautiful black mule that was donated to the team by a special family recently. He has been a huge blessing already, as he literally was loaded up to go assist in West Virginia as they were reeling from the Appalachian Floods.
He was willing to trust and go in many different situations while the team was assisting in hollers affected by the severe flooding. We feel excited about Charlie’s future with us, and look forward to continue learning more about his sweet personality.
LASH
Lash is a beautiful black-and-white paint mule that has a heart of gold. She is 8 years old and has had a wonderful start in life so far, being owned by the same family previously. She is a seasoned saddle mule and we are excited to take her training on from here, adding packing to her list of capabilities.
The blessing of Lash was made possible by a few special donors to Mission Mules, and we are very grateful. She is already pulling on our heart strings. Photo coming soon!
O.G.
O.G.T. stands for “Orphan Grain Train,” the wonderful organization that donated him to Mission Mules. He was purchased from a family in Asheville and he’s already shown that he possesses many of the special qualities we look for in mules for our string.
He participated in a beginner packing course recently as we slowly introduced many things to him that will be important to his future here. We are calling him “O.G.” for a short nickname, and love seeing him assimilating to the herd already. Can’t wait to learn more about his favorite things soon!
samaritan
Samaritan is a beautiful red mule with four white socks and is just as sweet as can be. We named her Samaritan in honor of Samaritan’s Purse, who generously reached out to help us strengthen our string back after losing three of our special team in a tragic accident.
Her nickname is “Sammy,” and she just turned four years old in February, so is one of the youngest mules we now have. Right now, we are working on building trust with her, and will be helping her build relationships with other mules in the string and advancing her training. We look forward to her being an official part of the pack string soon!
Unalii
Unalii means “friend’ in Cherokee, and this beautiful red mule appears to have many of the qualities a friend should have. He is officially the youngest mule of the string at this point. He has a good foundation to start with, and the training needed for him to be a useful part of Mission Mules’ work has begun. We look forward to watching him flourish.
He comes from a family of veteran special forces in Tennessee. Thanks to our friends at Orphan Grain Train, who wanted to help Mission Mules grow stronger and better prepared for the future, this mule was added to the team. As we spend more time with Unalii, we’ll keep sharing fun details about his personality as we continue to get to know him!
ANDY
Andy is a true North Carolina native with a story as unique as his striking appearance. Donated to the Mission Mules string in the summer of 2025, Andy’s special heritage explains his beautiful red coat and soft roaning across his rump. His previous owner bred her strawberry roan Mustang granddaughter to a silver Mammoth Jack from Winston-Salem, NC, creating the handsome mule we proudly know as “Andy” today.
Full of personality and charm, Andy has always loved being the center of attention. Thanks to the excellent care and handling he received from his previous owner, Andy transitioned into the Mission Mules string with confidence and ease. Calm, steady, and dependable, he brings a reassuring presence to the group and rarely gets rattled by the younger mules’ occasional antics. His quiet confidence makes him a valuable part of the team both on and off the trail.
The sweet woman who donated Andy shared that it meant the world to her knowing he would become part of the Mission Mules family, serving a greater purpose by helping deliver aid to people in desperate need after disasters and assisting in the training of our nation’s wonderful troops. Andy represents the heart, reliability, and spirit that make Mission Mules so special.
BRISKET
Brisket is one hunk of a horse! He is a 11-year-old dark bay draft-cross gelding that came from Kentucky. He was also part of the gift from Samaritan’s Purse, and we feel certain Brisket has a wonderful future with the Mission Mule string.
He will be packed and ridden, and we are hoping Brisket will be perfect for the important role as a lead horse, leading the string of mules in whatever conditions necessary. As we get to know him better, we’re already impressed by his demeanor, kindness, and level headedness.
OAK
Oak is a striking 11-year-old buckskin draft-cross gelding from South Dakota. He came to us as a generous gift from Samaritan’s Purse after we lost three special members of our pack string. As we introduce him to different situations, we’re eager to learn more about his personality and abilities.
So far, Oak has shown a serious, no-nonsense attitude, but we’re patiently working to earn his trust and help him feel at home. With time and training, we’re hopeful he’ll master all the necessary tasks and become a solid part of our team.