By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

A team of mules owned by Arlion Gesford (right) wait patiently as Laddie McAnally (behind mules) talks to well-known trainer Red Roper (left) prior to the Kelso Select Texas Mule Sale. Reports show Roper’s mule earned the top selling price of $6,500. -- Staff photo by Cope

March 30, 2006 - Mules on the auction block attracted buyers from several states to the Third Annual Kelso Select Texas Mule Sale in Sulphur Springs. The long-earred, intelligent hybrid equine were displayed with riders on their backs and hitched for pulling wagons and plows.

Several Texans brought their best animals to the sale to join mules from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, California, and Oklahoma. One Texas owner, Arlion Gesford of Goodrich, brought one of his teams. During the sale preview, the team was seen pulling a huge covered wagon owned by wagonmaker Laddie McAnally of Sheperd. “We’re selling the team, and Mr. McAnally is selling his wagon,” explained Susan Gesford, Arlion’s wife.

The Central Texas couple have had mules for trail riding, ranch work, and driving for about 15 years. They had horses, first; but McAnally got them into the mules.

“I prefer to trail ride on them,” Susan said, “but my husband prefers to drive them. ... But on days when the weather is inclement, like today, I’d rather ride in the wagon.”

This was the Gesfords’ first time to have mules in the annual sale, but noted they had come before to see the mules for sale, and visit with friends.

If birds of a feather flock together, then mule owners are certainly no loners. While they came to Sulphur Springs on March 18 for the commerce, most also attended for the camaraderie.

East Texas mule owner Billy Vernon was working his team throughout the sale arena prior to sale time. He stopped often to chat with friends. Billy, 62, said he has worked mules “all my life” and that he learned everything about them from his dad, J.B. Vernon.

Last year, Vernon, of New London, had the top-selling pair ($5,800) and his hopes were high to again receive a good price for the pair he brought to this year’s sale. “I bought this pair in January and I’ve been working with them for five weeks, about eight to 10 hours a day,” he shared.

His work was appreciated, but unfortunately bids this year didn’t reach what he was expecting for the pair.

The top-selling mule was brought to the sale by Red Roper, a well-known trainer based in the small Northeast Texas community of Brashear. “I’ve known Red Roper just about all my life, and this mule will be just like he says,” said Wade Shaw, auctioneer. The well-trained “Texas Rose” had shown in halter, pleasure, trail, and excelled in reining. She could spin and rollback with a rider aboard. Roper noted he had spent a lot of time training her, as he put Texas Rose through the paces in the sale ring.

The mule sold for $6,500 to Mike Killen of Decatur.

Second high-selling mule was LuLu, a 10-year-old sorrel molly consigned by Bob Boyd of Pilot Point. The mule came with team roping, barrel racing, cattle working, and trail riding experience. She sold to Ken Primm of Greenwood, Ark., for $5,000.

The top five mules averaged $4,620; the top 10 averaged $3,505; and the top 15 averaged $3,050.

The Kelso family, which conducts eight mule sales a year (in several states), said the annual sale in Sulphur Springs does well. “We wanted a sale in Texas, and we have had a good turnout each year,” noted Justin Kelso. “The (Hopkins County Region) civic center has been good to us, and very accommodating.”

Justin, 31, explained his family has been in the business of “trading mules since the Civil War.” His dad, Johnny, plus brothers John and Jody, are involved in the family’s current mule sales business. “We’ve been trading mules for a living since 1979 or 1980; and it’s been our sole income since the late ‘80s or early ‘90s.”

Justin was in charge of the March 18 sale. He cited some changes in the mule-trading business that he’s seen over the past couple of years. “People aren’t selling mules like they used to. They are hanging on to them longer. A good 4- or 5-year-old mule is harder to find. ... Good riding mules will go coast-to-coast” and the mule teams trained to pull are sold mostly in the states with a high Amish population.

Modern sales tools are also utilized by the Kelsos. “The Internet has helped tremendously. We have a lot more buyers.” Prior to the sale, Justin noted they had 77 “live” online buyers for last year’s sale, “and I expect that many, or more, for this year’s.”

Justin guessed right. Greg Reynolds, specialty auction representative for DVAuction, said about 85 online buyers participated in this year’s sale. DVAuction conducts Kelso Mule Sales’ “realtime” sales events, as well as many other Internet sales. Reynolds said the main thing is that buyers should have more than “dial-up” capabilities to keep up the auction’s pace.

(For more information about DVAuction, visit online at www.dvauction.com. More information, including upcoming mule sale dates, is online at www.kelsomules.com.)