By Pamela Bennett
34 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Leatherwood Mountains is a premier gated vacation resort & residential community centered on the equestrian lifestyle. Established in the early 80’s, they are located on over 3,000 acres of lush Blue Ridge Mountain wilderness and have over 140 private homes.
Leatherwood Mountains offers an extensive trail system including 75 miles of well maintained, mountain trails. They have an amazing trail system that winds through lush mountain valeys and skirts
facility for customers. Leatherwood has a first class guided trail ride service available to the public, that even includes some mules in their string.
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Each year Mule Days at Leatherwood holds a family friendly celebration of the Mule and Donkey! Adding the NASMA Versatility Trails Program Ride to the event is a perfect fit! The events at Mule Days at Leatherwood focuses on enjoying your mule and using them for many activities, especially trail riding.
Mule and donkey riders come each year from over 10 different states to celebrate their love and appreciation of these special equine. One of the added benefits to this gathering is getting to see old friends and meet new ones, from Facebook, showing, driving and trail riding! The event fills the venue averages 125 mules and donkeys each year, with tons of family friendly events and activities for all.
The event is blessed with the setting of a wonderful rustic and beautiful location with outstanding customer service! For host and founder of the event, Shannon Hoffman, stated that “there was never any question that, Leatherwood Mountains, was the only place to hold the family friendly Mule Days.”
Leatherwood Mountains is a premier gated vacation resort & residential community centered on the equestrian lifestyle. Established in the early 80’s, they are located on over 3,000 acres of lush Blue Ridge Mountain wilderness and have over 140 private homes.
Leatherwood Mountains offers an extensive trail system including 75 miles of well maintained, mountain trails. They have an amazing trail system that winds through lush mountain valleys & skirts high ridges. The equestrian facility is home to equine events year-round and offers full service boarding facility for customers. Leatherwood has a first class guided trail ride service available to the public, that even includes some mules in their string.
Leatherwood offers 45 luxury vacation cabins for rental guests as well as delicious meals from our on-site restaurant, Saddlebrook. Camping by a rushing stream and beautifully kept grounds makes relaxing and enjoying yourself easy. Depending on your wishes, they can help you plan excursions such as canoeing, fishing, golf, sporting clay shooting, wine tours & site seeing opportunities. This area is rich in Appalachian heritage & history, including The Dan’l Boone Trail, the Legend of Tom Dooley and wonderful Bluegrass music can always be heard in our region. The beloved Doc Watson was born and raised close by and founded the world-renowned music festival, MerleFest that draws crowds of 200,000 each spring to Wilkesboro.
One of Mule Days at Leatherwood’s goals is to give back to its community. Fundraisers are held for Horse Friends Therapeutic Riding Program, based in Reidsville, NC. Horse Friends is run completely by volunteers, providing riding therapy while never charging the participants and even allows the siblings ride. Many of Horse Friends Volunteers will help at Mule Days.
There are lots of opportunities to enjoy the wonderful trail system at Leatherwood Mountains and earn Double VTP Hours. We are proud to host a Mulemanship Clinic taught by Paul Garrison III from Texas. He works with riders to gain safety and confidence in handling mules. Paul will be taking the clinic participants out on the trail (where they will earn double VTP Hours) and also offering private lessons. On Saturday Paul Decker from New Mexico will be holding a clinic teaching backcountry skills and practical mule packing.
This year Mule Days at Leatherwood will host it’s third year of The Supreme Trail Mule Competition. The goal is to find the best all around trail mule but donkeys are also welcome. The competition starts with a halter or conformation class then a rail class showing their mules gaits and what a pleasure to ride they are. Next the mules are tested on their obedience in a pattern class. Finally the mule’s skills and training are tested on trail obstacles. Ribbons are given for placing in each class and a belt buckle will be awarded to the winner.
On Friday, Mule Days at Leatherwood will offer a Poker Trail Ride! $10 a hand and you ride on the trails to stations to draw your cards. The best poker hand will win a cash prize, while the worst hand will also receive a prize.
On Saturday Parade through the Stables and Camp Ground will allow you to show off your mules and donkeys finest and earn Double VTP Hours. There are many categories to win in the parade but the Costume division has become one of the most creative and competitive! Later the same evening Leatherwood hosts the Mule Celebration Dinner and the major awards are given from the weekends competitions.
Leatherwood will also be hosting a Chili Cook Off on Friday May 5th, preregister before 2pm that day. Judging and Taste Testing will be at 5pm at the Covered Pavilion!
Don’t miss the other events offered over the four days, including a Chili Cook-Off, Movie Night, Silent Fund Riser Auction, Coon Jump and more. Activities for kids include a coloring contest and scavenger hunt will be available as free activities for kids and adults alike.
Mule Days at Leatherwood is free to attend as a spectator, for more information contact Leatherwood Mountains Resort at (336) 973-5044. www.leatherwoodmountains.com
For real time updates visit Facebook page: Mule Days at Leatherwood
Shannon Hoffman, Tara Laughter and Victoria Chadwick Jacobson
North American Saddle Mule Association
high ridges. The equestrian facility is home to equine events year-round and offers full service boarding facility for customers. Leatherwood has a first class guided trail ride service available to the public, that even includes some mules in their string.