For the past two decades, 20 determined mules have pulled the Big Hitch ore wagons in Ketchum’s Wagon Days Parade, doing their “dance of the mules” as they stepped across the chain that they were hooked to. That duty will go to 14 Shire draught horses owned by Gilbert, Ariz., rancher Troy Haviland in today’s Big Hitch Parade following the unexpected death of muleskinner Bobby Tanner this summer.
Eye on Sun Valley was fortunate enough to film Bishop, Calif.’s Bobby Tanner as he readied his team to pull the tall skinny ore wagons a few years ago. Please take a moment to watch it in Tanner’s memory.