Around the Rings – 2025 North American Saddle Mule & Donkey Association Nationals
All photos courtesy of Jessica O’Connor Equine Imagery.
Visit the website of the North American Saddle Mule & Donkey Association (NASMDA) and this is what you’ll see on the home page:
Serving the Long Ear Lovers with Mule and Donkey Registrations, Shows, a strong emphasis on youth participation and VTP Awards hours on the trails. Amateur Membership includes Novice and Silver Divisions! Competition Points are kept on NASMDA members’ mules and donkeys which helps to determine sires and dams that when crossed are producing top-quality performance mules and donkeys.
This is the family organization you’ve been looking for!
This philosophy was clearly reflected at their 2025 Nationals, held July 17-19, 2025, at Roane State Expo Center in Harriman, Tennessee, approved by NASMDA along with the World Ranch Horse Association, with judges Rebecca Huddleston, Tina Langness, Dawn Frye, and Kimberly Ziegler.
Not only did the mules and donkeys of NASMDA present fierce competition, but the family fun was also rampant! For example, the youth members came up with an idea, which was a a fundraiser, and also quite a hit — Mule & Donkey Masterpieces! Mules and donkeys helped their owners create original masterpieces they could cherish, and benefit the youth at the same time.
Mule & Donkey Masterpieces! Photo by NASMDA.
Other thoughtful touches like the National Anthem to open the show with a presentation of the colors, and a drawing for a CR RanchWear gift card for the volunteers (DL Sears was the winner), as well as a Sportsmanship Award going to Payton Townsend, And throughout the show, an undeniable sense of camaraderie.
Exhibitors also had a chance to meet Rachel, a beautiful molly mule visiting from the American Mule and Bluegrass Festival. She will be raffled to benefit the Mountain Mule Packers, whom you might remember provided support during disasters such as Hurricane Helene and the floods of Kerr County, Texas.
The winner of Rachel will be drawn today, September 27th! Meet Rachel in this video, credit to American Mule and Bluegrass Festival.
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High Points:
Composite results from the show: Composite
Results by judge: Halter Grand and Reserve
Scoresheets: nasma.us/NationalShow/2025-NASMDA-National-ScoreSheets.pdf
All the beautiful images you’re viewing are courtesy of Jessica O’Connor Equine Imagery, the official show photographer for NASMDA Nationals. Photos are available for purchase on her website: NASMDA NATIONALS 2025 Photos
