Consignor Bio

Jake and T.J. Clark

Jake is the eldest of 7 kids, raised on a ranch. His love of ranching continued through his life when his love of the mountains evolved. He purchased his first outfitting business from his great-uncle in 1979 where he began his life dream. He enjoyed the mountains, but no more than his guests. He expanded his business with the addition of pack mules and then for efficiency sake advanced to mainly riding mules. His past experience with riding ponies beginning at age 10 began his training, thus the background to become an experienced mule man. He ran two outfitting camps where he used between 40-50 head of animals, mostly mules and one bell mare. He never met a mule he couldn't use, just some were sweeter than others, and those are the mules he chooses to have and use to this day.

T.J. is Jake's son and began his mule and mountain training and riding his own animals at age 4 or 5. He would travel to the mountains as his dad's right hand man from the time he was old enough to ride. He soon began his knowledge of horses and mules and used them extensively while helping his dad and learning the outfitting business and his horse and mule techniques to keep everything safe and healthy. Anticipating a potential problem is the first safeguard for keeping both rider and animal safe and working in harmony. T.J. rode and trained many horses and mules to be used in the outfitting business. He then advanced to running the outfitting business and managing two hunting camps and the 40-50 head of mules needed for operation of the camp. T.J. took pride in having a top class packing string as he and his guides traveled in and out of the mountains riding the same mules as were packed. Packing the large elk and their horns was always a pride when leaving camp on the last day of that weeks hunt. Very few incidents and safety were always his basic goal. His history of training included working for a reining trainer, experience in cutting, roping and ranch work where his remuda of horses and mules received their basic training before their advanced training in the mountains.

Our history includes beginning Jake Clark's Mule Days 25 years ago, managing and operating the Auction at the end of Mule Days plus the Cody Horse Sale Auction which began our management in 2001. We like and respect horses and mules and enjoy sharing the wonderful times a person can experience when riding and using them.