How many mules are in a 20 mule team?

Twenty-mule teams were teams of eighteen mules and two horses attached to large wagons that ferried borax out of Death Valley from 1883 to 1889. Horses were the wheelers, the two closest to the wagon. They were ridden by one of the two men generally required to operate the wagons and were typically larger than their mule brethren.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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31 Comments

William Laughlin

Ben Totuous I have known a 20 mule team was 2 horses and 18 mules since i was young. I did not have to Google this one to get it right and those who have a 97% rate just might know more than you do. Besides, if people are Googling for the correct answers first, why don't they have a 100% accuracy rate? Don't be so quick to put others down for their success. I only mentioned Google because of those who doubt the correct answer after being told they are wrong. (Norma Tible) Those who doubt the correctness of the answer should do some research before advertising their ignorance. They might actually learn something!

William Laughlin

Patrick Riggs If they did, then the story they got was incomplete by omission of details. It is just a way of referring to the teams since all but 2 are indeed, mules and there were 20 beasts. It becomes too wordy to say an "18 mule and 2 horse team". A 20 mule team is just an expression and not indicative of how the teams were truly comprised.

William Laughlin

That's not true. It was always 18 mules plus two horses at the wheels. Horses had a better temperament for this position.

William Laughlin

There are 20 beasts of burden. It's just easier to say it's a "20 mule team" than saying "2 horse and 18 mule team". Check this link. You will discover that you are wrong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-mule_team

Richard G Schwartz

I didn't know this.

Rita Dee

Suffer the beasts of Burden.

Carroll Price

It's my understanding that all 20 were mules until equal rights enthusiasts started complaining that horses were being unfairly discriminated against.