Mule Questions

 

HOW BIG DO MULES GROW?
Anything from about 32" to 18hh plus, depending on the size of the parents, but most mules in Britain at present are under 13.2hh.

DO MULES COME IN MALE AND FEMALE AND CAN THEY HAVE FOALS?
They have all the normal sexual characteristics, both physical and temperamental, but males are always infertile, and females normally so - fertile mules are very rare indeed. However, males should be castrated to avoid them becoming aggressive; most females come into season either regularly or occasionally, but are only rarely 'mareish'.

WHAT CAN YOU USE MULES FOR?
Anything you can use horses and ponies for, depending only on size: riding - racing, endurance riding, hunting, jumping, gymkhanas, dressage, shepherding etc.; in harness - private driving, scurrying, cross country, dressage, light and heavy haulage, agricultural work; under pack - for work or leisure.

ARE MULES REALLY BAD TEMPERED AND DO THEY KICK?
Mules are only bad-tempered if handled incorrectly and with lack of understanding. They can kick with great speed and accuracy, but only do so in self-defence, when they are afraid or think something is going to hurt them.

ARE MULES AS STUBBORN AS EVERYONE SAYS?
They are exceptionally intelligent, which some handlers find difficult to cope with; this, and their great sense of self-preservation (which means they also look after their rider or cargo) accounts for their totally undeserved reputation for stubbornness. If mule and handler trust and understand each other, so that the mule knows that what he is asked to do is in his interests, there will be no problems.

HOW MUCH WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MULE?
An impossible question; as a general rule, a small, young, unbroken mule will cost the same as or slightly less than a similar pony, e.g. £50-£80; a big, mature, well-trained and handled mule, which can be ridden and driven, being rarer than a similar horse, could cost more, e.g.£1,000- £1,500. So much depends on supply and demand, and these prices are only a very rough guide.

WHERE CAN I BUY A MULE?
They are sold at horse sales, advertised in horse magazines, and the BMS keeps a register of mules for sale and wanted, being contacted from time to time by people with mules for sale.

HOW DO I BREED MY OWN?
Choose the parents with care; the mare's conformation should compensate for any faults in the jack, and she should have a similar amount of bone to that required in your mule; both parents should have good temperaments. Big jack donkeys are few and far between in Britain at present, but a donkey can serve a mare up to 3hh larger than himself; if he is unwilling and not all donkeys will serve mares - or if you want to breed with a mare more than 3hh bigger than the jack, it is relatively easy to use artificial insemination.

ARE MULES DIFFICULT TO LOOK AFTER?
They are very easy to look after in that they are rarely ill or lame, rarely need shoeing, are not fussy about their food and can withstand extremes of climate.

ARE MULES DIFFICULT TO TRAIN?
No, but their natures are different to horses';.you must gain your mule's trust and learn to understand each other, and then he will do anything for you.

Source: http://www.britishmulesociety.co.uk/