Crossing Male Donkeys with Female Horses Produces Sterile Mules

Mules have a long history as tough working animals.

Domesticated horses can mate with donkeys, and the breeds that are crossed will determine the size of the offspring.

Donkeys or Asses

Donkeys were domesticated around 5,000 years ago, at about the same time as horses. Their ancestors were the African Wild Ass (Equs africanus), but they are now considered to be a distinct subspecies (Equs africanus asinus) with many different breeds.

Donkeys have been used for heavy work, carrying packs, and for riding, since ancient times – they still are in many of the poorer parts of the world.

In more affluent regions donkeys have tended to become pets, or riding animals for children.

Horses

There are over 250 recognised breeds of horse, and many have been used to produce mules – different local donkey breeds crossed with the local horse.

Mules and Hinnies

If the father was a donkey then the hybrid is a mule, and if the mother was a donkey it is a hinny. Hinnies tend to be smaller than mules (with typically smaller mothers), and the American Donkey and Mule Society believes that "The genetic inheritance of the hinny is exactly the same as the mule". This having been said the hinny's head is rather more horse-like than the mule's.

• Horses have 64 chromosomes, while donkeys only have 62. This means that the animal produced from a 31 chromosome sperm and a 32 chromosome egg (or the other way round) will have 63 chromosomes.

• All hinnies are sterile, and they are usually castrated early on.

• The vast majority of mules also seem to be infertile, although females have occasionally given birth successfully. A mule that proves to be fertile is known as a 'molly'.

Mules are stronger than horses (weight for weight), and they need less food. These two attributes have made them useful working animals in the past.

In addition mules have a thicker skin than horses, and their hooves are harder and more resistant to infection. These factors made them very suitable plow animals in parts of America with heavy, clay, soils. The thick skin made them able to withstand extreme weather, and their feet required less attention.

Large Mules

The relatively small size of most breeds of donkey imposes a limit to the size of the mule.

Breeding large donkeys, such as the Mammoth Poitou Donkey, and mating them with large horses, such as the Mulassiere, allowed one region in France to produce an enormous mule - the 'Poitevin'.

This very large type of mule (they cannot really be called breeds) was an extremely useful working animal, but there are very few left.

Source: John Blatchford. http://suite101.com

Mules vs Horses

 

Explaining the differences between mules and horses while understanding why some people prefer one over the other.

There are a lot of people who are curious about mules but do not know a lot about them. Though horses and mules are similar in many ways, they can be completely different in others.

What is a mule?

A mule is the offspring of a jack (male) donkey and a mare (female) horse. Because mules are a hybrid, they do not have the ability to reproduce. Many times the male mules, called Johns, are castrated in order to keep the “stud” tendencies away. The female mules, called Jennies, can either be left with their hormones intact or spayed to keep from coming into heat. Even though mules cannot reproduce, they still carry the hormones for reproduction and will attempt to breed.

Stubborn as a mule

Everyone has heard this phrase and probably been it many times. Mules are a bit on the stubborn side, simply because they are highly intelligent animals. Some people may not agree with this but, mules are actually smarter than horses; making them more difficult to train than horses.

The differences between horses and mules

Just because someone knows how to train horses well, it does not mean they know how to train mules. Though mules are a product of a horse, they think and act differently than most horses.

For the most part, horses are very forgiving animals. If we are having a bad day and end up overcorrecting our horse simply because we are mad, our horses usually forgive us and get over it. A mule on the other hand, may get over it right away but, will not forget about us taking our anger out on him or her. This mule may end up paying us back for having the bad day. It may not be right away, but sometime down the road, this mule may get us in a corner and let us have it. When training mules, we have to put a true meaning behind every disciplinary move we make. If our mules mess up, we discipline according to the offense and then move on.

Mules are very smart animals; by far smarter than horses and sometimes, smarter than us. When training a horse, a good trainer can read a horse’s body language and stay one or two steps ahead of that horse at all times. A mule on the other hand, is usually reading our body language and tries to stay ahead of us. Training mules takes a very keen eye and skilled person who can think way ahead of that mule and know exactly what he or she is going to do. With horses, this can be very simple to do. A mule on the other hand, is always trying to outthink and outsmart the person training him or her.

Mules are less likely to get hurt than a horse is. Mules are great at problem solving so when they get themselves into a dangerous situation; instead of freaking out and getting hurt like some horses may, a mule will think his or her way out of trouble.

Mules are a lot hardier and stronger an animal than horses. Many mule owners and trainers do not put shoes on their mules simply because their feet are so hard. A mule’s feet are very strong and are built with longer, straighter walls than a horse’s feet. The bottom side of a mule’s foot has a deep cup to it; helping to avoid bruising and abscesses where many horse’s soles are flat.

Both horses and mules cannot see directly behind them. So when horses run away from something they are afraid of, the only way they can see what scared them is by either stopping and facing the danger or running a big circle around it. Mules on the other hand, can run a straight line away from the danger with their heads turned; looking back at what scared them.

Mules are more aggressive than most horses. Many horses can be turned out in an area where there are lambs, calves, and dogs. The horses learn to coexist with these other animals and usually will not try to hurt them. A mule however, can kill or seriously injure any smaller animals that may wander into the field. A mule’s aggression is more along the lines of being curious. If a small animal wanders into the field, a mule will usually be the first to check it out. If this animal does not run, chances are they mule will leave it alone. If the animal shows fear and runs from the mule, the mule will pursue by chasing it. A mule may turn aggressive at this point; possibly running the animal until it injures itself or actually killing it. There have been instances where mules have killed calves by picking them up with their teeth and slamming them back down. Just because mules can be more aggressive than horses, this does not make them horrible animals. They just need to be treated with caution when around other animals.

Mules aren’t for everyone

Mules are smart animals and do make great athletes. Just about anything a horse can be trained to do, a mule can do too. Mules just aren’t for everyone, and many people shouldn’t even try to train them. The people who are successful at training and showing mules are great horsemen and horsewomen.

Many people do not like mules because they are harder to train than horses. Mules are also easier to mess up than a horse and should only be trained by someone who is well experienced with them.

If mules are an animal you are interested in learning more about, don’t try to master training one by yourself. Even if you have a lot of experience training horses, find someone who is experienced in training mules. They can teach you the things you need to know for a safe and productive training experience.

Source: http://suite101.com

Mule Psychology 101: Mule Truths

 

By Cindy K. (McKinnon) Roberts

True or False:  A mule will wait ten or twenty years to kick you or get back at you.  This is false.I hear stories of owners that have owned a mule for x amount of years and then on that one given day...wham!  Their own mule kicks them.  Mules are deliberate and calculating animals.  They do not forget their life experiences, good or bad.  However, they do not hang out in their stall and put a notch in the wood rail for every act of indiscretion that came from Farmer Joe.  Mule's do not think to themselves "hmmmm...let's see, I will give this guy something to remember, for all those times he whipped me."  Mules and other animals, like people, can have a bad day. 

They develop conditions such as arthritis when they get older.  They can be in pain and having a bad day at the same time.  Honestly, when a 1200 pound mule is having a bad day, you do not want to mess with them....or tigers (ask Roy!) or gorillas for that matter.  I have to think that owners that have been struck by their own mule have failed to properly train them in a positive manner in the first place.  Using fear or force does not work on mules.  Mule and horse owners that get comfortable  in their handling of their animal(s),  get preoccupied and then they are in a vulnerable situation where they get hurt.

No, mules don't wait twenty years to do you in; they get old and cranky just like people and deserve to be treated well throughout their lives.

Source: http://www.everycowgirlsdream.com

Mules

Plodding Along: the humble horsepower of transportation

Mules deserve to be remembered for the important roles they played in the history of transportation.

A Mule is a non-reproducing crossbreed; half horse, half donkey. Donkeys are also called asses or burros (burro is Spanish), and are known for having long ears and a strong sense of self preservation.

Mules have ears almost as long, and strength and stamina, they can carry up to their own weight, but the smart mule skinner loads them with about half their own weight. A mule skinner is a professional mule driver, he is armed with a leather whip which can literally take the hair off of (skin) a mule without doing permanent harm to the animal. He also understands how to balance loads on a mule’s back, and find the leader of a team, the bell mule. If a good bell mule is selected all the mules will follow the bell in a straight line and not wander off or stop to graze. This line is called a mule train.

Mule trains were the primary cargo movers in parts of Mexico until the 1950's, and were important on rough terrain throughout the old west. They are excellent on narrow trails or mountain terrain, and the 20 mule team hauling borax out of canyons like the Grand Canyon remains a famous image. The mule train consists of individual mules with loads tied to their backs, they can move a surprising amount. The old way was to tie what is called a “diamond hitch” across the load over the animals back. This makes a sort of net over the load and can be tightened by pulling just one rope. The modern way is to have load saddles that loads can be attached to.

Mules are hardier than horses and can live on less food and water, a mule can live on pasture where a horse would starve; they also have stronger resistances to heat and cold than horses. These traits made them very useful in dessert terrain. Mules were also used in the deepest Mexican mines, and some were underground so long that they could not see in daylight when finally brought out.

Besides all these tasks, Mules are also excellent for working a farm. Mules are good plough and wagon pullers and were very popular as work animals throughout the U.S. George Washington is said to have bred the first mules in America from a burro sent to him by the King of Spain. It is known that he kept over 40 mules at his Mount Vernon plantation. Mules are stubborn if treated badly, but will generally work without complaint for someone they trust. The famous old western movie line, “What is it Bessy”, also has some basis, a good mule that refuses to do what is asked often senses some danger the human has not yet noticed. Mules can, however, be permanently “ruint” (i.e. ruined) by mistreatment. The mule's main liability is its inability to reproduce, but this peculiarity does not inhibit the sex drive, and male mules are generally castrated to make them somewhat more manageable.

Like the farmers and skinners that worked them, Mules quietly made a very large impact on history and transportation in America, Mexico, South America, and a lot of old world countries as well. Mules were still used on rough terrain by the U.S. Army Quartermasters Corps as late as WWII, long after the glory days of the cavalry horse were over. I guess there may be something to be said for plodding along, rather than charging forward, after all.

Source: John Crandall. http://suite101.com

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/

Mule or Hinny?

by Betsy Hutchins

At first glance a hinny seems to be a mule, but on closer inspection the hinny is more subtly like a horse. The hinny's head and face are often more horselike; the ears are usually shorter and sometimes rounder than a mule's ears.

The hinny usually has a fuller tail and more horselike limbs and feet than the mule, and its body is more like that of a horse. In temperament, the young hinny favors the donkey, tending to be gentler and less nervous than the young mule. Hinnies are more likely to neigh like a horse than to bray. But, as with all equines, their voices are distinctive to the individual animal.

Neither the mule nor the hinny is simply half horse and half donkey, but is an individual animal with completely blended characteristics, plus a few new ones belonging only to itself and not found in either parent.

Source: http://www.ruralheritage.com

Horse + Donkey = Mule

by Morris Helmig & Sybil E. Sewell

A mule combines the traits of its horse dam and donkey sire to create a new animal with its own distinctive characteristics. Here are the notable differences between horses, donkeys, and mules.

Head—A donkey's head is larger than that of a horse, as is evidenced by its need for a bridle with a larger browband than is required for a horse or pony of comparable size. Donkey owners like to point out that this characteristic indicates a larger brain capacity, and therefore greater intelligence. The head of a mule or hinny is larger than the head of a horse of comparable size.

Ears—A donkey's ears are longer than those of the horse and have an excellent blood supply, which is a desert adaptation for cooling the body. A mule's ears are inherited from the donkey, but are not quite as long as the donkey's. A hinny's ears are shorter than those of a donkey, but are much wider.

Eyes—A donkey's eyes are larger in proportion to the head than those of a horse. Donkeys and mules have heavier eye sockets set farther out on the side of the head, resulting in a wider field of vision than the horse has. The horse's eye sockets are round, the donkey's are D-shaped. The mule's eye sockets are somewhat D-shaped, as seen in male (horse) mules with heavy brow ridges.

Tail—The donkey has a cow-like tail covered by short coarse body hair, except for a tuft at the end. The horse's thick, long tail is inherited by the mule, but the mule's tail hair is coarse like a donkey's rather than fine like a horse's, and the top is not as full as a horse's tail. The hinny's tail is more like that of a donkey.

Chestnuts (Ergots)—The donkey has chestnuts on the front legs, but only rarely on the hind legs, where you would find them on a horse. Like the donkey, a mule or hinny rarely has chestnuts on the hind legs.

Hoof—A donkey's hooves are more elastic, tougher, smaller, rounder, and upright compared to those of a horse. Mules and hinnies inherit the donkey's hoof characteristics, but to a lesser degree—not quite as upright, small, or tough. Like the donkey, the mule needn't be shod unless the animal is regularly worked in rocky terrain.

Skeleton—The donkey's spinal column lacks the fifth lumbar vertebrae (loin area) normally found in the horse. The donkey's pelvis is higher, steeper, and less broad than a horse's, due to the longer length and steeper angle of the upper hip bones. The donkey's croup is therefore less round or broad than a horse's croup. Most (but not all) mules have the horse's fifth lumbar vertebrae and the donkey's short croup, and may or may not have the horse's muscling. Overall size is governed by the dam, although offspring may grow taller than either parent.

Coat—The donkey's coat is longer and coarser than that of a horse. The donkey lacks the horse's protective undercoat and is therefore more susceptible to climatic conditions such as rain, wet snow, and wind, but the donkey is insulated from heat and cold by air pockets between its longer hairs. The mule's or hinny's coat is fine in summer, like a horse's, but coarse in winter, like a donkey's. Coat color tends to be like the dam's.

Voice—Each mule or hinny makes a distinctive sound that might be described as a cross between the donkey's bray and the horse's whinny.

Reproduction—The donkey is more prepotent [high in its ability to transmit certain characteristics to its offspring] but less fertile than the horse. It has 50% to 60% conception rate, compared to the horse's average of 60% to 65%. The conception rate for mares carrying mule foals is about same as for horse foals, but for jennets carrying hinny foals the rate drops to about 25%.

Compared to a gestation period of 11 months for the horse, the donkey's gestation period averages 12 months, but may vary between 11 and 14 months. The gestation period for a hybrid foal is usually intermediate between the parent species. Production of twins, although rare, is more frequent among donkeys than among horses.

The mule is a sterile hybrid, yet occasionally a mare mule will be fertile. The difference between the numbers of chromosomes in the cells of the donkey (62 chromosomes; 31 pairs) and the horse (64 chromosomes; 32 pairs) results in a mule or hinny with 63 chromosomes. This odd number is responsible for mule's sterility—the donkey and horse chromosomes are unable to form matched pairs during the early stages of conception, resulting in the death of the reproductive cells.

Intelligence—The donkey is more intelligent than the horse, but its instincts give it a different behavior pattern that is often mistaken for stubbornness. A frightened donkey won't, for example, bolt in panic like a horse will. The donkey is instead more likely to stop and carefully study the situation before determining the best course of action. Like the donkey, the mule or hinny is highly intelligent and has a well-developed instinct for self-preservation.

Longevity—A lifespan of 30 to 50 years is common for a donkey. Horses average 25 to 30 years. Thanks to hybrid vigor, mules and hinnies may live 30 to 40 years (and sometimes up to 50), with a comparably longer working life than that of a horse.

Source: http://www.ruralheritage.com

Mules or Horses - Which are Smarter?

A mule is superior to the horse both physically and mentally but the mule's stubbornness is misunderstood. The mule is an exceptional animal.

The mule's popularity is significantly below that of the horse. Even though, in recent years, fans of this hybrid have grown, the mule has a very long way to go before it becomes equally accepted. However, examined side by side, the mule's physical attributes outshine that of the horse. Also, in terms of intelligence, the mule is many levels above the horse.

What is a Mule?

A mule is a hybrid. The production of hybrids is very common in the agricultural field. It takes place with both plants and animals. In the case of the mule, it is the offspring of a donkey stallion and a horse mare. It is also possible to cross a stallion horse and a jenny (female donkey) which is then known as a hinny. This latter combination is less frequent because the offspring produced could be too big and difficult for the jenny to foal.

Mules do not Reproduce

Horses have 64 chromosomes, donkeys have 62 and the hybrid offspring, the mule, has an uneven 63 chromosomes. The uneven number in the mule usually prevents the chromosomes from pairing up and creating a successful embryo.

All male mules are infertile and are normally gelded to ensure their sociability. Most female mules are also infertile but there have been some rare exceptions where a female mule had offspring. The occurrence is about one in a million.

Mule is an Example of Hybrid Vigor

When a donkey and a horse are mated, the outcome is a genetically superior offspring. This occurrence is referred to as hybrid vigor. Mules become the benefactors of the best traits of the parents. From the donkey, the mule inherits intelligence, strength, surefootedness, endurance and perseverance. From the horse, the mule inherits athletic ability, speed and beauty.

Mule's Physical Characteristics Compared to the Horse

The muscular and skeletal structure of the mule differs from that of a horse. The mule has long smooth muscle while the horse has differentiated muscle masses. The smooth muscle is built for endurance while the muscle masses are built for bursts of strength. In human terms it is like comparing a ballerina to a wrestler.

A horse has two basic ligaments which keep the hip socket together. The accessory ligament at the hip socket prevents the bone from moving sideways. Most mules don't have this accessory ligament which allows for a greater range of motion. It is likely that, because of this greater flexibility, a mule's kick so easily finds its target.

The mule's muscle structure and narrower build contributes to its surefootedness and a smoother gait. As a result of the smoother gait, a mule is more comfortable to ride and even people who have back problems are able to ride in reasonable comfort.

The mule is stronger than the horse and can carry more weight than a horse of equal size. Pound for pound, a mule can outwork a horse. Although it does not have the speed of the horse, the mule will far outlast the horse in stamina and endurance. This is only partly due to its physical characteristics. The other part has to do with its intelligence.

The mule is a tremendous high-jumper. Unlike a horse that jumps from a galloping approach, the mule jumps from a standing start. It can jump its height from a standstill -- without a rider.

Mule's Health Status Compared to the Horse

A mule eats approximately 25-30% less than a comparably sized horse. It also has fewer feeding problems. A mule rarely overeats and is less likely to colic or founder. It also requires less water and tolerates heat better. This may be due to the origins of the donkey from Africa and Asia.

A mule is more resistant to disease and has a longer life span than a horse. It continues to work into its 30s and has a lifespan into the 40s and even 50s.

Most horses have a flight response when encountering unknown situations while donkeys have the freeze reflex. The mule can also have the flight reflex given that it is part horse. However, because it is also part donkey, if properly trained, that flight reflex can be significantly modified to a 'stop and wait' response, thereby, reducing possible accidents and injury.

Mule Intelligence Study

Mules have been perceived as more intelligent than horses and a recent study done among 6 horses, 6 donkeys and 6 mules confirms this position. The test consisted of sets of 2 food buckets marked with different symbols. The mules differentiated between more pairs of symbols more consistently than did the horses or donkeys. Food rewards were provided for correct choices.

This greater intelligence is attributed to hybrid vigor as are some of the superior physical characteristics of the mule.

Mule's Outstanding Quality

A mule will not place itself in danger. It has a very strong self-preservation instinct. This instinct gives it a different behavioral pattern. It is not stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. The mule is very smart and calculating and thinks before it acts. It is an independent thinker and assesses situations. This trait has to be respected in order to successfully train a mule. You cannot make a mule do what it doesn't want to do.

A large element of a mule's training involves persuading the mule to forego some of its own decision making and to trust its owner. This is possible because mules are also very social animals and have a need to bond with their owner. A lasting friendship must be established with a mule. This requires patience, kindness and understanding. In turn, such an approach will eventually build trust and finally obedience -- resulting in a well-trained mule.

As a mount, a well-trained mule is superior to an equally trained horse because the mule's instinct for self-preservation also creates a safety net for the rider. Well-trained mules are highly valued by their owners and often envied by others.

Training a Mule

Training a mule has to be a labor of love.

A good horse trainer is not automatically a good mule trainer. Different skills are required to train mules. A mule trainer has to understand mule motivation and behavior. It is best for a mule owner to acquire training skills.

There are times, when horses are sent to a trainer for extra schooling. However, according to Meredith Hodges, who has 35 years of experience with mules, this should be avoided with mules, where possible. Mules tend to bond with the person who trains them. She equates sending them elsewhere to asking 'someone else to go out and make a friend for you'. It is important for the owner to grow the relationship with his/her mule and to use every opportunity to interact with it.

With patience and proper instruction an owner can develop his/her mule into an outstanding riding companion and loyal friend.

Source: Vi Brown, http://suite101.com

To Make a Mule

by Marlene Malcher

If you are interested in breeding your mare to a jack in the hopes of getting a baby mule, let me give you some helpful information and some experiences I have had. Although I don't claim to be an expert, I have learned some things the hard way, so why not pass on the knowledge?

Most mares will not willingly be bred by a jack, which seems to come as a surprise to most people. Stop and think about it. Unless the mare lives with donkeys as pasture mates, the donkey, especially if it is an aggressive or noisy jack, will likely scare the daylights out of her. This obstacle alone is often the most difficult one to overcome in the quest for making a mule. If your mare has never been around a jack, she may need to spend time at the breeding farm beforehand, where she can see, smell, and hear the jack without jumping out of her skin. Some jacks are quiet and gentlemanly, while others are aggressive and boisterous, and if allowed to will terrorize the mare.

When a mare is afraid of the jack she will not "show" to the jack as she would to a stallion, thus making the detection of her heat cycle awkward unless a teaser stallion is available. Even then a mare in full heat may not willingly show to the jack. The mare thus must at least not be afraid of the jack, although she may let him mount her only begrudgingly. Believe me, no one finds it pleasant to try to get a mare bred when her wishes do not correspond with the jack's.

Most breeders who stand a jack to outside mares will only hand breed, which is the safest and best way to know if the mare has been covered. Pasture breeding may work but involves many risks. The jack may savage the mare. If she has a foal at her side, the jack may kill the foal.

The jack may also be hurt by the mare, and most breeders cannot risk having their jacks injured. Beware of the backyard breeder who will turn your mare out with his jack for a nominal fee and assume his jack will breed your mare. Some folks don't realize that unless a jack has been raised with horses, rather than donkeys, he will not breed mares. He must have been raised to think he's a horse, otherwise he will not cross the equine line and will be interested only in jennets.

Aside from being aware of how much work is involved in breeding for a mule, also take a look at the age of the mare you are considering turning into a mule mamma. She should be at least three years old. Even though some two-year-olds will catch, it isn't fair to them as they haven't finished growing up yet themselves. The few times we have tried breeding fillies and they foaled, they were barren the following year, telling us their bodies needed time off to grow up. The other extreme is the aged mare that's never had a foal. Her chances of carrying are not good, but not impossible.

Regardless of the mare's age, have her palpated by an equine vet. You might also get a biopsy of her uterus to find out what her chances are of conceiving. You will save a lot of time and expense if the mare has a low chance of carrying a foal.

To acquire a good mule, you must start with a good-minded mare. If your mare is easy going, friendly, willing, and eager to learn then so will be your baby mule. Yes, a good-minded jack is important, but not nearly as critical as the mare. The baby will spend all its time with its mamma and will pick up her vices and characteristics, both good and bad.

Consider also the mare's conformation. Minor flaws may often be strengthened by the jack's influence, but an unsound mare can pass along her hereditary weaknesses. Both parents should have good conformation to guarantee a good looking and useful mule.

The mare you present to the breeder must be well broke to handle. She must be halter broke and able to stand tied without pulling back. If she may possibility kick, she must be able to accept having breeding hobbles put on her back legs. If she is shod, pull her back shoes. The mare must have adequate handling and training to make her safe for the breeder and his jack, thus ensuring a better chance of delivering that baby mule you have your heart set on.

As with any baby animal, but especially with a mule foal, establishing a human relationship from day one is important. Foals that are imprinted and handled with kindness from birth learn to adore people and are so much easier to work with as they get older and bigger. Mules that do not trust people, whether from being mishandled or mistreated, are next to impossible to change. Their naturally self-preserving nature and dislike of being hurt make them a challenging animal to reclaim and some can never be turned around.

Although handling your mule baby a lot is important, the foal also must be taught to respect you. Do not equate love for your animal with spoiling it so it becomes unsafe to handle. Baby mules do not need harsh discipline. A firm voice is all that is usually needed to correct improper behavior. They are intelligent and easy to work with, and respond wonderfully to human handling.

We get so much joy out of handling our baby mules that I find it incomprehensible that some people never touch their foals, believing it is better for the foals. We believe this early time with humans is the most critical and opportune in the making of a good mule. The trust a foal learns at this time in its early life will make it easier to teach and more reliable as a mature animal. The bond with a mule that has been handled since birth is so much greater than with one that has been raised without human intervention and lacks the same level of trust.

Awaiting the safe delivery of mule babies is always an anxious time for me, but it is also a time of fun and eager anticipation. Nothing is so entertaining and delightful as a baby mule. If you do your homework and select a good mare, you will be rewarded with one of the best experiences of your life.

Source: http://www.ruralheritage.com

Why can't mules breed?

Why can't mules breed? I understand that a horse and a donkey make a mule but why can't 2 mules have a baby mule?

-A middle school student from Michigan

June 20, 2007

You're right, a horse and a donkey can have kids. A male horse and a female donkey have a hinny. A female horse and a male donkey have a mule.

But hinnies and mules can't have babies of their own. They are sterile because they can't make sperm or eggs.

They have trouble making sperm or eggs because their chromosomes don't match up well. And, to a lesser extent, because of their chromosome number.

A mule gets 32 horse chromosomes from mom and 31 donkey chromosomes from dad for a total of 63 chromosomes. (A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62).

To understand why this is a problem, we need to understand how sperm and eggs are made. And to understand that, we need to go into a bit more detail about chromosomes.

Remember, we have two copies of each of our chromosomes -- one from mom and one from dad. This means we have two copies of chromosome 1, two copies of chromosome 2, etc. However, this isn't entirely true for the mules.

The mule has a set of horse chromosomes from its mom. And a set of donkey ones from its dad.

These chromosomes aren't really matched sets like in a horse, a donkey, or a person. In these cases, a chromosome 1 is very similar to another chromosome 1. It looks pretty much the same and has nearly the same set of A's, G's, T's and C's. For example, two human chromosome 1's differ only every 1000 letters or so.

But a donkey chromosome doesn't necessarily look like a horse one. And the poor mule even has an unmatched horse chromosome just sitting there.

To make a sperm or an egg, cells need to do something called meiosis. The idea behind meiosis is to get one copy of each chromosome into the sperm or egg.

For example, let's focus on chromosome 1. Like I said, we have one from mom and one from dad. At the end of meiosis, the sperm or egg has either mom's or dad's chromosome 1. Not both.

This process requires two things. First, the chromosomes have to look pretty similar, meaning they are about the same size and have the same information. This will have to do with how well they match up during meiosis.

And second, at a later critical stage, there has to be four of each kind of chromosome. Neither of these can happen completely with a mule.

Let's take a closer look at meiosis to see why this is. The first step in meiosis is that all of the chromosomes make copies of themselves. No problem here...a mule cell can pull this off just fine.

So now we have a cell with 63 doubled chromosomes. It is the next step that causes the real problem.

In the next step, all the same chromosomes need to match up in a very particular way. So, the four chromosome 1's all need to line up together. But this can't happen in a mule very well.

Like I said, a donkey and a horse chromosome aren't necessarily similar enough to match up. Add to this the unmatched chromosome and you have a real problem. The chromosomes can't find their partners and this causes the sperm and eggs not to get made.

So this is a big reason for a mule being sterile. But how is the silly thing alive at all?

Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, having an odd number of chromosomes doesn't matter for every day life. A mule's cells can divide and make new cells just fine. Which is important considering a mule went from 1 cell to trillions of them!

Chromosomes sort differently in regular cells than they do in sperm and eggs. Regular cells (called somatic cells) use a process called mitosis.

Mitosis is like the first step of meiosis. The chromosomes all make copies of themselves. But instead of matching up, they just sort into two new cells. So for the mule, each cell ends up with 63 chromosomes. No matching needs to happen. And our lone horse chromosome is fine.

The other reason a mule is alive is that nothing on the extra or missing chromosome causes it any harm. This seems obvious at first except that usually having extra DNA causes severe problems. In people, extra chromosomes usually result in miscarriages. Sometimes though, a child can survive with an extra chromosome.

For example, people with an extra chromosome 21 have Down syndrome. Having all of the extra genes on that extra copy of chromosome 21 cause the symptoms associated with Down syndrome.

So having extra chromosomes often leads to real problems. But the mule is by and large OK.

The extra genes must not be that big a deal for the mule. In other words, the extra genes on the horse chromosome do not cause problems for the every day life of a mule.

So mules are sterile because horse and donkey chromosomes are just too different. But they are alive because horse and donkey chromosomes are similar enough to mate.

Source: Monica Rodriguez, http://genetics.thetech.org

Big Poitevin Mules by Crossing a Poitou Donkey with a Mulassiere

Large French mules were strong and hardy, but they are now very rare.

Mules are produced by mating a male donkey with a female horse. The offspring acquires a combination of characteristics from both parents – they are neither horses nor donkeys.

 

Baudet de Poitou, or Mammoth Poitou Donkey

The Baudet was developed around Poitiers in France specifically to produce large mules, that were exceptionally good working animals. Mules are stronger than horses of an equivalent size, so big mules are very tough animals:

• Characteristic features of the Baudet, in addition to its enormous size include very big ears and a long shaggy coat.

• Extremely matted and tangled coats are favoured, and animals with good 'cadanettes' are the most valuable.

• Although Baudets were once common in the region, they are now becoming rare, and breeders usually prefer to use them to produce more donkeys, rather than to cross them with horse mares and 'waste' a year.

Mulassiere Mares

The same region in France (Poitou-Charente) also has a very large breed of working horse, the 'Mulassiere'.

These have become rare now, and as with the Poitou donkey breeders tend to concentrate on keeping the breed alive rather than producing sterile mules.

Poitevin Mules

Mules are very strong and were used for heavy farm work. They can appear stubborn at times, but that is probably because they are more intelligent than horses or donkeys.

A horse can be made to work until it is harmed, but a mule refuses to put itself in danger. If urged to do something that it considers foolhardy a mule will simply dig its heels in and refuse (very sensible!).

The Poitevin Mule was an animal designed to benefit from these mule characteristics, while breeding the largest animal possible.

Rare Farm Breeds

Many local breeds of farm animals are either very rare or extinct (see ' Mangalitza Wooly Pig ' as a good example ).

Intensive farming relies on a small number of 'modern' breeds for meat production, and working farm animals have now been replaced by tractors. There is simply no longer much need for large, strong, animals.

The only hope for the survival of these rare breeds lies in the hands of enthusiasts – people who accept the challenge of keeping them and their characteristics alive.

It is not surprising that enthusiasts who are dedicated to preserving the Poitou Donkey (or the Mulassiere Horse) should be more concerned about establishing a good stock of these animals, rather than crossing them to produce mules.

The Poitevin Mule is now an extremely rare animal, but as long as the Poitou Donkey and the Mulassiere Horse survive there is hope for them. It would be possible to produce them again in the future.

Source: John Blatchford. http://suite101.com

Mule Information

 

Definition of a mule
A mule is a cross between two species of equine: the horse or pony (Equus caballus) and the domestic donkey (Equus asinus). The word 'mule' is used for either the cross of male donkey on female horse or female donkey on male horse, although the latter cross is more correctly known as a 'hinny'.
Despite the fact that both mules and hinnies each have one horse and one donkey parent, the two crosses generally differ from each other in appearance and stature and to some extent in temperament - a fact which has been recognised since they were first bred.

What do mules look like?
The mule proper is said to have the body of a horse with the extremities of a donkey. The most noticeable points are its long ears, short thin mane, which may stand upright like a donkey's or be a little longer and flop over, and a tail which has shortish hairs on the dock a little longer than the donkey's but also has long hairs like the horse's, and is much fuller than the donkey's. The withers are low or non-existent, the back flat with a goose rump, the body flat-sided with weaker quarters than the horse, and also narrower and less deep-shouldered. The legs are, like the donkey's, straight, with small, hard, dense, upright, straight-sided hooves. The head is a little narrower than the donkey's, but otherwise very similar, except for the eyes, which are specifically mule - but difficult to describe.
The hinny generally has the body of a donkey with the extremities of the horse. The ears are shorter than a mule's, the mane and tail longer and thicker, the legs stronger with hooves which are rounder and less upright, the body rounder and deeper, and the head shorter and narrower. The most common coat colour is blue-grey roan. However, it is noticeable that hinnies differ far more from each other than do mules, with every imaginable variation, from being almost indistinguishable from a horse, through being mule-like, to being almost indistinguishable from a donkey.

Advantages of mules
Mules, having hybrid vigour, can grow taller than both parents. Weight for weight they are stronger than horses, and are much longer-lived with much longer working lives, although maturing slightly later. They rarely become ill or lame or suffer wounds, can withstand extremes of temperature, can live on frugal rations, have tremendous stamina and resilience and are exceptionally sure-footed.
Hinnies are said to lack hybrid vigour, and it has always been recognised that they are smaller than mules (although this may partly be due to their being carried in a smaller womb), less strong and with less stamina and hardiness.

Mules' temperament
Mules have a reputation for being obstinate and bad-tempered, but as with donkeys, the mule's legendary stubbornness is in fact a manifestation of its talent for self-preservation. There are times when a human finds this 'talent' annoying, when he is disobeyed by a mule, but there are many other times when it can be a great advantage: if a mule takes care of itself, then it follows that it is also taking great care of its cargo, human or otherwise. It is not for nothing that mules are chosen rather than horses to take tourists down the Grand Canyon! By intelligent handling, it is quite possible to foresee occasions on which a mule is likely to be 'stubborn' and to avoid them.
The undeserved reputation for bad temper is, I believe, due to the mule's unexpectedly sensitive and untrusting nature. Until he has learnt to trust a person, he is worried that the person may do him harm, and will take defensive action (never offensive) by kicking them, should he feel the occasion merits it. And mules are splendid kickers - they kick fast and accurately, and if a mule misses, it is because he intended to. Unfortunately many of the people who have worked with mules over the centuries have not appreciated this sensitivity, and have not understood another characteristic of the mule: that you cannot force him to do anything, but must persuade him, or organise his work so that he is only asked to do those things which he will want to do. Failure to appreciate this has led to many a battle between man and mule, and to the mule's bad reputation.

Mules are highly intelligent - mule devotees would say more intelligent than horses - and are very quick to learn, with a grasp of a situation which often seems little short of miraculous. This means that their handlers need to be quick-witted to stay one jump ahead of them. A well-trained and handled mule is obliging, kind, patient, persevering, calm, tolerant, sensible, loyal, affectionate, playful - and also proud, jealous and calculating. Being so intelligent, a badly trained and handled mule can be a problem.

Hinnies tend to be more donkey-like in temperament, which may be partly due to the fact that they were reared by donkeys, although this is unlikely to be the whole of the story. They are generally quieter, more compliant, less curious, less adventurous and less independent than mules. Being less sensitive and untrusting, they are less likely to kick, preferring to avoid trouble rather than confront it. Despite their reputation for being less useful than mules, there are many examples of their being much appreciated.

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

Management Recommendations for Donkeys and Mules

 

Mule Terminology, Characteristics and Differences

There are estimated to be 50 million donkeys (Equus asinus) and as many mules worldwide. They can be used for such applications as riding, driving, flock protection, companion, breeding, and training calves. Donkeys and mules are not small horses. They have anatomical and physiological differences compared to horses and their care requires special consideration. Structural differences compared to horses mean that they require specialized tack and harness for riding and driving (1).

Terminology

Jack: Male donkey

• Jennet or Jenny (both pronounced the same): Female donkey
• Donkey gelding: Castrated male donkey
• Mule: The offspring of the mating of a jack with a mare (female horse)
• Hinny: The offspring of the mating of a stallion (male horse) with a jennet

Mature animals can be further designated into the following classifications based on height measured at the withers:

• Miniature: under 36 inches
• Small Standard: from 36.01 to 48 inches
• Large Standard: over 48 inches and under 54 inches for females; over 48 inches and under 56 inches for jacks and geldings
• Mammoth: 54 inches or over for females and 56 inches or over for male

For more information on registration guidelines, contact the Canadian Donkey and Mule Association (http://www.donkeyandmule.com/).

Anatomical Differences Between Horses and Donkeys

A number of anatomical differences can challenge the first-time donkey owner and their veterinarian. Two of these include:

1. An obscured jugular furrow (the place where blood samples are taken or tranquilizers are given). The cutaneous coli muscle is much thicker than in the horse and hides the middle third of the jugular vein. It is easier to find the upper third of the jugular.
2. The nasolacrimal duct of the donkey is located on the flare of the nostril rather than the floor of the nostril as it is in the horse (2).

Behaviour

Donkeys and mules are known to be very stoic animals that are slow to show pain and discomfort. While these characteristics may be desirable in many cases, it can lead to problems identifying a sick animal. The attributes we assign to a donkey being stubborn and having a lack of intelligence are actually from their natural responses to new experiences and logical interpretation of a situation. Being tough animals, they will kick easily and swiftly (2). Donkeys and mules are very social animals and will benefit tremendously from the companionship of other animals, such as horses, cattle, sheep or goats.

Authors: Heather McClinchey MSx; Jeffrey Sankey , BSc, Ontario Veterinary College, Unversity of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Dr. Bob Wright, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Fergus, Ontario, Canada

Source: about.com

Why Not Hinnies?

 

by Gail Damerow

"Why are mules more common than hinnies?" a listener put me on the spot during a call-in radio interview about draft animals. When you're live on the radio, you have to keep talking. I explained that a mule is the offspring of a mare and a jack. A hinny is the offspring of a jennet and a stallion. At sales and shows, mules and hinnies are grouped together as mules.

By then I had used up enough time not answering the question, and in the process I remembered something someone once told me. So I finished up by speculating that hinnies are less common than mules because they can be less predictable in both conformation and temperament.

I was not happy with that answer, so the subject remained on my mind. Since then I've been collecting reasons why hinnies, and especially draft hinnies, are less common than mules. Not all of the following reasons make any more sense to me than the reason I rattled off over the radio. Decide for yourself:

• To produce mules, you need only one jack; to produce hinnies, you need a whole herd of jennets. (This doesn't make sense if you believe people who claim that jennets are easier keepers than mares, and jacks are more difficult to manage than stallions.)
• More mares exist than jennets, and more jacks exist than stallions.
• Since there are fewer jennets than mares, the gene pool is more limited.
• Jennets are smaller than mares, and since the foal grows to fit the size of the dam's uterus, hinnies tend to be smaller and lighter than mules.
• Good mares are cheaper than good Mammoth jennets.
• Since Mammoth jackstock is classified as endangered, most breeders use the jennets to reproduce their own kind, rather than to produce sterile hybrid mules.
• Jennets are less fertile than mares, which are not all that fertile to begin with.
• Heat is more difficult to detect in a jennet than in a mare.
• A jack responds more readily to a mare in heat than a stallion responds to an estrous jennet.
• The conception rate is the same whether a mare is bred to a stallion or a jack, but is lower in a jennet bred to a stallion. (At last we're getting into an area where I feel more comfortable, because scientific reasoning prevails. Researchers have found that whenever two species are interbred, fertilization occurs more readily if the dam has more chromosomes than the sire. Horses have 64 chromosomes, donkeys have 62.)
• The gestation period of a jennet is one month longer than that of a mare. As a result, jennets don't foal every year, as a mare might, but will occasionally skip a year. Breeding mules from mares is therefore more economical than breeding hinnies from jennets.

Source: http://www.ruralheritage.com

Mule Facts

What makes a mule different from a horse?

First, let’s clarify what a mule is. A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). A horse has 64 chromosomes, and a donkey has 62. The mule ends up with 63. Mules can be either male or female, but, because of the odd number of chromosomes, they can’t reproduce. However, a male mule should be gelded in order to make him a safe and sociable animal.

Except for the long ears, mules look very similar to horses, but their muscle composition is different. Mules have smoother muscles than horses. Think of a football player’s muscle build compared to that of a ballerina’s. Both are very strong, but the mule has greater physical strength for its size, and more endurance. A mule gets its athletic ability from the horse and its intelligence from the donkey. Donkeys and mules have been labeled “stubborn” for centuries, but it is really only an abundance of common sense and a strong desire for self-preservation that might make them inclined to resist. Mules and donkeys actually have a natural attraction to humans. When treated with patience, kindness and understanding, they learn to trust and obey. If they are treated with force and abuse, they are not likely to comply with your wishes. If only a mule could talk, most people would be surprised at how smart they really are!

 

What does the name “mule” mean?

The word “mule” can be used for any hybrid, and is a cross between two species of equine: the horse or pony (Equus caballus) and the domestic donkey (Equus asinus). The term “mule” is used for either the cross of male donkey on female horse, or the cross of female donkey on male horse, although the latter cross is more correctly known as a “hinny.” Mules and hinnies each have one horse and one donkey parent, however the two crosses generally differ from each other in appearance and stature, and—to some extent—temperament.

 

What is the history of mules in the United States?

In addition to being the father of our country, George Washington was an enlightened agriculturalist—a visionary who, early on, saw the true value of the mule. But right from the beginning, he faced a major obstacle. At the time, the Spanish Government prohibited acquisition of the legendary Andalusian donkey. However, in 1785, King Charles III of Spain presented Washington with a gift of two jacks and two jennets. One of the jacks died during the voyage, but the survivor, named Royal Gift, went on to sire an American dynasty that reshaped the very landscape of this country. By the early 1900s the mule population in this country had exploded to nearly six million. But with the advent of engine-powered vehicles, the mule’s once-critical role in agriculture and industry diminished. It’s estimated that, by the late 1960s, fewer than 10,000 mules existed in the United States, and many of those languished—unused, unnoticed and in danger of fading from our culture altogether.

But a handful of mule and donkey lovers were determined to keep that from happening. Among them were Paul and Betsy Hutchins who, in 1967, founded the American Donkey and Mule Society, an organization dedicated to the protection and understanding of longears. They also publish The Brayer, a bi-monthly magazine with an international subscriber base. Mules and donkeys have enjoyed resurgent popularity during the last 40 years. Today, annual events such as Bishop Mule Days in Bishop, Calif., host more than 30,000 people and 700 mules. Mule events, stock shows, trade publications and even television programs like Meredith’s series, Training Mules and Donkeys, continue to foster interest in these amazing animals.

What are the common sizes of donkeys or mules?

Division by size rather than breed is due to unclear ancestry in the New World. Donkeys were turned loose by explorers and interbred.

Donkeys:

• Miniature = 36″ or less at the withers
• Small Standard = 36.01″ up to 40″
• Standard = 40.01″ up to 48″
• Large Standard = jennets are 48.01″ up to 54″, jacks are 48.01″ up to 56″
• Mammoth = jennets are 54.01″ and over, jacks are 56.01″ and over

Mules:

• Miniature = 50″ or less
• Saddle mule = 50″ or more
• Draft = bred from a draft horse breed

Where are donkeys and mules registered?

Today, donkeys and mules are registered with several different registries, the largest being the American Donkey and Mule Society. Other registries include the American Mule Association and Standard Jack and Jennet Registry.

What are mules and hinnies?

The mule is a hybrid cross between a male donkey (jack ) and a female horse (mare). Because the mule most often demonstrates the best traits from each parent, he possesses what we call hybrid vigor. The mule inherits from the donkey his incredible strength, intelligence, patience, perseverance, endurance and surefootedness from the jack and his equine beauty, athletic ability and speed from the horse.

The hinny, or hinney, is also called a mule. However, the hinny is the hybrid cross between a male horse (stallion), and a female donkey (jenny, or jennet). The hinny is different from a mule in very subtle ways. For instance, the hinny is a somewhat slower and more meticulous mover than the mule. He inherits his way of going from the jennet as does the mule, which tends to be a little faster, more energetic and more agile—like the mare. The hinny, because of his meticulous way of going, is actually better in very steep, rocky terrain and, especially, in loose rock, and will not tire as quickly as a mule. Gaited hinnies are preferable in this kind of terrain where there is little opportunity to gallop because they have a smooth, more ground-covering gait.

The hooves of a hinny tend to be more donkey-like—narrow, oval and more upright—where the hooves of a mule will look more horse-like; a little rounder (although still oval), with slightly more angle than the donkey hoof, but not as flat, round and angled as the horse’s hoof. On both hinnies and mules, the hooves should be trimmed more upright and the heels should be left longer than the hooves of the horse.

The hinny will also eat a variety of different kinds of shrubs and bushes to sustain himself, where a mule will be more selective, again because of the influence of the female parent. This makes the hinny more desirable to those people living in remote mountain areas with little vegetation.

Both the mule and the hinny have more endurance by far than the horse, and are more resistant to parasites and disease, require less feed for good health, have tougher hooves than the horse, and have an incredible sense of self preservation that keeps them safe, which is often mistaken for stubbornness. The horse has a flight reflex when startled and the donkey has a freeze reflex; mules and hinnies can exhibit both the freeze and flight reflexes, depending on their own unique personalities and the situation at hand.

When breeding for mules, since the jacks are generally smaller and of slighter build than a horse, mule foals are generally smaller than horse foals and the mare has very little problem foaling. When breeding for hinnies, one needs to be cautious, as the jennets are smaller and of a slighter build than mares. A large stallion could produce a foal that would be too large and difficult for the jennet to easily foal. Matching the size of the parents is much more important with hinnies. It is more difficult for a jennet to settle after being bred to a stallion than it is for a mare to settle after being bred by a jack, so breeding for hinnies can take significantly longer.

• Donkey + zebra = Zebrass or Zedonk
• Horse + zebra = Zorse, or if pony dam, Zony
• Jack + mare = mule
• Stallion + jennet = hinny
• Jack + mule = jule, or donkule
• Stallion + mule = hule
• Male mule = horse mule, or john mule
• Female mule = mare mule, or molly

A hinny resembles a horse more than it does an ass. It looks more like a horse with long ears and looks very much like a mule. The hinny has been used as a saddle animal from antiquity and is more difficult to produce than the mule, because the jennet does not conceive well with the stallion.

Certain breeds of mares do not conceive as well with the jack as other breeds.

Although hybrids are typically sterile, two documented cases of fertility do exist. One was known as Old Beck from Texas A&M, bred first by stallion, Pat Murphy, and yielded the hule, Pat Murphy, Jr. She was bred a second time to a jack and produced the jule, or donkule Kate. The other was Krause, belonging to Arthur Silvester in Champion, Nebraska. She was bred to a jack twice and foaled first with Blue Moon, and then with White Lightning. More numerous cases have emerged with the new technology and better national and international communication.

Mules are also used in the equine industry for embryo transplants.

There are no documented cases involving fertile male mules.

 

What are the physical characteristics of the Ass?

• A distinctive bray.
• Long ears.
• Short, upright and thin mane.
• Hair only on the end of its tail.
• Tends to look more horse-like.
• May come in a variety of colors.
• Hooves are narrow and box-like, unlike the horse’s hoof. They’re upstanding, and made for rock and mountain climbing. They are tough and elastic, non-chipping and can grow to long lengths when the animal is on soft ground and the hooves are left untrimmed.
• Long body with long, wiry muscles.
• Short and straight back. Lacks upstanding withers and is excellent for packing and weight bearing.
• Bone is dense and hard.
• Gestation is 12 months, whereas the gestation period for a horse is 11 months.
• Usually has a white belly and muzzle, and circles around the eyes.
• Colors are much like that of a horse.
• They can come in more colors than a horse, even an Appaloosa.
• Mule’s conformation falls somewhere in between that of the donkey and that of the horse.
• Mules inherit best traits from both its sire and its dam.
• Mules get their athletic ability from the horse, while strength and intelligence come from the donkey.

What are the mental characteristics of the Ass?

• Highly intelligent, alert, curious and affectionate, when not worn down by bad conditions (i.e., cruel treatment, bad shelter, bad food and water or overwork).
• Quick to learn. A well-trained mule is calm, tolerant, loyal, affectionate, obliging and patient.
• Sensitive. Mules and donkeys might be mistaken as being stubborn when they’re actually afraid or confused.
• Has common sense and not prone to panic or carelessness.
• Can recognize danger.

According to Mr. Longears publisher Tom Constantino: “Jesus chose a donkey colt, unridden, uninfluenced by man, for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. In doing so, He recognized the donkey’s instinctive role of servitudes to man and God. Time and time again since the beginning of recorded history, the donkey has proved its quality of character. Its noble instincts are special. It was not created to be hunted for food or sport, and it has no natural enemies. It is the duty of the world to understand the true depth of the donkey, and to care for this noble creature.”

Source: http://luckythreeranch.com

Mules vs. horse

 

Question
I have worked with hundreds of horses and consider myself a horseman.  However, I have never handled a mule.  I have heard all kind of stories about mules being smarter than a horse, meaner than a horse, less forgiving, more accurate kickers, etc.  My main questions is when training or handling a mule, are the same principles applied, herd behavior, higher pecking order, movement equals respect or is it completely different training principles?
thanks

Answer
Remember each mule is different depending on how much horse he inherits and how much donkey he inherits.

Having said that:
1. They appear smarter than horses because the donkey is not a flight animal.  Donkeys stay and fight rather than flee.  Consequently, "smart" may mean they size up a situation and react to it rather than leave the scene.  So in your training remember that.  For example, jumping seems stupid to the mule when he can go around the obstacle safely and with less energy.  You'll have to encourage and support the mule and make if fun for him to reject his own evaluation of your stupid request to jump something it's easier to go around.

2.  They appear meaner than a horse because, again, they are not flight animals.  So,you best not pick a fight you can't win because you can't bully a mule like you can a horse.  In the donkey world a bully, a cougar, is something to be fought and vanquished, not something to run from.  A mule can transfer that attitude to you.  Remember, they mature later than a horse (legs close at 3, mentally a baby until 3 or 4, physically grow until 6) so if you are asking them to engage in collection for long periods of time, longer than they can physically and mentally handle it, they'll resist and can do so with great strength when perceived as put upon.  Always help a mule in collection (harder for them since the donkey is a long trotter as opposed to a runner............they do not work as well off the rear end in the horse disciplines).  If you help the mule, remember they mature later and that they work less off the rear end than a horse, you'll not have any problems.

3.  They appear less forgiving because the donkey is a fighter and, therefore, must remember successful attempts at warding off predators.  Horses simply run and only have to remember flight.  Consequently, mules will remember harsh treatment quicker and longer because their nature is to rebel and fight rather than give in.  Try not to loose your temper and force a mule to submit like you can a horse.  Break lessons down into increments more than you would a horse.  You'll also find mules will worry more about certain maneuvers that are difficult for them.  i.e. If you do not take your time with lead changes (again working off the rear end) you might encounter resistance from your mule.  Again, take your time.

5.  They are more accurate kickers!  i.e. I had a 6 month old colt kick a clipper out of my hand without even touching or injuring my hand.  That's pretty accurate.  My response?  Picked up the clipper (luckily it still worked) and continued the body clipping without incidence. what you have to remember with a mule is that their attitude can be described as "It's worth a protest once just to see if my owner will back down."  I can tell you a million stories over the years.  But, bottom line, I've never been hurt deliberately by my mules, but I have been challenged.  I choose my fights before hand; engage only in those I can win; if I can't win, I rearrange the scenario so I can and come back and try it again.  Also, you'll see a lot of kicking and pretend aggression in a group of mules together, but generally no one leaves marks or injures another mule.

6.  Sometimes herd behavior and hierarchy do not apply because the jacks don't run a herd and the jenny's argue everyday whose in charge for the next ten minutes.  Your mule may not understand your herd etiquette; in fact, probably won't.  The donkey side looks at you like you're crazy when you expect the mule to accept you as leader. Instead, you have to convince the mule the smart thing to do is to cooperate with you. 

7.  Movement doesn't transfer to respect because donkeys aren't flight animals.  However, the horse part can kick in here when you use movement to tire a mule and give quiet as a reward.  Mine work on the lounge line and in the round pen just fine.  But, again don't over do anything with a mule or they'll get sullen and resentful.  Get them tired, but not exhausted.  If they are getting exhausted, they'll save just enough energy to retaliate.

8.  Important suggestions: start them in a snaffle, keep lessons short, don't expect them to work off the rear end like a horse, build musculature and muscle memory for complex maneuvers, reward should be the chance to rest, stop on a positive note, don't pick a fight you can't win, because you'll loose and quickly.  Keep a sense of humor because your mule is always thinking ahead of you.  Don't get mad, just quit a lesson that has gone sour and start up again tomorrow.  By forcing a mule to do something with a sever bit, tie downs, etc.; you won't instill trust, you won't make lasting changes, you'll interrupt the learning process and you'll work up a sweat before the mule will.  ;)

It's not exactly completely different.  It's understanding that the mule will inherit some attributes of the donkey and some from the horse.  Sometimes those attributes are diametrically opposed, but workable.  Some are more donkey and some are more horsey.  It depends on the individual animal.  You're already a horseman so you understand horses.  It helps to be around donkeys as they'll give you clues to what is going on with your mule both mentally and physically.  

Dennis Lee broke most of my mules.  And, he had no knowledge of mules before he worked with mine.  He was a rancher in Montana and believed, since your life can depend on your horse, you have to be honest and not trick them.  When he moved to TX, he then trained reining horses so he understood collection.  With those attitudes, he was able to be most successful with starting mules in the right way.  Although, they took more time and more thinking, once trained they never went backwards or forgot.
Good luck.  Just by your asking and contemplating the difference I'll be you'll do just fine.  Keep me posted.

Source: http://en.allexperts.com

Mule Psychology 101: Mule's Are Better

 

By Cindy K. (McKinnon) Roberts

his has been an on going argument between horseman and mule person since the beginning time.  My experience with mules have been unique and rewarding. Hopefully, the following information will answer your questions.

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It must be love. All I know is...from the moment I laid eyes on this beautiful and intriguing creature, it captured my heart.  It literally took possession of my soul....then my wallet. First the ears,  then the bray.  It was too much.  I became "mule struck".   I was so spellbound from communicating with this hybrid, I instantly new that I had to free them from any pain and suffering.  My friends said,  "Snap out of it!"  It was too late.  My  “mule sense” developed so  quickly that I realized my passion with mules would never end.  It soon turned into a crusade to educate people about the saddle  mule and a better way to train them.  This is what prompted me to  film and produce The Behavior & Training Of The Saddle Mule  Video.

My friends thought I was nuts.  All those years of riding beautiful horses and now they are convinced that I am living in a mule fantasy world.  You see, every “cowboy” has an idea as to what  equine beauty is. To the educated horseman, it is athletic ability a wide jaw, large eyes, alert and small ears, round full hips, straight legs, refinement, excellent muscle, quality feet as well as a good temperament. With the exception of the ears, the same holds true for the mule.  An educated mule person has high standards for developing quality saddle mules.   There is a commitment with  professional mule breeders, to develop the mule breed to being the  best show quality possible.     

The mule being a hybrid, is sterile and cannot reproduce.  They have 63 chromosomes, which do not pair off evenly as they do in other species.  So your grand champion show mule is not able to stand at stud for a nice stud fee.  This is the frustrating part about hybrids.    

Interestingly, Mother Nature has passed on absolute traits to the mule.  Their extreme intelligence came from their sire, the jack.  Their athletic way of going comes from the horse mare.  Amusingly, the  mule is able to bray only on the exhale.  Where as a donkey (his sire)  can bray (hee-haw) while breathing in and out.  A well developed mule has acquired the definitive features from his jack and yet has the style and grace from his mare.  Since the horse mare raises the mule from birth, it is essential to select a mare with an easy and pleasing attitude.   In my opinion, inferior breeding produces  ugly mules.   Poor breeding will produce poor quality stock...in mules as well as horses.

For those of you that desire for captivating conversation over dinner tonight, I have include the following dazzling mule history:  During the ruling of King Ferdinand (around 1480) throughout Spain,  there was a law proclaiming it unlawful to ride a mule!  This was because the resident farmers were neglecting their breeding programs  for horses. As a result, poor quality horses were being produced.  It was important too have excellent horses for breeding stock, so that the royal family and their knights had superior animals for battle.  Vanity was the true reason for the King and Queen to be seen only  on beautiful horses.  While the farmers and peasants in Spain were  “mule struck”, the royal horse population suffered.  This prompted the "no mules law". Due to the ban on mules, world explorer Christopher Columbus, had to get a special permission from the King, just so he could ride his very own mule. You see, Columbus had back problems, and the mule was his ride of choice.

Years later, our first President-Commander and Chief, George Washington became our first mule breeder in the United States.  George Washington wrote to the King of Spain inquiring about the possibility  of purchasing  good quality breeding stock. The King responded by  sending him two Andalusian jacks and jennets as a gift. One of the  jacks died during his long voyage to America but the others arrived safely at Mount Vernon in December of 1785.   The surviving jack was named “Royal Gift”.  Some time later, Marquis de Lafayette sent  General Washington a black Maltese jack named “King of Malta”  and several jennets.  These animals were bred with his Andalusians  to become the foundation of American Mammoth Jackstock.  At 14  hands, (56 inches) the Maltese jack was considerably smaller than “Royal Gift”  who was 16 hands (64 inches)  and considered a superb  jack by all accounts.  At last, the Spanish embargo ended in 1813 and  new bloodlines were then imported from Spain, allowing Majorca and Malta to strengthen the foundation laid by George Washington.  And that is how the mule got his “big start” in America.

The mule has played a very big role throughout the development of the United States.  They were used as teams for work and transportation and usually were selected as mounts by men of the frontier.  The famous 20 Mule Team Borax is an excellent example of an American legend made during the 1880s.  However, life was risky on the desert trail back then.   The  Native American Apache people liked to steal the white man’s mule to kill and eat. This was a real threat, as the Apache Indians liked mule meat as much as he hated the white man.

The mules were an  asset to the U.S. Army Calvary Units.  Mules were used during the Civil War to transport the cannons and other artillery.  They were valued because of their superior strength and stamina.  They are able to withstand harsh environmental conditions and terrain. They will not spook and run away as horses will.  This  was extremely important while in cr itical times of battle.

My grandfather rode in the last U.S. Calvary and was assigned a mule.  He photographed U.S. Army mules and later became an artist.  I only wish he would have lived long enough to see what  I have been able to do with my mules.

Mules were used for packing missiles into the mountains of Afghanistan from 1979-1989 during the war against the Russians.  At that time, the United States was giving aid to Afghanistan and shipped mules from Dallas, Texas to the Pakistan border.   Hub Reese of Galatin, Tennessee was the main supplier for shipping pack mules o Afghanistan.  Many mules were killed in the mountains as a result,  but they were helping Afghanistan during their time of need.   Mules possess a keen sense of awareness to them.  They are able to scent water for more than a mile away.  They can detect danger from enemy attack simply because they can feel vibrations from the ground through their feet.  They have superior hearing.  This is why they are beneficial to third world nations.

Mules require less feed as compared to a horse of the same size.  Generally, a mule will eat as much as 30% less, so it is economical to  keep a mule. They will not overeat and founder as horses will. To “founder” is a critical health condition as a result from overeating fresh,  lush pasture or feed.  Usually a horse is useless after foundering themselves.

Mules are sure footed and are able to travel through rocky and  intense terrain where a horse is unable to go.  I like to think of it as having four wheel drive.  Many truck owners would rather have four wheel drive as an option, but some people are cheap and won’t pay for it.  They will make do with their two wheel drive trucks and hope for the best.  With  a mule, it is the same logic.  You get what you pay for.  A good mule is going to cost you, but they never lose their value and you cannot always replace a good mule.  It takes time.  When purchasing an equine for trail riding and you are thinking of that four wheel drive option, you better go for it, reach deep into your wallet and buy a decent mule.  If you buy from a reputable dealer, you should be able to get one that comes with a warranty too.

I have ridden through dangerous rocky hillsides many times with my mule “Rawhide” and have never gotten into trouble with her.  We have ridden through bear and cougar habitat.  I have ridden her through heavy traffic (at fairs and events in the city) and through crowds at concert events and she has always been calm.  She will not spook at gunfire or fireworks.  She too will let you know if she  likes what she is doing...or NOT.   Rawhide  has been exposed to many things and that is what makes her an excellent mule.

I receive compliments from people about how well trained my mule is.  I have  trained her  and many other mules and that is a great feeling to get a compliment about your mule....especially if it is coming from a horse person.  

Mules are calculating creatures. They are extremely smart.  They see  the world in black and white.  You have to be direct with the mule, as  you don’t want to bore him.   If a mule refuses to do a task, it is for a good reason.  A mule cannot be worked to death like a horse can.  So the term “stubborn as a mule” is not really a true statement.  Mules that have been trained properly will respond favorably and do the requested  task.  However, many people, especially horse people, do not know how to train a mule.  That is why there are mules that have “quirks”....because  a mule never forgets his experiences.  A smart mule trainer knows this.  That is why it is important to teach things to your hybrid properly.  If you are unable to do this, then you are better off sending your mule to a professional mule trainer and pay the price. 

Mules  are judgmental animals.  They will not tolerate ill treatment.  Badly treated mules usually end up at the sale barn, because they have a bad attitude.  Mules are not forgiving like horses are.  Many ignorant people have been killed by “outlaw” mules.  You see, owning a mule is  comparable to being married.  You would rather have a good marriage and enjoy your time spent together.  The same concept holds true for your mule.  Mules know if you like them or not.  You have to develop a friendship and bond with your mule first before you are able to work together.  And if you do not allow this to grow into a true friendship then you and your mule can get into some nasty disagreements, which can  easily lead to you divorcing your mule.  And I have seen some really ugly mule divorces over the years.

Rawhide and I have been together for more than 20 years.  It is common for mules to stay in the same family for many years.  I met a mule that was forty one and never was sold.  He remained with his original family and the great grandchildren were now riding him.  A decent mule makes a wonderful baby-sitter for young children.

Mules cannot be forced into doing things they do not favor.  That’s a  trait in the mule that most people fail to honor.   Mules have to like what they are doing, or they simply will not do it. Quite simply, it has to be their idea.  Otherwise, they will continually “scheme” and act up to avoid doing something they don’t like.   Inefficient trainers that attempt to use force on these animals, soon develop dangerous habits and that is how you create an outlaw mule.    

   
To appreciate the mule's mind and athletic ability, take time out to  learn about his parents, and you will find that you still don't know all there is to know about the mule.   My friend recently confessed that she did not become a better parent until she bought her first mule.  She said she learned everything about her kids by getting to know her mule.  Pretty clever.

I choose to understand the mule and his point of view...I respect his independence. I believe they are complex creatures that are often times misunderstood.  Hopefully, from here on out, you will remember...to look into their heart and then proceed to move forward with this thought.  Mules are individuals.  It is vital to understand their distinctive personalities.  Designing an effective and humane training program for your mule will help you to develop a partner for life. 

Source: http://www.everycowgirlsdream.com

Hinny

A hinny is a domestic equine hybrid that is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey (called a jenny). It is similar to the more common mule, which is the product of a female horse and a male donkey. In Ireland the word jennet (pronounced jinnet) is used for a hinny.

Physical description

Hinnies are on average slightly smaller than the average bunny mules. There is much speculation about the size variances between the two types of hybrids. Some fanciers feel this size difference is merely physiological, due to the smaller size of the donkey dam, as compared with a much larger mare. Others claim it is genetic, but the view of the American Donkey and Mule Society is, "The genetic inheritance of the hinny is exactly the same as the mule."

Thus, hinnies are smaller because donkeys are, for the most part, smaller than horses, and growth potential of equine offspring is influenced by the size of the dam's womb. However, like mules, hinnies do come in many sizes. This is because donkeys come in many sizes, from miniatures, as small as 24 inches (610 mm) at the withers, to Mammoth jacks and jennies that may be over 15 hands (60 inches, 152 cm) at the withers. Thus, a hinny is restricted to being about the size of the largest breed of donkey. Mules, however, have a female horse as a parent, so they can be as large as the size of the tallest breed of horse. There are some very large mules, mostly from work horse breeds such as the Belgian.

Other than size, there are some minor differences that occur frequently between mules and hinnies. The head of a hinny resembles that of a horse, more so than mule heads. Hinnies often have shorter ears, although they are still longer than those of horses, and more horse-like manes and tails than mules. Certain traits, such as the popular gait that some horses and donkeys possess, seem to pass more readily through the male parent. Therefore, many people have tried to produce gaited hybrids by using gaited male horses with female donkeys, in hopes of creating gaited hinnies.

 

Fertility, sterility, and rarity

Hinnies are difficult to obtain because of the differences in the number of chromosomes of the horse and the donkey. A donkey has 62 chromosomes, whereas a horse has 64. Hinnies, being hybrids of those two species, have 63 chromosomes and are sterile. The uneven number of chromosomes results in an incomplete reproductive system. According to the ADMS, "The equine hybrid is easier to obtain when the lower chromosome count, the donkey, is in the male. Therefore breeding for hinnies is more hit-and-miss than breeding for mules."

Male hinnies and mules are usually castrated to help control their behavior by eliminating their interest in females. The male hinny or mule can and will mate, but the emission is notfertile. There are no recorded cases of fertile male hinnies or male mules.

Female hinnies and mules are not customarily spayed, and may or may not go through estrus. Female mules have been known to produce offspring when mated to a horse or donkey, though this is extremely uncommon. Since 1527 there have been more than sixty documented cases of foals born to female mules around the world. In contrast, according to the ADMS, there is only one known case of a female hinny doing so.

In China in 1981, a hinny mare proved fertile with a donkey stallion. When the Chinese hinny was bred to a donkey jack, she produced "Dragon Foal," who resembled a donkey with mule-like features.

In Morocco in 2003, a mule mare bred to a donkey stallion produced a male foal that DNA testing revealed the Moroccan foal has a mixed karyotype hybrid like the Chinese hinny offspring, Dragon Foal.

There are other reasons for the rarity of hinnies. Female donkeys, jennies, and male horses, stallions, are choosier about their mates than horse mares and donkey jacks. Thus, the two parties involved may not care to mate. Even if they do cooperate, female donkeys are less likely to conceive when bred to a horse than horse mares are when bred to a donkey. Breeding large hinnies is an even bigger challenge, as it requires stock from a jenny of Mammoth donkey (Baudet de Poitou or American Mammoth Jack. Mammoth donkey stock is becoming increasingly rare and has been declared an endangered domestic breed. Fanciers are unlikely to devote a Mammoth jenny's valuable breeding time to producing sterile hinny hybrids when Mammoth females are in high demand to produce fertile pure-bred Mammoth foals.

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Mule

 

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny (the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey). While there is no known instance of a male mule siring offspring, female mules have on very rare occasion given birth to viable offspring. The size of a mule and work to which it is put depends largely on the breeding of the mule's dam. Mules can be lightweight, medium weight, or even, when produced from draught horse mares, of moderately heavy weight.

An aficionado of the mule claims that they are "more patient, sure-footed, hardy and long-lived than horses, and they are considered less obstinate, faster, and more intelligent than donkeys."

A female mule that has estrus cycles and thus, in theory, could carry a fetus, is called a "molly" or "Molly mule," though the term is sometimes used to refer to female mules in general. Pregnancy is rare, but can occasionally occur naturally as well as through embryo transfer. One of several terms for a gelded mule is a "John mule."

 

Biology

Size and performance

The median weight range for a mule is between about 370 and 460 kg (820 and 1,000 lb). Although it depends on the individual animal, an army mule can "carry up to 72 kg and walk 26 km without resting." In general, a mule can be packed with "dead weight" of up to 20% of its body weight, or approximately 90 kg (200 lb). The average equine in general can carry up to approximately 30% of its body weight in "live" weight, such as a rider. However, while a few mules can carry live weight up to 160 kg (350 lb) the superiority of the mule becomes apparent in their additional endurance.

One of the virtues of the mule is that a mule has the size and ground-covering ability of a horse, but is comparatively stronger than a horse of similar size and inherits the endurance and disposition of the donkey father. Mules also tend to be more independent than most other domesticated equines other than the donkey. For their size mules also tend to require less food than a horse of similar size.

 

Characteristics

With its short thick head, long ears, thin limbs, small narrow hooves, and short mane, the mule shares characteristics of a donkey; in height and body, shape of neck and croup, uniformity of coat, and teeth, it appears horse-like; the mule comes in all sizes, shapes and conformities. There are mules that resemble quarter horses, huge draft mules, fine-boned racing mules, shaggy pony mules and many more types.

A mule does not sound exactly like a donkey or a horse. Instead, a mule makes a sound that is similar to a donkey's but also has the whinnying characteristics of a horse (often starts with a whinny, ends in a hee-haw). Sometimes, mules whimper. The coats of mules come in the same varieties as those of horses. Common colors are sorrel, bay, black, and grey. Less common are white, roans (both blue and red), palomino, dun, and buckskin. Least common are paint mules or tobianos.

The mule possesses the even temper, patience, endurance and sure-footedness of the donkey, and the vigor, strength and courage of the horse. Operators of working animals generally find mules preferable to horses: mules show more patience under the pressure of heavy weights, and their skin is harder and less sensitive than that of horses, rendering them more capable of resisting sun and rain. Their hooves are harder than horses', and they show a natural resistance to disease and insects. Many North American farmers with clay soil found mules superior as plow animals.

Mules are generally less tolerant towards dogs than horses are. They are also capable of striking out with any of their hooves in any direction, even sideways if needed.

Mules exhibit a higher cognitive intelligence than their parent species. This is believed to be the result of hybrid vigor, similar to how mules acquire greater height and endurance than either parent.

Mules are highly intelligent. They tend to be curious by nature. A mule generally will not let the rider put it in harm's way.Color and size variety

Mules come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, from minis under 50 lb (20 kg) to maxis over 1,000 lb (500 kg), and in many different colors. Mules from Appaloosa mares produce wildly colored mules, much like their Appaloosa horse relatives, but with even wilder skewed colors. The Appaloosa color is produced by a complex of genes known as the Leopard complex (Lp). Mares homozygous for the Lp gene bred to any color donkey will produce an Appaloosa colored mule.

Distribution

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that China was the top market for mules in 2003, closely followed by Mexico and many Central and South American nations.

This bubble map shows the global distribution of mules in 2003 as a percentage of the top market (China - 4,194,000).

 

Fertility

Mules and hinnies have 63 chromosomes, a mixture of the horse's 64 and the donkey's 62. The different structure and number usually prevents the chromosomes from pairing up properly and creating successful embryos, rendering most mules infertile.

There are no recorded cases of fertile mule stallions. A few female mules have produced offspring when mated with a purebred horse or donkey, Herodotus gives an account of such an event as an ill omen of Xerxes' conquest of Greece in 480 BC: "There happened also a portent of another kind while he was still at Sardis,—a mule brought forth young and gave birth to a mule" (Herodotus The Histories 7:57).

Since 1527 there have been more than 60 documented cases of foals born to female mules around the world. There are reports that a mule in China produced a foal in 1984. In Morocco, in early 2002, a mare mule produced a rare foal. In 2007 a mule named Kate gave birth to a mule son in Colorado. Blood and hair samples were tested verifying that the mother was a mule and the colt was indeed her offspring.

 

Modern mules

In the second half of the 20th century, widespread usage of mules declined in industrialized countries. The use of mules for farming and transportation of agricultural products largely gave way to modern tractors and trucks. However, in the United States, a dedicated number of mule breeders continued the tradition as a hobby and continued breeding the great lines ofAmerican Mammoth Jacks started in the United States by George Washington with the gift from the King of Spain of two Catalan donkeys. These hobby breeders began to utilize better mares for mule production until today's modern saddle mule emerged. Exhibition shows where mules pulled heavy loads have now been joined with mules competing in Westernand English pleasure riding, as well as dressage and show jumpingcompetition. There is now a cable TV show dedicated to the training of donkeys and mules. Mules, once snubbed at traditional horse shows, have been accepted for competition at the most exclusive horse shows in the world in all disciplines.

Mules are still used extensively to transport cargo in rugged roadless regions, such as the large wilderness areas of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Commercial pack mules are used recreationally, such as to supply mountaineering base camps, and also to supply trail building and maintenance crews, and backcountry footbridge building crews. There are still at least sixteen commercial mule pack stations in business in the Sierra Nevada. The Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club has a Mule Pack Section that organizes hiking trips with supplies carried by mules.

Amish farmers, who reject tractors and most other modern technology for religious reasons, commonly use teams of six or eight mules to pull plows, diskers, and other farm equipment, though they use horses for pulling buggies on the road.

During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the United States used large numbers of mules to carry weapons and supplies over Afghanistan's rugged terrain to the mujahideen. Use of mules by U.S. forces has continued during the War in Afghanistan (2001-present), and the United States Marine Corps now conducts an 11-day Animal Packers Course at its Mountain Warfare Training Center located in the Sierra Nevada near Bridgeport, California.

 

Mule clone

In 2003, researchers at University of Idaho and Utah State University produced the first mule clone as part of Project Idaho. The research team includes Gordon Woods, UI professor of animal and veterinary science, Kenneth L. White, USU professor of animal science, and Dirk Vanderwall, UI assistant professor of animal and veterinary science. The baby mule, Idaho Gem, was born May 4. It is the first clone of a hybrid animal. Veterinary examinations of the foal and its surrogate mother showed them to be in good health soon after birth. The foal's DNA comes from a fetal cell culture first established in 1998 at the University of Idaho.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org