What you Need to Know About Mules

What is a mule?
A mule is a cross between the horse or pony and the domestic donkey.  The term 'mule' can be used when you cross of male donkey over female horse or a female donkey over a 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. Mules 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.

What Do Mules Look Like?
The mule should have the body of a horse with the extremities of a donkey. The most noticeable are the long ears, a short thin mane, which can stand upright like a donkey's or be a little longer and flop over. The mules tail has short 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 tail.

The withers are very low to non-existent, the mules back is flat with a goose rump.  The mules body is typically flat-sided with weaker quarters than the horse, and also is narrower and less deep-shouldered. The legs are, like the donkey's, straight, with small, hard, dense, upright, straight-sided hooves. The mules head slightly narrower than the donkey's.   The eye is generally like a donkeys.

What Does a Hinny Look Like?

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.

Mules' temperament
Mules are very clever, with a talent for self-preservation.  He is very careful looking after his rider and himself in all sorts of situations.  Stubborness arises when the handler is not clear in his leadership.  Having a good deal of experience handling all typses of horses and/or donkeys should give you the necessary skills to train a mule and therefore avoid some of that famous stubbornness that they are legendary for.  They do take time for trust to develop with you so take your time and be patient and more importantly be a good leader.

Due to being sensitive Mules can be known to kick out when they feel threatened, so be careful.  Persuasion works better than bullying a Mule. 

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.

How Big Do Mule Grow?
The height of a mule varies from about 32" to 18hh plus, depending on the size of the parents.  Most mules are under 13.2hh.

Can I breed from my Mule?
Mules all have the normal sexual characteristics, both physical and temperamental, however, males are always infertile, and females are normally so - fertile mules are very rare indeed. Males should be castrated to avoid them becoming aggressive.  Females do come into season but it may, or may not be regular.  They are rarely 'mareish'.

What Can I Use My Mule 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.  The Mule is very versatile as long as you get their training right.

How Do I Breed a Mule?
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 what you want in your mule.  Both parents should have great temperaments. A donkey can serve a mare up to 3hh larger than himself.  Some donkeys will not serve mares, however you can use artificial insemination.

What does My Mule Need?

The care for your mule is similar to horses, sufficient food (don't let them get too fat), clean water and shelter.  They will need regular hoof trims although they do not need to be seen by the farrier as often as a horse might.  This is due to their hooves being very tough and slow growing. 

Mules often grow wolf teeth.  It is important to remove them so they do not interfere with the bit.  Additionally getting his teeth seen avoids your mule getting sharp edges which will impede on then eating.

In General

Mules are a pleasure and a challenge to own.  Hardy, wise and intelligent, given the right handling and work your mule will go to serve you for many years faithfully and happily.

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