Know your mules from your hinnies? Kayna Prescott, from The Donkey Sanctuary, takes a look at what mules and hinnies are and why they are often chosen as a work animal <\/p>
Both hinnies and mules are hybrids, a result of two species breeding together<\/a> – in these two cases it’s a horse and donkey breeding together. But, I hear you say, ‘doesn’t that make them the same then?’ Well the answer is not quite.<\/p> A mule is produced when a donkey stallion mates with a female horse. Mules often look very horse-like with the donkey’s head and big ears.<\/p> A hinny is produced when a horse stallion mates with a donkey mare. \u00a0They\u00a0look\u00a0more like horse-like, but very similar to mules.<\/p> Read how donkeys differ to horses<\/a><\/p> When it comes to vocalisation mules and hinnies have the best of both worlds: they\u00a0show a combination of the\u00a0neigh like a horse and bray like a donkey, at the same time. And not only that, but they have also been recorded\u00a0wuffling,\u00a0a quick intake and expel of air, between a neigh and\u00a0a bray. In short, they are what you might call multilingual.<\/p> Structural differences between the chromosomes inherited from each parent make it\u00a0virtually impossible\u00a0for\u00a0mules and hinnies\u00a0to breed between themselves.\u00a0However, in rare\u00a0circumstances, if mated with a donkey or horse stallion,\u00a0female mules and\u00a0hinnes\u00a0can\u00a0give birth to live\u00a0foals. It is so rare that the Romans had a saying for something that was unlikely to happen,\u00a0\u201cWhen mules foal.\u00a0\u201d<\/p> Yes, both mules and hinnies can be ridden and many compete in show jumping,\u00a0dressage<\/a>\u00a0and endurance events.<\/p> It is important to understand and accept that mules and hinnies are not like horses. They show characteristics from both donkeys and horses, and their behaviour can shift between a donkey response or a horse response. <\/p> They are intelligent and very\u00a0trainable,\u00a0but they can be a challenge to understand and work with.\u00a0Mules can be bigger than donkeys, they have a sense of\u00a0self-preservation\u00a0which helps them work in challenging environments and can show great athleticism like a horse.<\/p> Mules\u00a0are often used as\u00a0draught<\/a>\u00a0animals and, due to having characteristics from both species, are often able to take on tough terrain horses and donkeys\u00a0find challenging.\u00a0<\/p> The charity,\u00a0The Donkey Sanctuary<\/a>, says: “Mules and hinnies\u00a0can show great endurance\u00a0and\u00a0hardiness\u00a0when\u00a0pulling loads\u00a0and\u00a0healthy mules can\u00a0carry heavier weights than donkeys or horses of a similar size.<\/p> Because of their strength\u00a0and\u00a0trainability\u00a0mules are often grouped together as a pack animal. Teams of 18 to 20 mules used to\u00a0pull a line of wagons\u00a0carrying\u00a0cargo\u00a0become known as mule trains.<\/p> The phrase ‘stubborn as a mule’\u00a0is thought to be\u00a0inspired\u00a0by the\u00a0mules\u2019\u00a0perceived\u00a0stubbornness\u00a0but\u00a0experts at\u00a0The Donkey Sanctuary<\/a>\u00a0says this reputation is undeserved.<\/p> “The belief that mules and hinnies are stubborn is a misconception,” says the charity. “They are clever and very trainable. Being quick to learn, they can pick up good and unwanted habits with equal speed. The misconception that a mule is stubborn may have developed\u00a0from\u00a0their donkey\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0sense of self-preservation\u00a0and an\u00a0unwillingness to do anything which they\u00a0perceive\u00a0as dangerous\u00a0which causes them to wait and consider if a situation is safe before proceeding.”<\/p>What is a mule?<\/h2>
What is a hinny?<\/h2>
What sound do mules and hinnies make?<\/h2>
Can mules and hinnies breed?<\/h2>
Can you ride mules?<\/h2>
What’s a mule train?<\/h2>
Why do we say ‘stubborn as a mule’?<\/h2>