Mules
We have a small but much-loved group of mules in our care here at the Sanctuary.
A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse (a cross between a male horse and female donkey is known as a hinny.) They can be anything from 32in to 18hh plus depending on the size of their parents. British mules tend to be small (under 13.2hh) because British donkeys are generally quite small.
A mule has the body of a horse and the extremities of a donkey – i.e. a mule will have long ears, short thin mane, and a tail which has short hair at the top but is longer than a donkey’s tail. They will have straight legs and very small, upright hooves like a donkey, while their head is similar to a donkey’s too (but narrower).
Mules are often thought of as being stubborn, but actually they are just quite sensitive and untrusting of humans at first. They need to learn that you don’t want to harm them. Once trained, a mule can be very kind, patient and tolerant. However, a badly trained mule can be very difficult to manage! What can appear as stubbornness is actually just self-preservation. Mules are very clever and sure-footed and will simply not put themselves (or their handler) at risk – a very useful characteristic for a rider!
According to the British Mule Society – “Mules rarely become ill or lame or suffer wounds; can withstand extremes of temperature, can live on frugal rations, have exceptional stamina…and are extremely sure-footed….It is not for nothing that mules are chosen rather than horses to take tourists down the Grand Canyon.”
