About Mules

What is a Mule?

A Mule is a cross between a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare).  Male (Mare) mules are more commonly called Johns and female (Mare) mules are more commonly called Mollies.  Both male & female mules are sterile and can't reproduce.

Mules comes in all shapes, sizes and colors depending on the breed of horse and donkey they were bred from, resembling the mix of their parents. Each mule has a unique bray - a mix between a horse's whinny and a donkey's bray.  Mules have long ears, short manes and large muscular bodies.

Mules are smart, patient, sure-footed, strong and courageous.  Their skin is harder and less sensitive than a horse's so they can tolerate sun and rain better.  Their hooves are harder than a horse's and have a natural resistanse to disease and insects.  Mules are highly intelligent and curious, and they like people. A mule is a survivor and will not let their rider put it in harm's way.  People talk of mules being stubborn, but they're not - they're smart and won't do anything that might cause themselves or their rider harm.  The only time they get stubborn is when they are mistreated.

What is a Saddle Mule?

A Saddle Mule is bred from mares of riding horse breeds and vary in size from about 12hh to over 17hh.  They are also known as Riding Mules, Trail Riding Mules, Backcountry Trail Mules and Hunting Mules.

What is a Gaited Mule?

Gaited Mules are bred from Saddle-Gaited horses such as Foxtrotter, Saddlebred and Tennessee Walker.  They are known for their smooth ride and are best suited to flatland trail riding.

What is a Pack Mule?

Also known as Ranch Mules or Work Mules, the Pack Mule is bred from heavy work horses with some draft horses in their blood-line.

What is a Draft Mule?

Draft Mules are bred from the large Draft Horse mares, such a Clydesdales, Shire and Belgian Draft Horses.  Draft Mules are the largest type of mule and used for the same type of work as a Draft Horse.

Measuring the height of a Mule

As with all equines, their height is measured in Hands.  A Hand is 4 inches, so if the mules is 15 hh (hands high) it is 60 inches.  If the mule is between 14 and 15 hh, then the difference is shown in inches, so 14.2 hh would be 58 inches (14 hh - 56 inches, plus 2 inches).  The mule is measured using a measuring stick with a level crossbar and the measurement is taken from the ground to the top of the withers (the last hair of the mane), this would be the highest part of the mule when their head is down.