MULES! I need info quickly please.

Enfys

Enfys

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I have been offered a 13.2h lady mule as a permanent companion for my stallion (15h).

Good idea or bad?

I thought I'd do a lot more research first (and where better to start than here eh?) before I decided.

Poor boy can't go in with his usual wives for various reasons (until next Spring), a gelding is out of the question. He can see the girls, but has a walkway between them, so can't touch.

Right, I need info please. Of course I can Google it all, and intend to, but personal experience talks volumes.

As you can see, I don't even know what a she-mule (jenny?
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) is called until I Google it.

Do mules make good companions for horses?

I know that they are supposed to be sterile, but do they come into season?

Presumably mule management is much like horse management regarding health and feeding? Or is it?

Opinions, Thankyou.
 
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Enfys, if you wait a while I'm sure a lady called Jinglejoys will come on and give you all the info you could possibly need. She is something of an expert in mule matters!
 
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mules are supposed to be great jumpers, but putting a female in with a stallion bit of a winde up for him i would think!!

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would agree if it was a mare of the horsey type,if they are sterile then if she is not coming into season will he really know the difference anyway???????????????????????


Also they are corking jumpers i would love a mule nearly bought one,but no nothing about them so wanted to learn more first.

Good job seen as im so blonde i was confused why you cant breed them pmsl.
 
I have a feeling they are usually sterile but occasionally can be fertile! That could prove interesting!!

What if your stalllion is a racist?!?!?!?
 
I don't think they come in season; if they were to then they would be fertile and as they generally aren't, they generally don't, I'd imagine?
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Apart from there being about a million to one chance of you getting the fertile one of the bunch, it sounds like a good idea.
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Female mules do come into season, just like a horse. They are all sterile though and cannot become pregnant.

Mules are just like horses, but more so. So a well behaved mule will be an absolute sweetheart, but a stroppy one will be a complete b**ch.

If you start off with the same same management principles as for a horse, you won't go too far wrong.

J08 - A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. The much rarer offspring of a male horse and a female donkey is called a hinny.
 
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As you can see, I don't even know what a she-mule (jenny?
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) is called until I Google it.

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I thought "She-mules" were called Mollies or is that Mollys!!!
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I gotta mule
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Well, I don't, I just sold him two weeks ago, They are very tough, more intelligent than horses and even donkeys, and do not takes fools gladly. 99% of mares are infertile. Very few of them respect electric fencing.
Once they trust you they will protect you with their lives.
Very rare they get sick or sorry or even injured, amazingly tough feet, do not generally need any extra feeding.
Ours was absolutely adorable, and loved nothing more than having a fuss made of him.
I would NOT put a female mule out with a stallion though.
PS. They are 100% accurate with their kicks and kick far harder and faster than any horse, in any direction, without warning.
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And they don't eeyore
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!!
 
We have a mule at the yard and he's a real character.Likes to roll on the sand track - whather he has a jockey or not
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Can also be a stroppy sod but loves cuddles and will put his head on your shoulder for one lol.

My youngest is learning to ride on him
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I figure if he can make the stubborn g!t do what he wants he *shouldn't* have many problems when he grows a bit and can ride one of the ponies
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We have a muley called very unoriginally Muley! He is as tough as old boots and a real character. He was gelded as although technically sterile they would still have all the hormones associated with being entire.

They can look after themseleves and I would be concerned that any interested stallion would become the victim of a very well-timed kick if his advances were not welcomed.

Lady mules have foaled in the past, although VERY rare.
Muley has his feet done and is wormed with the rest so in terms of maintenance he is not cheap but he does appear to live on fresh air so requires no hard feed over the winter.
 
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Thankyou all.

The offer was kind of sprung on me in the first place. The decision has been taken out of my hands anyway as the mule in question has now gone to another home, with other mules.

I don't think I would have gone for it anyway after reading your comments, not as a companion. Having a mule here sounds like it would have been an experience though.
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