A mule is a cross between a horse and donkey. However, it's a cross between a mare (a female horse) and a jack (a male donkey, thus the name jackass).
Whereas donkeys have flat backs, a mule's is slightly curved, like a horse's but less exaggerated. Mules are bigger than donkeys, taking their size after horses. Mules and horses both reach about 60 inches—or 15 hands—from hoof to withers (shoulders) whereas donkeys stand only about 45 inches at the withers.
A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse. The male mule is called a jack and the female is a jennet or a jenny.
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (called a jack) and a female horse (called a mare). Mules inherit desirable qualities from both donkeys and horses; from the horse they inherit strength and stamina, and like donkeys, mules are generally patient, sure-footed, intelligent and have an even temper.
Mules can be either male or female, but, because of the odd number of chromosomes, they can't reproduce. However, a male mule should be gelded in order to make him a safe and sociable animal. Except for the long ears, mules look very similar to horses, but their muscle composition is different.
Those mismatched chromosomes make it hard to make viable sperm and eggs. So mules are sterile because horse and donkey chromosomes are just too different.
But combined with the dissimilarities in the horse-donkey chromosomes, the end result is usually — but not always — sterile offspring. While there are no recorded cases of fertile mule stallions, there have been a few dozen cases of mule mares giving birth after mating with a horse or donkey.
A mule has 63 chromosomes, intermediate between the 64 of the horse and the 62 of the donkey. Mules are usually infertile for this reason. Pregnancy is rare, but can occasionally occur naturally, as well as through embryo transfer. A few mare mules have produced offspring when mated with a horse or donkey stallion.
Breeding: A donkey bred to a donkey produces a donkey. Donkey jacks are crossed on horse mares to produce mules, while the opposite cross (stallion x donkey jennet) gives a hinny. There are few pure breeds of donkey in the United States, where they are known by their sizes and types.
A hinny is a domestic equine hybrid, the offspring of a male horse (a stallion) and a female donkey (a jenny).
The most likely reason that mares lie down after mating is because they are overwhelmed and need to rest to bring their heart rate back down to normal levels. Stallions can be aggressive and hyperactive when courting and mating, and horses are socially sensitive creatures.
Mules can live up to 50 years, with an average lifespan of 30-40 years.
Gelding = castrated stallion/jack. Hinny = hybrid of a stallion and a jenny. Horse Mule = proper term for a male mule. Jack = intact male donkey.
Improved welfare for mules and hinnies is important given the importance of the human–animal bond;once the bond is present, one should work with the animal's behavior and not against it. Mules are intelligent, not naturally aggressive, and positive interactions can improve behavior and ultimately, welfare.
Mules have inherited the best qualities of both, being larger and faster-moving than donkeys but less picky about food and stabling than horses, and cheaper to keep. They will pull a cart or carry packs across their backs, and can be ridden.
Pound for pound mules are also stronger than horses and with better stamina and agility. They also are superior to donkeys in that they are typically much larger than donkeys, so the overall weight they can carry is greater.
The horse has 64 chromosomes (32 pairs), and the donkey has 62 (31 pairs). When they are mated, the mule receives 63 chromosomes (32 from the horse and 31 from the donkey). During meiosis, the chromosomes are not in pairs, and, as their number is halved, the sex cells usually end up without a complete set.
A cross between a zebra and a donkey is known as a zenkey, zonkey (a term also used for donkeys in Tijuana, Mexico, painted as zebras for tourists to pose with them in souvenir photos), zebrass, or zedonk. Other names also include zebadonk, zebret, and zebronkey.
It is well known that horses and donkeys do occasionally mate with cattle (e.g., see videos below). Such mixed matings are fairly common events on ranches and other places where these animals are likely to come into regular contact.
Mules, the offspring of male donkeys and female horses, are typically sterile.
Key Physical Differences Between Mules And Horses
Mules are smaller and stockier than horses, but tend to be much stronger! The most distinctive difference between mules and horses is the mule's status as a genetic hybrid. Like most hybridized animals, mules are sterile.
Most documented cases of mules/hinnies being fertile have been in the female mule (molly/mare mule). A majority of male mules/hinnies are castrated, but one case of a fertile hinny producing live, mature spermatozoa was documented at Texas A&M in the 1950s. Also, mare mules have been used successfully as recipients.
Mules - when a donkey and horse mate
They combine characteristics of both parents: large body shapes and smooth coats similar to a horse, with donkey-like long ears, small sturdy hooves, short manes and thick heads. Mules benefit from 'hybrid vigor'.
When Donkeys Mate with Other Donkeys. Donkeys mate like several other animals in the animal kingdom do. All you need is a willing male and a willing female, and they'll know what to do. The male donkey positions himself behind the female donkey and raises up on his hind legs to seal the deal.
Misconception: People who have Down syndrome cannot have children. Reality: It's true that a person with Down syndrome may have significant challenges in rearing a child. But women who have Down syndrome are fertile and can give birth to children.