WDMS - About Mules & Donkeys

Definitions General Info Mules Only Donkeys Only Health Issues Riding & Equipment Issues Club Library

Health Issues
	Colic by Sue Stuska EdD
	Cushing's Syndrome in Equines Biomedica Laboratories, Inc.
	Equine Cushing's Disease Michigan State University
	Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) USDA Veterinary Services
	Equine Infectious Anemia & the Coggins Test by Robert N. Oglesby, DVM Equestrian Insurance Group of Allen Financial Insurance
	Coggins Test - Why? by Sue Stuska EdD
	EPM: Opossums as carriers Government of Ontario, Canada
	EPM
	Laminitis The Laminitis Trust, UK
	Laminitis
	Neonatal Isoerythrolysis and the Mule Foal PDF file *Mules & More*, September 2004
	Equine West Nile Virus Wyeth Pharmaceuticals - Fort Dodge Animal Health
	West Nile Virus Info Lodi Veterinary Hospital - Lodi, WI Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

	Poisonous Weeds of Pastures & Forages by Jerry Doll - Weed Science University of Wisconsin
	Poisonous Plants Cornell University Poisonous Plants Informational Database
	General Horse Maturation Info by Dr. Deb Bennett Best age to start under saddle and why
	Body Parts of the Horse Identification chart & descriptions
	Merck Veterinary Manual Comprehensive Resource for Animal Care

Definitions

Burro

Small members of the ass family from Mexican and Spanish stock.

Donkey

Nickname for members of the ass family (Equus asinus)

Donkey sizes

Miniature: < 36" Standard: 36+"-48"
Lg standard: 48+"-56"
Mammoth: > 56"

Height at the withers when fully grown.

Hands high

1 hand = 4 inches
Traditional height measurement unit for equine, taken at the withers

Hinny

Cross between a male horse (stallion) and a female donkey (jenny)

Hybrid

Result of breeding animals of different species. Horse + Donkey = Mule or Hinny. These hybrids are sterile and cannot reproduce because the horse has 64 chromosomes and the donkey has 62.

Jack
Jackass

The male of the ass family

Jennet
Jenny

Female of the ass family

John
or Horse mule

Common term for adult male mule

Mare

Adult female horse

Molly
or Mare mule

Common term for adult female mule

Mule

Cross between a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare)

Stallion

Adult male horse

Withers

The prominent ridge where the neck and the back join. Height is measured vertically from the withers to the ground. Donkeys and mules usually don't have much withers.

Lots more:

Longear Lingo
American Donkey & Mule Society

More info & training materials available for members in the
Club Library

General Info:

Donkey/Horse Hybrids: All About Mules!
American Donkey & Mule Society info pages
Excellent info & lots of links re: all facets of donkeys and mules

Marvelous Mules, Delightful Donkeys: Cheers for the Longears
Mother Earth News - Dec/Jan 2003 by K.C. Compton
Interesting article discusses history, characteristics, temperament, uses and
some myths re: mules and donkeys

MULES Only:

The Mule: Origin, History & Characteristics
International Museum of the Horse

The Mule: A History

PDF file
by Theodore H. Savory
Scientific American Offprint, Dec. 1970
An extensive & fascinating history

Use of mules in ancient times - BC
by Cecile Michel

PDF file
The perdum-mule, a mount for distinguished persons in Mesopotamia during the first half of the second millenium BC (includes maps + pics)
[Man & Animal in Antiquity, Conference at Swedish Institute in Rome, September 2002]

So You Want To Buy A Mule . . .
For Sale: She Rides, Drives & Packs
by Steve Edwards

Versatility of Mules
North American Saddle Mule Association (NASMA)

Why Mules?
Why choose a mule over a horse? (on the Rural Heritage site)

DONKEYS Only:

The Donkey: Origin, History & Characteristics
International Museum of the Horse

Jackstock - Fathers of All Mules
North American Saddle Mule Association (NASMA)
Nice descriptions & photos of donkey breeds and characteristics

Versatility of Donkeys
North American Saddle Mule Association (NASMA)

About the Miniature Donkey
National Miniature Donkey Association
General info, care & history of mini donkeys (the smallest)

American Mammoth Jackstock
Blue Mountain Farm (LaGrande, OR)
Lots of information, history & photos re: mammoth donkeys (the largest)

Poitou Donkey - Unusual, rare & endangered donkey breed

Vintage/Old Time Photos of Donkeys
Historical photos of donkeys and their uses

Riding & Equipment Issues:

Crupper or Britchen
Sitting on the Neck of My Mule by Steve Edwards