The Difference between Horses and Mules

A general overview on the basic differences between horses and mules, and the advantages each might bring to a given situation

[thinkertoo]

Just a little story about an event that happened to me. 8 years ago, i bought a 10 acre planted pines property and was walking along the fence when I saw a donkey and some cows on the other side. The donkey had a clump of barbed wire wrapped around his ankle trailing off about 20 feet. I didn't know ANYTHING about donkeys so I tried to reach through the fence to his hoof to get it off but he was out of reach. He moved towards me, sliding the affected leg as close to the fence as he could to allow me to undo it. I spent about a minute working the knotted wire off of his ankle while he stood patiently still until I finally got it off. His ankle and lower leg were raw and bleeding and had some pus at the wound. He ambled off and I dragged the barb wire back to my side and took it to the landfill. I thought that was the end of it. The very next day, I was dragging a bale of hay to the far side of the field to feed some other donkeys and cows ( the owner of the property was a jerk who wouldn't feed them well ) and here comes Jack ( that was the name I gave him ) He came right up to me, and leaned his shoulder against my right hip and just stayed that way for a short while. Don't ever tell me that donkeys can't speak or say Thank You !. That was the beginning of our friendship since then. He's been a GREAT friend. I will always have a special place in my heart for Jack.

[james-wefr]

I had a pair of mules I used for my wagon. I was having a problem with one of them. My dad walked over and said Son you have to be smarter than what you are working. So I listened to him as he grew up working mules and horses. Finally I got them to where I could drop the reins and set in the back of the wagon and talk to them to go where I wanted to go. A friend and I used to go on trail rides. Most of the people had gated horses and after a while they would have trouble keeping up. I kept them in very good shape and fed them well. We went on a short trip one day for 26 miles made a stop for refreshments halfway and it took us 2hrs 16 minutes. The horses showed up 1 1/2 hours later. We also would take them and they would easily make 50 miles a day on trips that we would take camping for a week to 10 days.

[bentnickel]

I'm 72 y/o and just realized I've been a mule my entire life. That explains so many things, that have gone unanswered. :-) ;-)

[pickinscott]

After 40 years and owning probably about 20 different horses and riding in all kinds of different terrain, I bought my first mule a couple of months ago. Be damned, I love this fellow and I think he's probably overall about the best animal I've ever owned. 🙂

"The mule is smarter than the rider." Yeah, I can see that. A lot of what you said gives me pause for thought. Thanks.

[packsaddle]

Once again, you're right on the money. Just a couple of thoughts....I've found that people have trouble with mules when they try to treat them like a horse. You can't do it! They have a completely different mindset. Like you mentioned, you can practically force a horse to do anything. With a mule, you've got to make them think that it's their idea. Another difference...if a horse gets caught in barbed wire, they'll thrash themselves to pieces. With a mule, once she finds out that it hurts, she'll wait there for literally hours until you come and get her out. Also, you were spot on when it comes to the quality of feed. I very, very seldom feed my mules alfalfa. Oh, maybe I'll feed them a grass/alfalfa mix in the winter, but never straight alfalfa. It's too rich for them. I usually just stick with a good quality grass hay. If I do feed them alfalfa, it's like having a bunch of sugared up ten-year olds at a sleep over. I don't need that. Here's another difference on how they think...if you put a horse in a trailer and you happen to have a wreck in that trailer, the horse will always remember the trailer. On the other hand, if that happens with a mule, the mule will remember who put him in...and will eventually retract some retribution.

When it comes to riding in the mountains, going from a horse to a mule is like going to a Cadillac after riding in a Jeep. They're just more comfortable, mostly because they're built differently. Now, let me be clear...a mule is great for what they were invented for. I don't rope calves off my mules. I don't cut cattle with my mules or barrel race. But for rough, steep, rocky, uphill, downhill mountain work, I prefer a mule. That being said, I usually don't lead the pack string with a mule. I use a horse for the exact reason you explained. If there's a minor insurrection in the middle of the string, i.e. a pack slips or an animal gets tangled up or whatever, a horse will let you turn him around and wade into that mess. A mule thinks, "Do I really want to get involved?"

A mule inherits size, athleticism, and often disposition from the mare. It inherits brains, longevity, and toughness from the jack. Now, when the sire is a stallion and the mother is a jennet, you get what is called a "hinney." Why don't we see more hinnies? A couple of reasons. First, for some reason, it's harder for a jennet to conceive when bred to a stallion than it is for a mare to conceive when bred to a jack. Also, the mule has the conformation of the donkey but the disposition of the horse. Whereas the hinny has the conformation of the horse, but the disposition of the donkey. Not a real good combination.

When we talk about longevity, a horse usually starts going "downhill" around age twenty or so. A mule is still going strong into its thirties or sometimes even forties. Of course, a mule develops a little slower both mentally and physically than a horse. When a mule is around six or seven years old, you can almost see the "light" go on and they start to act a little better. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, a mule shouldn't even be born until they're six years old. (By the way, I say that "tongue in cheek.") You'll see that "light" on again when they're around twelve or fourteen. That's when they usually stop playing their mule tricks.

So, why don't we see more people riding mules? One reason is because it's a lot easier finding a gentle horse than it is finding a gentle mule. Second, (and this was true in the 1800's and is still true today) a good mule usually costs about a third more than the average cost of a horse. Also, once someone gets a good mule, they won't be inclined to part with it.

I've rattled on long enough. This is just my two cents worth and it probably isn't even worth that. Great video as always.

[edclay]

We had a mule from the time I can remember until I was around 20 years old. Her name was Pet and was 35 when she died. We used her to plow and do general garden work. Pull the harrow, wagons, sleds and such. That girl was very intelligent to say the least. When working in the family garden she would not nibble, would pivot around at the end of the row so as not to step on the plants, and would work all day, well up until 4 pm. It was like she had a watch because at 4 pm she would stop and not move an inch. Daddy would have to unhitch her from the plow or whatever implement he was using at the time and then he could take her to the barn and take the tack off of her. She would eat, drink, roll around in the dirt and bray like crazy. We did not have fences and she roamed free but never left our property of 50 acres. Another quirk she had; a man could not catch her. If one of us went out to get her she would haul her butt off and run a few feet off, stop, look back to say ha ha. No, but my mother or grandmother could go out and halter her with no problems. I think she knew if one of the guys went out to get her, she had to work in some way. LOL...She was gentle with children as well and growing up I could lay under her hoofs and never fear.
Oh, I forgot, once she was haltered and dressed out to work for the day, she was a hard worker until, like I said 4 pm. She was a great trail rider as well and I have ridden her all over the mountains where we lived. Funny thing she proclaimed herself as the great protector of the other farm animals. She would chase away foxes, coyotes, and other predators. Weird!
Poor old pet died when she was a little more than 35 years old. I will always have a special place in my heart for her.

[rootmeansquared]

A really good description of the difference between a mule and a horse. I’ve had the same mule, Sarah, for about 10 years. Wouldn’t trade her for anything. One of the reasons that I like her so much is she won’t let me do anything stupid. If she says “no” I know I’m missing something and I had better take a closer look.

[billstewart]

Been riding mules for 40+ years and the differences you noted are right on. My current and last mule is trained, dead broke, but ya just never know. We were riding and came across a bit of high water across the road. Maybe 18" deep. She would not across. I had to get off, take off my boots, and wade through. As long as I was the guinea pig, it was fine with her and followed me like a puppy. Mules can be different!!

[fredhorsefeathers]

I don't know how I found you but I was surprised and I havent thought about her for a while but I had a mule given to me for my 11th birthday. She was a palamino, probably about 15 years old at the time. I rode her everywhere. She was sneaky and intellegent but never ever mean or stubborn just like you said I had to learn how to break it down for her and show her exactly what I wanted and wait for her to see it and then she would do whatever I asked. When she was turned out to pasture the first thing she would do everytime was walk the boundry. And you could watch her making her mind up as she did it. She would first walk with her head low to the ground and if she found a spot where there was a dip under the fence she would come back again later. Then she would walk with her nose along the top of the fence and if she found a spot where the wire or board was low she would come back later and hop that fence right at that spot. I mean hop, she would stand still next to the fence pull up her front legs and hop over. Now if she couldn't find a low spot she would go back to the dip she found before and shimmy under- nearly crawling on her belly if she could get her ears under she was good. If I found her out I would yell at her, "you get back in there! Get!" and she would go right back in, then it was time to fix the fence. lol She died around 30 years old. The sweetest old girl, she taught me so much.

[sailiraq]

Years ago I was trail riding alone in the mountains west of Colorado Springs on my mule Luke. The trail narrowed to a foot path that crossed a scree field of small loose rocks with a very precipitous drop off. Halfway across I began to think I’d made a serious mistake but was not at all sure we could turn back on the narrow ledge of a trail.

I put my weight in the stirrups, dropped the reins and said “Luke, you decide whether we should go on or turn around.”

I held my breath while that mule, with the agility of a mountain goat, did a U-turn, and extricated us from what could have become our last ride together.

[adrianaclark]

I was on a mule during a trail ride. I had two horse riders in front of me and both riders knew nothing about horses. All of the animals knew this was a trail ride, and they all knew what to do. Walk calmly and follow the trail no matter what the beginner riders do. Until, the rider in front of me started showing off to the others what he knew about the sadly, was nothing. The horse had no idea what the rider was asking of him and became more and more frustrated. This was about to become dangerous. So help me God, my mule turned his head back to me and looked me dead in the eye. His expression was priceless. Without any signal from me, he pulled alongside the rider in front, and nuzzled the horse, as if to say, "calm down." I told the rider to drop his reins. and when he didn't do it instantly, the mule pulled the reins away from him before I could even do so! I told the rider to dismount, and I dismounted too. I got on the horse and put the rider on the mule. And off we went without a care in the world! It was just unbelievable, and to this day I still can't believe it happened. But, the riders behind be said it was just uncanny!

[KateMcCridhe]

Your example reminded me of a friend from years ago.
He had a big mule (almost as big as my QH/Percheron I had as a kid!), was active in reenactment and trail rides.
One time he was on a trail ride, came up to a river. Mule wouldn't go across. He dropped the reins, thinking what to do. The mule wandered up the bank a few yards and crossed. The river never got deeper than just above her ... ankles (ugh, forgot what that's called).
About half way across, a couple hotshots come charging up the trail, dove right into the river. Water up to their saddle horns.
He told that story as his first example of why he liked mules.
He used the term mule sense as meaning sensible disobedience.

He want a picture painted based on End of the Trail. But instead of a dejected looking horse and man, he wanted a sharp eyed mule with his ears forward, looking for the best trail down, and a confident and relaxed rider sitting the with loose reigns.

[anthonyoloughlin]

From Central London UK. For a start is that sky behind you for real? Amazing. Man you are living. God Bless

[barryjanis]

I had a cousin that was born in 1900, and lived in Woodville, Mississippi. He
purchased a young, Army Surplus Mule from the Government right after WWll.
The mule was used to plow a small family garden and was also used to ride family members, and to check on his cattle. My cousin said that as his pet mules teeth started to fail that he would feed him sweet feed with molasses. Every morning his pet was standing by the gate waiting to be fed. One morning the old mule didn't show up, because he died during the night. Cousin Joe had tears in his eyes as he related the story of his pet mule, and that he was at least 42 yrs old.

[harrycul]

Hey Brother, you are spot on in your assessment of a mule. I’m 72 years old and I have a lot of years behind me working mules but not riding them. Number one on the agenda must be gaining the trust of the mule. If you can’t do that you can’t do anything with him. Once you gain his complete trust he will climb a tree to try and please you. I love my mules. Keep up the good work. With love, Harry.

[tarat]

Came across this video via a reddit post about the Red Dead Redemption 2 video game. Pausing at 3 minutes to say there's just something about your presence and way you speak that makes you incredibly enjoyable and easy to listen to. I also have family in Idaho, near Priest River. I know it's a year later but I hope everything went well with your daughter!

[kathrynhelm]

Although I love equines of any type I am in no way a “horse person”. I found you by browsing and I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I’m a great grandma who loves to learn new things and although I knew the breeding part I did not know their differences. You’re never too old to learn. Thank you. 👍❤️

[veronicamorgan]

Thank you for this simplistic, understandable definition of the differences.

[mruthcowboy]

Thanks. By far the best, simplest explaination of the differences between a mule and a horse. I lived with guys that owned mules and didn’t explain it as well as you just did. Keep on schoolin’

[Shipwright]

I had a miniature mule once, and she was smart as a whip. Always came when you called her by name, even from far away, and she could cut cows from a herd and shepherd them into a pen just by asking her.

"Go get the white one, Bertie." Mmmkay, lemme think it over for a second. Right-o, I'll be back in a few.

Few minutes later, here she comes with the one I asked for right in front of her like a little trooper. Nevermind that steer's several times bigger than her, she's the boss and she isn't going to let it go until it's parked smartly in the pen.

Job well done, a good brushing and a treat well-earned.