Longears..

From Jim: We have quite a few longears-mules, hinneys, and donkeys-at the sanctuary. They're pretty amazing animals. Donkeys are fully a species of the equine family. They go by several names. Burros, asses, and donkeys are all the same animal. There are quite a few color variations and patterns. They can also vary a lot in size, from miniatures to mammoths. They are fertile and reproduce naturally. They have 46 chromosomes and are considered to be a more primitive animal than the horse, which has 48 chromosomes. Mules and hinneys are hybrids, half horse-half donkey. Because they have an odd number of chromosomes, they are considered sterile. They do not reproduce naturally. Donkey females are called Jennies, males are Jacks. Mule females are Mollies, males are Johns. There are other appellations, but these are the common ones. Baby donkeys are Jacks and Jennets. Mules, John colts and Molly fillies. A mule has a horse for a dam and donkey for a sire. Hinneys, the opposite, donkey dam and horse sire. This distinction was important early on because mules would grow bigger and stronger than hinneys. Seems equines take a lot of their characteristics from the dam side. The Bedouin tribesmen keep track of their breeding programs from the mare's side of things. For quite awhile, you could buy/obtain an Arabian stallion, but not a mare. Nothing to do with longears, but interesting. Mules and hinneys have what is known as hybrid vigor. They are tough, strong, durable animals. They are, pound for pound, much stronger than horses. Their hooves and teeth are stronger and harder. They tend to live longer and have a longer productive work life. They are calm, cool, and collected. They are not inherently stubborn, but are very much into preserving themselves. The training of longears is different that horse training and the old "mule skinners" knew it. The term mule skinners comes from the slang term to "outsmart" or "skin" someone. Kind of another name for a confidence man. I heard longears trainers speak or training the "horse" and the "donkey" will just come along. I don't know about that, but I know patience, trust, and more patience is sure a requirement. I also know, once a longears gets "it", they never forget. Longears don't tolerate abuse and can become very difficult-even dangerous if mistreated. The kick of a longears concentrates much greater force because of their small hoof. Many army farriers were killed by mule kicks. "Kicks like a mule" is no joke. Fortunately, once you make friends with a longear, you have a friend for life.