The ass and the horse in a wild state were not widely different. It is only when the domestic relations are reached that a divergence of characters exists, and these are more external than otherwise. In their wild state they live in herds and wander to and fro, gathering their food regardless of quality or scanty herbage. Under domestication they submit to the worst forms of drudgery, but in a wild state are distinguished by an inborn love of freedom. Job excellently describes him: "Who hath sent. out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing."
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two first-generation hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny, which is the offspring of a female donkey (jenny) and a male horse (stallion).
Compared with the domestic ass, the wild ass is taller, more active, is more solidly built, and is capable of enduring great fatigue. He drinks salt or fresh water, and eats bitter herbs, weeds and tough grasses, even when other pasturage is available. In color, they are grayish. In winter the coat gets very heavy and takes on a fleece-like appearance which changes in summer to soft, silky hair. Their sharp eyes and quick, keen ears enable them to detect the approach of an intruder or enemy at great distances away.
Under domestication the ass has become the donkey drudge of mankind. Although obstinate and provoking, he does work that other animals would soon perish in doing, or in performing certain labors that no other beast of burden could with safety be entrusted. His footing is so firm and sure and his back so strong and untiring that he and his kind have largely displaced all other living carriers in mountainous countries for the transportation of merchandise. He is also an excellent riding animal. In many parts of Europe, Asia and Africa he is held in high favor as a driving animal for private carriages and as riding steeds for men and women.
The Andalusians come from Spain, where the breed originated. The color is gray, frequently white. They stand 14 to 15 hands high and have fine legs with large bone. The Catalonian stands about 15 hands and has a good, clean bone. They are black in color, with white joints, and very popular because of their fine style and action. These qualities give the breed a high standing.
Poitou jacks are a French breed that have by merit alone taken a high place among breeders. The head is a little large, the mouth is small, the tail short, the chest broad and all the joints large. The hair generally is fine and silky. Draft mares bred to this jack produce excellent mules of striking size and quality.
Many experienced breeders prefer the native jacks to any of the imported breeds. This is because of the large size, greater weight and larger bone that have been developed after several generations of feeding on blue grass and other foods grown on limestone soils. While all colors are native jack found, breeders prefer black with white points. Colts from native jacks are stronger, with better body and more length than those from imported jacks.
The Maltese breed comes from the island of Malta. The jacks are small, seldom standing over 14 hands. They have good color and fine bone, and while much liked for riding and driving, they are too small for farm breeding. The Italian jacks are smaller than the Maltese, 13 to 14 hands high. They are black or gray in color. The Majorca jack is the largest of the imported breeds. Mature individuals stand over 16 hands. They are heavy and rather coarse. The head and ears are large.
The pony of the jack tribe is the burro, a descendant of the jacks brought to this country by the earliest Spanish settlers. Its hair is shaggy, usually of mouse color, although this may vary from white to black. The neck is very thick, and, in proportion to the rest of the body, is enormous. These beasts are very popular in mountainous regions. They can carry large loads on their backs, and move slowly and patiently, but with great sureness of foot over the narrow, dangerous, rocky passes. Many of these animals were used in mines, where they performed steady service for a great many years.
The mule is a hybrid, not a breed. It is a mongrel product, having a jack for sire and a mare for dam. If the breeding is reversed, the animal is known as a hinny, but this is always inferior to the first-named cross. The mule is tall and strong, corresponding to the horse in height and in the shape of the neck, shoulders and body, while the form of his head, his long ears, his thin, wiry legs and narrow hoofs are the inheritance of his father, the ass. The mule has better style and finish and better bone than the hinny and greater size. Hinnies, while homelier in appearance, are nevertheless faithful workers and are able to endure work and to labor under the most trying hardship.
The mules in greatest favor are those that most nearly approach the horse type and follow closely in all points of symmetry of form. Compared with the horse, the body is more cylindrical and smaller. The mule markets demand a fine body on the mule, with bigness, but not paunchiness. They must have fine, hard legs and show action and power in every movement. Smooth, dense bones are desirable, as are also prominent tendons and well-developed muscles. Small feet are not wanted.
First and foremost the mule is a work animal. In this respect he stands unsurpassed. He matures slowly but lives to great age. Trying heat in hot fields in summer affects the mule much less than the horse. These creatures stand rough weather better than horses. They are noted for their great vigor and little tendency to disease. They were once used for severe road work, and for labor in cotton and sugar fields and in the mines, they were without a rival. They were considered indispensable for many kinds of army work at one time.
Mules still delivering mail for the United States Postal Service, Supai, Arizona, 2008.
While mules are subject to disease and bone troubles, they are unquestionably hardier and healthier than the horse under adverse conditions. Many of the common ailments of the horse never affect the mule at all ; and when affected with certain ailments, mules more quickly recover and appear to be less disabled during the course of the disease.
About Coley Mule Farm by Rural Heritage.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your thoughts. All comments are moderated. Spam is not published. Have a good day!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your thoughts. All comments are moderated. Spam is not published. Have a good day!