How To Tell The Difference Between A Donkey, A Mule, and A Horse
Below, we’ll dive into how to tell the difference between a donkey, mule, and horse and how these unique animals came to be.
What Do The Animals Have In Common?
Horses, mules, and donkeys are all separate species. That being said, they all derive from the same family equidae and subspecies equus. While each species is a large, four-legged friend with a long face, they are entirely different. As discussed below, each species has genetic differences that lead to variations in physical characteristics and demeanor.
Differences Between Donkeys, Mules, and Horses
Here are some of the key differences between donkeys, mules, and horses.
The Horse
The horse has 64 chromosomes and tends to be a social, herd animal, preferring to live in large groups. When compared to donkeys and mules, horses are fast, tall animals. Horses have shorter ears, long manes, long tails, and thin coats.They also tend to have the longest faces of the three species. These social animals are generally easier to train than donkeys, though they’re less intelligent. There’s also a subset of smaller horses called “ponies”.
Horses can also be startled faster than the robust donkey or strong mule. These animals live the least amount of time compared to donkeys and mules and are subject to more leg and health issues. Horse hair tends to be more soft and flowing, while the donkey’s hair is more stiff and bristled.
The Donkey
The donkey has 62 chromosomes in comparison to the horse’s 64 chromosomes. Donkeys are more independent than horses, though they prefer to have a single companion to keep them company.
Donkeys usually have a thick dorsal stripe that runs along the back that helps distinguish the species. You’ll find that donkey’s have a distinct “hee-haw” vocalization that contrasts against a horse’s whinny. Donkeys are known for their trademark sturdiness and stubbornness. However, this stubbornness helps donkeys retain confidence even when startled. Male donkeys, sometimes called jacks, can be more difficult to handle than female donkeys.
While it’s more difficult to train a donkey when compared to a horse, these hardworking animals can carry twice their body weight making them amazing for manual labor. Donkeys are shorter than horses and have thicker coats, long ears, and shorter tails.
The Mule
The mule is a cross between a donkey and a horse, with 63 chromosomes. Since there is an odd number of chromosomes, mules are not able to reproduce naturally and are sterile. Mules tend to share more characteristics with the horse than the donkey. Logically, you’ll find that mules share some traits from their horse parent and others from their donkey parent. Even their vocalizations are usually a unique cross between a horse’s whinny and a donkey’s
“Hee-haw”.
Mules can be more intelligent than horses due to their genetics from donkeys. They can also be faster than donkeys, but they may not be able to carry as much weight as a donkey. There’s also a subset of mules born from a donkey mother and horse father known as hinnys. Hinnys tend to be less strong than other mules.
Many riders are attracted to mules since they are considered more “low-maintenance” than horses. Mules are generally less sensitive to skin allergies, health issues, and can survive on a lesser-grade feed like their donkey parent.
Hence, donkeys, mules, and horses are all amazing animals each with their own traits and characteristics. Enjoy learning more about these four-legged friends HERE!
