Horse vs Mule – Horses and Mules share a common phyletic lineage, as both belong to the same class equine, but it might be hard to pick the best animal for your stable.
Horses and mules both got genes from a female horse, but the basic difference is the physical appearance of their ears that mules have relatively bigger than horses. Mules also differentiate in having thinner tales and manes than horses.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss a detailed difference between a horse and a mule. Let’s start the article without wasting any time.
What Are Mules
Mules are a hybrid cross between a horse that carries 64 chromosomes and a donkey with 62 Chromosomes. As a result, an odd 63 chromosome organism mule is formed.
Mules are born as a hybrid (sterile) equine, as they are unable to continue the progeny but have desirable characteristics both from donkeys and horses.
Mules carry intelligence from horses and fierce stamina from the father donkey and make a tough animal with resiliency that could be a good option for equestrians.
Mules are active animals and are very agile that work without getting tired, just like their donkey father. These mules are easy to train and will not be frustrated easily, but too much training might upset them with a playful nature.
Quick Overview of Mules
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Breeds | Hybrid Cross of a horse and a donkey |
| Speed | Have an average speed of up to 40 years |
| Nursing | Easy to feed and take care of |
| Nature | Mules are of agile nature |
| Strength | Can work for hours without demanding |
| Intellectuality | Very intelligent, easy to manage |
| Behavior | Mules are loyal and very calm pets with friendly nature. |
What Are Horses
Horses are the prime members of the equine family with smaller ears than horses but have thick manes and tails that are characteristic of a horse.
The average life span is about 25 years, whereas the ponies live for the longest tenure, and some might live up to 40 years.
With a heavyweight of 1800 pounds, a horse needs to maintain its body and needs regular exercise daily. The grooming needs of a horse vary from 2 to three times a week.
Horses are very friendly animals, but if you’re teasing them or taking more work from them, they may hit you back in anger sometimes.
But there’s the fact that horses are a very intelligent species, and that’s why the mares have transferred the intelligence genes to the mules.
Quick Overview of Horses
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | Horse is a big animal |
| Weight | Up To 1000 Kilograms |
| Friendly | They are great pets and very friendly |
| Strength | A horse generally has great strength |
| Nursing | Do need care and grooming |
| Intellectuality | Their intelligence is remarkable |
| Breeds | Have great breeds (over 400+) |
| Behavior | They are very loyal and calm pets |
General Table for the Difference between Horses and Mules
| Features | Horses | Mules |
|---|---|---|
| Average Height | 55–71 inches | 50–70 inches |
| Average Weight | 450–1800 pounds | 800–1000 pounds |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years | 35–40 years |
| Exercise | 20+ minutes a day | 1+ hours per day |
| Grooming | High grooming three times per week | Moderate |
| Family-friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Other pet-friendly | Often | Often |
| Trainability | Intelligent, loyal, eager to please | Intelligent, loyal, eager to please |
Horse vs Mule – What’s the Difference
Horses and mules have a common relation that both carry genes from the mares, but both have distinct characteristics that render both horses and mules unique and precious in the eyes of equestrians.
Now, we’re taking a look at the different characteristics of both horses and mules.
Horse Vs. Mule Size
Horses and mules greatly differ in their sizes. You would see that mules are shorter while horses are bigger. What’s the reason behind this?
A mule species is over 60 inches high, shorter than horses because the mares have a shorter height. A horse’s build is slightly different as mules have broader bodies with a downward curve. A horse, on the other hand, is over 16 to 17 hands high.
Mule Vs. Horse Speed
You might be thinking that which is faster, a horse or a mule? That’s a great question, but we should think of it from a biological point of view.
A horse runs at the speed of 55 mph, whereas a mule runs only at 15 mph. A mule is an active and agile animal, but a horse runs at a faster speed. So, a mule will never outrun a horse.
Mule vs. Horse Strength
A mule carries good genes from both its parents; the donkey and the horse. So, their strength is also multiplied when we compare it with a horse.
Which is stronger, a horse or a mule? A mule has a stronger body than horses, as it can work for hours like a donkey but will intelligently manage the loads that are characteristics taken from the horses.
Thus, mules have stronger muscles that keep them resilient and hardworking.
Mule vs. Horse Temperament
A horse and mule have one thing very different that is temperament. While horses are not getting used to extreme weather, mules get acclimated to the harsh conditions.
Which one is more tolerating a horse or a mule? Mules have greater tolerability, as their body resists any harsh weather conditions easily.
Still, horses can’t get used to working in very cold or hot environments, and that’s why we say that mules have a great temperament than horses.
Horse vs. Mule Feed
Feeding an animal is not easy, as it requires a deep knowledge of which things are good for it and which items might be allergic to your animal.
Horses and mule feed are almost the same, but a mule will eat less food than a horse, but that’s a fact that a mule works more than a horse due to the donkey genes. Always try to keep up with your vet while giving any diet to your horse or mule.
Mule vs. Horse Riding
What is better to ride a horse or mule? Ridding experience with mules and horses might surprise you, as you have thought that horses are great for riding.
Mules are great sources to ride in the steeper mountains, as their sure-footed feature will allow you to have a great riding experience, but horses are great to ride if you want to build muscles and body.
Mule vs. Horse Price
How much does a mule or horse cost? Both horses and mules are costly, but the rarest horse breed stands at $250,000.
You can get a mule starting from a thousand bucks to $7000, whereas the average price is up to $3000. On the other hand, a horse is also expensive and will cost up to $10,000, starting from $100.
Mules might be expensive in some cases, as they tend to live longer than horses.
Horse vs. Mule – Pros and Cons
There are certain qualities in an animal due to which the owners very like it, but many characteristics also make it a less worthy animal.
In this section, we’ll discuss some pros and cons of both horses and mules. Have a look at the comparison chart below:
Horses – Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Horses are great pets that help get into the posture, muscle mass, and active body and mind. | The prices of horses start at 600 USD, and also their accessories and diets are very expensive. |
| Horses don’ get moody or angry and always obey their masters | Horses require very much grooming and nurture each week |
| Their lean and friendly nature is the reason that children can also play with them | They are on the verge of getting many diseases and infections that might kill them, so great care is necessary while owning a horse |
| Horses are very intelligent, as there was one horse that could even solve mathematics problems | Horses require a lot of time while getting trained, so the trained horses are more expensive than untrained ones |
| Many researchers believe that horse increases a person’s positive energy, thus decreasing stress when you cuddle with them | You can’t own a horse if you have a hectic schedule, as horses require a definite time of your daily life to be in good health. |
Mules – Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Mules are agile, have tough feet, and are easy to train | Mules might get aggressive under some conditions and gets frightened easily |
| Being hybrid, they tolerate harsh conditions which come from the donkey genes | Their intelligence also gift them super strong memory, and they hardly forgive |
| Strenuous and resistant against many diseases | Mules sometimes get very stubborn and difficult to handle |
| Being half horse, carrying intelligence genes, and being very calm. | Sometimes, a chromosomal aberration may cause gene problems in mules that show in later life, so they are at risk of getting some genetic diseases. |
What Is The Advantage Of A Mule Over A Horse?
Many perceptions are that mules are better pets than horses, as several characteristics have been claimed better.
So, are mules better than horses? Yes, mules are better than horses in many aspects. They have great riding trails, can live longer, have been resistant to many diseases, and are very friendly with horses.
Also, a mule can work longer than a horse without getting tired or frustrated.
Can Mules Run As Fast As Horses?
It’s not wise to ask will a mule will outrun a horse or not.
A horse is a faster animal than a mule, and despite having great characteristics, mules are not great runners, and their speed is limited to only 15 mph or 20 mph in some rare cases, whereas horses run at 30 or even at 40 mph.
Thus, horses are faster than mules.
Can Mules Be Ridden Like Horses?
Some people want to have the same riding experience with mules as they have with horses. Let’s see if that’s possible or not.
A mule is a great hybrid that carries great riding skills of horses, and that’s why you can ride mules like horses. In the remote past, the priests rode a mule as a sign of honor. Thus we also get proof that mules were traditionally used to be ridden.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion: Horse vs. Mule – What’s the Difference?
Horses and mules are two different animals with the same equine family. A mule is a cross between a horse and donkey in which the mother horse is crossed with a father donkey to produce an infertile mule.
These animals have distinct features, but mules have inherited good characteristics from both horses and donkeys, so they are genetically better than horses.
That’s all about mule vs. horses; we appreciate it if you share this blog post with your friends!
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