Onnthis date in 1786, the first Spanish Jacks (male donkeys) arrived innthe United States, a gift from the King of Spain. George Washingtonn(not yet President of the U.S.) began to breed these donkeys with hisnfemale horses. And so began the history of mules in America.
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nDidnyou know that daddy mules and mommy mules don’t breed to make babynmules? Mules cannot reproduce but are instead are created bynhorse-donkey breeding. What I didn’t know is that mules are creatednwhen male donkeys and female horses are bred, and the result ofnfemale donkeys and male horses is called a hinny. Hinnies tend tonlook just like mules, and are also sterile (which means that theyncannot reproduce or make babies). n
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Notice:nthere are male mules and female mules, and there are male hinnies andnfemale hinnies.
Notice:nthere are male mules and female mules, and there are male hinnies andnfemale hinnies.n
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nWhynwould anyone want mules in a world that already has horses andndonkeys? n
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nWell,nmules tend to be stronger than donkeys and more resistant to diseasenthan horses. Actually, the fact that they are sterile is helpful innsome situations—you don’t have to worry about animals gettingnpregnant and giving birth—and may lead to mules’ reputation ofnbeing tougher and more reliable than horses or donkeys. Mules arenbeing used in Afghanistan by U.S. armed forces, carrying supplies tonplaces where helicopters and Humvees cannot easily go.
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nLearnnmore about mules at Saito’s Dojo.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal
Anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal n
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nFrankenstein Friday
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