THE MULE. 193 



mares must be bred from, has been shown to be erroneous. The 

 average-sized, compact, serviceable mare, is the best to breed 

 from ; in fact, the mare and Jack should be of the average size, 

 the latter being well marked and the best of his kind. The 

 only advantage in employing large mares is to give the mule 

 larger bone in the limbs, with good-sized hoofs — points in which 

 the ass is usually deficient, and the mule generally more so, 

 while his body is, in the majority of cases, heavy. 



Mares 14 to 14 J hands high, put to the largest donkeys, 

 produce good mules for draught or saddle ; for pack, the best 

 size for mares is between 13 and 14 hands. 



Large mules are not generally preferred, as they are in- 

 convenient to handle, and have often weak limbs, while 

 they eat as much as horses. The most usual and convenient 

 height is from 13 to 13 J hands, the average being 14 to 15 

 hands. 



But these points can rarely be obtained, as the mare, even 

 with good legs and large solid hoofs, breeds close to the ass, 

 and particularly in these parts. With these exceptions, the 

 nearer the foal approaches the sire the better, as the best mules 

 are those which have the asinine marks most developed, and 

 have the deepest of the different colours. Spotted and dappled 

 mules, as well as those which are white, or have a white 

 muzzle and white rings round the eyes, are considered weak 

 and of little value for work. Those which have the charac- 

 teristic black stripes round their legs, black manes and tails, 

 and black stripes down their back and across their shoulders, 

 are generally the best. 



With regard to age, a mule is scarcely full grown at five 

 years, and though he may be worked much younger than this, 

 yet the labour should not be heavy ; until six or seven years 

 old he is not fit for full work. Mules live and work longer 

 than horses — a mule at thirty years old is supposed to be equal 

 to a horse at twenty. 



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