CHAPTER XXV 

 JACKS, JENNETS, AND MULES 



The mule is a hybrid produced from the breeding of 

 jacks to mares. On account of these being of two distinct 

 species, the hybrid will not reproduce, and therefore the 

 mule must be considered as merely a machine for the 

 production of work. Even though mules will not repro- 

 duce, it is necessary to castrate the males as with horses, 

 or they are unsatisfactory for work. The public does not 

 regard the mule with as high respect as the horse, prob- 

 ably because it does not have the style, carriage, spirit, 

 and beauty which is found in the better specimens of 

 horses, and also because his sire has long been considered 

 the emblem of stupidity. 



Even though the mule is a hybrid, his parents must be 

 properly bred and de\'eloped in order that he have good 

 size and conformation. The idea that any mare which 

 is not good enough to raise a horse will raise a good mule 

 has been found not to be true. The better class of mules 

 come from the better class of mares. The small pony 

 jacks likewise do not produce large mules, but it requires 

 a rugged type of jack in order to produce a mule with 

 good bone and constitution. The extremely long-legged, 

 and light-boned jack, or the extremely large, rough mare, 

 is not suitable for mule production, as the mule so pro- 

 duced is too leggy and lacks bone and constitution. 



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