250 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



temperament of the mule has been a subject for much 

 unjust criticism, for when properly handled he is among 

 the coolest of animals. 



The endurance of the mule. — In this respect the mule 

 is superior to the horse. It is often true of hybrids that 

 they are more resistant than either parent. For long, 

 hard journeys through semi-desert regions, over moun- 

 tains, precipices and through difficult passes the mule is 

 preferred to the horse. Mules usually live longer than 

 horses and their period of usefulness is much greater. 



Wallace gives 

 the mule the fol- 

 lowing advan- 

 tages over the 

 horse : Not par- 

 ticular as to the 

 quality of the 

 food; more 

 surefooted and 

 not nearly so 

 liable to fall ; 

 less liable to 

 become lame ; 

 more pluck and 

 per severance ; 

 walk faster ; 

 pull steadier; and in competition with a horse of equal 

 weight the mule will accomplish more work. 



Resistance of mule to disease. — Unlike the horse, the 

 mule will seldom eat more than is good for him, even 

 though the food be placed before him. Thus the mule 

 very largely escapes all diseases caused by overfeeding, 

 which often proves fatal to the horse. The legs and feet 

 of the mule are less subject to disease than in the horse, 

 although ringbone, sidebone, spavin and like troubles do 

 occur. In most contagious and infectious diseases the 

 mule is perhaps no more resistant than the horse. 



Fig. 127. — Span of Prize Mules 



