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 developed 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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