hinny x donkey

Miniature Horse Talk Forums

Help Support Miniature Horse Talk Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

debbiesshelties

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Messages
190
Reaction score
0
Location
Western North Carolina
Hello,

I know nothing about donkeys or mules but my ex-husband has a hinny that he thinks(wishing) is bred. The problem is that she was bred by a donkey. I know that mules must be bred to a horse to be fertile. Is this the same? I would like to clear it up for him and myself.

Thanks so much,

mini horse forum member

Debbie
 
Mules are almost always sterile. ( I think there may be one or two cases of them reproducing but not sure if the offspring survived)
 
Mules and Hinnys are almost always sterile. There have been a very VERY few documented cases of either a mule or hinny foaling. Is your hubby sure it is a hinny? Most people cant tell the differance even when they are standing next to one another.
default_rolleyes.gif
default_biggrin.png
that is why at sales they will "lump" the two together alot. However those that do breed either can tell by the tail usually. The hinny has a much more "horse like" tail, and the mule a "donkey like" tail, you can also tell by there head profile. Shawna and I did a head comparison on here a few years back (she has mules and I have hinnys) To breed for a mule you need a mare and a jack, to breed for a hinny, which is als VERY hard to achieve, you need a jenny and a stallion. Mini mules are very common, mini hinnies are not. (I have yet to hear of anyone on this forum who has hinnys other then myself) Out of a thousand stallions your chances of getting one to breed and SETTLE would probably be about ONE. (IMO, and from all the emails and people I have talked with includes university studies) If your talking about a standard size, the rate of a stallion breeding and settling a jenny is much higher. Its the genetic differance that makes the offspring sterile. If a stallion does breed a jenny, 99% of the time the jenny wont carry to full term, because her body will reject (abort) the foal because of the odd chromosone count, its like natures way of telling her something is wrong. If either a hinny or mule do settle and carry the foal to full term, and have a live foal, (in other words a fertile offspring) I would think it would be more like a genetic mutation. Anyone else know anything about this subject? I would love to hear what you think? ????

I have 9 stallions here, and out of the 9 only 1 will even give a jenny a second look when she is in heat. So, I really lucked out when I bought Frosty. (the stud who loves his jennys and settles them so easy) Another reason that a stallion dont like to breed a jenny vs. a jack breeding a mare is that the jenny is built differant and the odor.

Can you post a pic of your hinny?

Corinne
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mules and Hinnys are almost always sterile. There have been a very VERY few documented cases of either a mule or hinny foaling. Is your hubby sure it is a hinny? Most people cant tell the differance even when they are standing next to one another.
default_rolleyes.gif
default_biggrin.png
that is why at sales they will "lump" the two together alot. However those that do breed either can tell by the tail usually. The hinny has a much more "horse like" tail, and the mule a "donkey like" tail, yo ucan also tell by there head profile. Shawna and I did a head comparison on here a few years back (she has mules and I have hinnys) To breed for a mule you need a mare and a jack, to breed for a hinny, which is als VERY hard to achieve, you need a jenny and a stallion. Mini mules are very common, mini hinnies are not. (I have yet to hear of anyone on this forum who has hinnys other then myself) Out of a thousand stallions your chances of getting one to breed and SETTLE would probably be about ONE. (IMO, and from all the emails and people I have talked with includes university studies) If your talking about a standard size, the rate of a stallion breeding and settling a jenny is much higher. Its the genetic differance that makes the offspring sterile. If a stallion does breed a jenny, 99% of the time the jenny wont carry to full term, because her body will reject (abort) the foal because of the odd chromosone count, its like natures way of telling her something is wrong. If either a hinny or mule do settle and carry the foal to full term, and have a live foal, (in other words a fertile offspring) I would think it would be more like a genetic mutation. Anyone else know anything about this subject? I would love to hear what you think? ???? I have 9 stallions here, and out of the 9 only 1 will even give a jenny a second look when she is in heat. So, I really lucked out when I bought Frosty. (the stud who loves his jennys and settles them so easy) Another reason that a stallion dont like to breed a jenny vs. a jack breeding a mare is that the jenny is built differant and the odor.

Can you post a pic of your hinny?

Corinne
 
Actually, mules have horse tails too. Hinneys typically have more "horsey" type heads than mules but if you have the right jack, they can produce some pretty headed mules.
default_wink.png
 
Mules and Hinnys are almost always sterile. There have been a very VERY few documented cases of either a mule or hinny foaling. Is your hubby sure it is a hinny? Most people cant tell the differance even when they are standing next to one another.
default_rolleyes.gif
default_biggrin.png
that is why at sales they will "lump" the two together alot. However those that do breed either can tell by the tail usually. The hinny has a much more "horse like" tail, and the mule a "donkey like" tail, you can also tell by there head profile. Shawna and I did a head comparison on here a few years back (she has mules and I have hinnys) To breed for a mule you need a mare and a jack, to breed for a hinny, which is als VERY hard to achieve, you need a jenny and a stallion. Mini mules are very common, mini hinnies are not. (I have yet to hear of anyone on this forum who has hinnys other then myself) Out of a thousand stallions your chances of getting one to breed and SETTLE would probably be about ONE. (IMO, and from all the emails and people I have talked with includes university studies) If your talking about a standard size, the rate of a stallion breeding and settling a jenny is much higher. Its the genetic differance that makes the offspring sterile. If a stallion does breed a jenny, 99% of the time the jenny wont carry to full term, because her body will reject (abort) the foal because of the odd chromosone count, its like natures way of telling her something is wrong. If either a hinny or mule do settle and carry the foal to full term, and have a live foal, (in other words a fertile offspring) I would think it would be more like a genetic mutation. Anyone else know anything about this subject? I would love to hear what you think? ???? I have 9 stallions here, and out of the 9 only 1 will even give a jenny a second look when she is in heat. So, I really lucked out when I bought Frosty. (the stud who loves his jennys and settles them so easy) Another reason that a stallion dont like to breed a jenny vs. a jack breeding a mare is that the jenny is built differant and the odor.

Can you post a pic of your hinny?

Corinne

Wow, that is very interesting and does make a lot of sense. New at the donkeys...but have notice that their smell is different and their build. And a Jenny when in heat seems to be saying no...when she really means yes. I could see where very few stallions would cover a jenny in heat. Still so much to learn
default_wink.png
 
Nancy, I dont think we ever stop learning.
default_laugh.png
default_laugh.png
We have had horses for 45 plus years, and I still have so much to learn.
default_smile.png
 
Oh my goodness 45 plus years...I don't think I have that much time left
default_new_shocked.gif
Wouldn't matter anyway, can't seem to remember anything anymore
default_wacko.png
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I will do my darnest to remember it.
 
Back
Top