George Washington Was Among The First To Breed Mules In The U.S.

National Mule Day, on October 26th, recognizes an intelligent pack animal many mistaken to be stubborn.

• 3000 BC – Mules are commonly used in ancient Egypt.
• 800 BC – Homer writes of mules in Asia Minor.
• 1st Century – A 1st century mosaic in a bath house near Rome features four named mules: Pudes (Modest), Podagrosus (Lame), Barosus (Dainty), and Potiscus (Tipsy).
• 610 AD – The Prophet Muhammad rode a favored white mule named Duldul who aided him in many battles. A legend from Kurdistan tells how she once carried him to safety up a sheer cliff face, and her hoofprints in the rock can still be seen to this day.
• 2nd Century – The earliest record of the mule in Britain is a 2nd century jawbone discovered in London.
• 1785 – George Washington sought superior mules but Spain banned exports. King Charles III gifted him two jennies and a jack, “Royal Gift,” sparking America’s mule-breeding legacy in 1785.
• 1840 – The origins of Mule Day started out as a big event for breeders. Back then, it was known as “Breeders Day”.
• 1880s – In the twenty mule team famous for pulling the Borax wagons, the pair closest to the wagon are called the wheelers; the next three pairs are the pointers, who are the ones trained to jump the chain to turn the massive wagon; the next five pairs are the swing; and the two up front are the leaders.
• 1914 – Between 300,000 to 400,000 mules in total were used by the British Army during WW1, many of which were imported from the USA.
• 1930s – Mule Day evolved in the 1930s from a livestock show into parades and festivities, growing into a beloved multi-day celebration nationwide
• 1950s – “Francis the Talking Mule” was the star of a 1950s comedy film series. Francis was voiced by actor and singer Chill Wills.
• 2003 – The first successfully cloned equine was a mule named Idaho Gem, born in May 2003.
• 2008 – Black Ruby, a champion racing mule and won over 50 races before her retirement in 2008.
• A mule, a cross between a male donkey and a female horse, combines the donkey’s endurance and temperament with the horse’s strength, beauty, courage, and speed.
• Mules have 63 chromosomes (a horse has 64, a donkey has 62).
• A female mule is called a molly, a male mule is called a john.
• Mules are 99.9% sterile.  This is due to an uneven chromosome count, although in rare cases, female mules have been known to give birth to foals.
• Don’t let the old saying “as stubborn as a mule” fool you: mules are thought to be more docile than their donkey fathers. But a mule’s intelligence also means that they are more cautious and aware of danger, making them safer to ride when crossing dangerous terrain.
• China breeds the largest number of mules in the world, followed by Mexico. China breeds more than seven million mules each year.
• The American Mule Racing Association exists “to promote the racing of mules at
  recognized distances in the sport of racing.” Mules are noted for their
  strength and stamina, characteristics that help them excel in the sport of
  racing, especially at short distances.
• The American Mule Museum is dedicated to telling the story of
  the contributions of the unsung hero, the mule.”
• Columbia, Tennessee, is known as the Mule Capital of the World.
• The average life expectancy of a mule is 50 years.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Days of the Year

Spana

Horse Illustrated

National Today