Common characteristics of the mule are its long ears, skinny legs, thick head, bristled mane and hooves that are small and narrow. The body shape is reminiscent of the horse as is the croup – the line running from the top of the tail to the peak of the hindquarters, shape of its neck, teeth and height.

The mule's bray is its trademark. A mule makes a sound which is a combination of both a horse's neigh and a donkey's bray, but every mule's call is unique. Aesthetically, Mules are typically a sorrel or bay color with shades as varied as you will find on a horse.

The mule combines the endurance and stability of the ass with the bravery and strength of a horse. People who utilize animals in a working environment will often prefer to use a mule instead of a horse. Their skin is not as sensitive as that of a horse which gives them a natural resistance to sun, insects and disease.

You have to be careful around a mule – they can strike out in any direction with any one of their hooves and have a very powerful kick. Mules don’t tolerate dogs or other beasts as well as horses do and they have been known to protect their rider from mountain lions, sometimes even killing them in the process.

Mules have been used for many different purposes throughout the years. They are especially valued as work animals because they possess both patience and intelligence. Mules were first bred in the 1700s, and they played an integral role in farming and the settling of the west in America. They were once valued as a chariot horse and were the preferred mount of the kings of Israel during biblical times.

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