And what about the Hinnies???

Maeva and her Hinny Nuckie

Hinnies: Debunking Common Myths

We hear this rumor far too often:

“Mules take the best from both parents, hinnies take the worst.”

Hybridization follows no predefined rules.It is far more a matter of chance and genetic lottery.

There are difficult, grumpy, even unmanageable mules…and, on the other hand, absolutely delightful hinnies — close to humans and very well balanced.

A Quick Reminder About Origins

A mule is born from a mare.

She inherits characteristics from both parents, but her social codes and basic behavior are primarily transmitted by her mare mother.

The donkey sire mainly contributes physical traits and innate temperament characteristics (emotional sensitivity, reactivity, vigilance…), but not behavioral education.

A hinny, on the other hand, is raised by a jenny (female donkey).Its first social codes, its relationship to the world and to humans are therefore, initially, those of the donkey.

Both mules and hinnies are extremely intelligent animals.

The hinny is often perceived as slightly closer to humans, much like donkeys tend to be.This does not mean that a mule cannot be — but the bond is built in a different way.

“Hinnies Are Smaller”

Often yes… but not always.

In France, hinnies are frequently smaller simply because breeding jennies are most often small-sized donkeys.In hybrids, the size of the mother plays a decisive role.

When the jenny is large, the hinny is large as well.Size is therefore not a fatality linked to being a hinny, but rather to the mother’s build.

Very Concrete Examples

• Nuckie (with Maëva)

• Vanille (with Muriel Hérion)

• Nono (with Charly)

All of them stand around 1.50 m at the withers.

Conclusion

It is not being a hinny that makes an animal small — it is the size of the mother.

From left to right: Nuckie, Vanille, and Nono

From left to right: Nuckie, Vanille, and Nono

“If We See More Mules, There Must Be a Reason”

Yes, that’s true… but not the one people usually think.

If mules are far more numerous than hinnies, it is not because they are “better,” nor because hinnies are “failed.”It is first and foremost a matter of biology and reproduction.

A mare tolerates hybrid pregnancy far better than a jenny.

Her uterus and cervix, more flexible and receptive, make fertilization, embryo implantation, and gestation much easier.

In contrast, in the jenny:

• fertilization is more delicate,

• embryonic loss is more frequent,

• carrying a horse-derived embryo to term is more difficult.

The Result

Naturally, many more mules are born than hinnies — without this saying anything about the quality, temperament, or abilities of the animal once born.

And one final factor: stallions are more demanding in their romantic choices.

Physical Characteristics

“Hinnies have small ears.”

Really?

Nikita, our mule mascot who has been animating Maëva’s life for over a year (another Maëva), has very small ears.And since she has official papers, we know for sure: she is a mule.

The mule Nikita

Mule or Hinny: Not Always Easy to Tell

It is most often impossible to distinguish a mule from a hinny at a glance.

Sometimes, yes, it’s obvious…but very often, only the animal’s papers can confirm whether it is a mule or a hinny.

Morphological or behavioral criteria are not always sufficient, as both hybrids can look extremely similar — in appearance as well as in temperament.

A Shared Observation

Following an informal study carried out during the Mulinades 2024, enriched by many passionate exchanges between mule and hinny owners, one thing is unanimously agreed upon:

Hinnies are fabulous — and their owners are completely in love with them.