Mules to the rescue by Jan Scarbrough

What do I know about mules? 

• In Kentucky in the early 40’s, my father, a band director, marched with his band in a Mule Day Parade. You had to watch your step! (or so I was told)
• New Orleans carriage drivers use mules instead of horses.
• The Kentucky State Fair, where the fancy horses show in the World’s Grand Championship, always has a show for mules. They look like draft horses with big ears.

What is a mule?

I found the answer in the trusty Wikipedia:

The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two possible first-generation hybrids between them, the mule is easier to obtain and more common than the hinny, which is the offspring of a male horse (a stallion) and a female donkey (a jenny).

 

A mule has 63 chromosomes, intermediate between the 64 of the horse and the 62 of the donkey. Mules are usually infertile for this reason.

Why would you want a mule?

From A-Z Animals:

Mules are extremely sturdy and tough and can carry very heavy loads and pull a wagon or cart. Their shorter stature and stocky build are suited to long treks on narrow or uneven ground. Combined with a steady and easygoing temperament, mules can travel up steep inclines, mountain heights, and through the water with little difficulty.

 

Why this sudden interest in mules?

Many of you know about Hurricane Helene. From CNN, “Hurricane Helene laid waste to the southeastern United States. Its sheer wind force and deadly floods left behind a path of destruction stretching over 500 miles from Florida to the Southern Appalachians.”

 

As I write this blog, the death toll climbs. Eastern mountain states are devastated, and clean-up will take years. The light in this tragedy is neighbor helping neighbor. One such volunteer group is the Mountain Mule Packer Ranch. I found their story on Facebook. Using a team of mules, these guys are taking needed supplies to isolated parts of the mountains.

 

I thought I’d share, because sometimes in modern society, the old tried and true ways are better.