Hinny vs. Mule — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 30, 2024
A hinny is a hybrid animal born from a male horse and a female donkey, known for its rarity and mild temperament, while a mule, offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, is more common and valued for its strength and endurance.
Difference Between Hinny and Mule
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hinnies and mules are both hybrid animals resulting from the crossing of horses and donkeys, yet they differ fundamentally in their parentage. A hinny is the offspring of a male horse (stallion) and a female donkey (jenny), whereas a mule comes from a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). This difference in parentage impacts their physical and temperamental traits.
While both hybrids are sterile due to their uneven chromosome numbers, with hinnies and mules inheriting 63 chromosomes from their parents, their appearances and sizes vary slightly because of the size of their parents. Hinnies tend to be smaller than mules because female donkeys are smaller than female horses, affecting the size of their offspring.
In terms of temperament, hinnies are often reported to be more docile and easier to train than mules, although this can vary widely among individuals. The temperament of a hinny or mule is influenced by its upbringing, training, and individual personality, much like their purebred parents.
Hinnies are less common than mules due to the more challenging breeding process and the physical limitations of the donkey mother. This rarity can make hinnies more expensive and less available for work, recreation, or as pets compared to mules, which are bred more frequently and have a long history of use in agriculture, transportation, and even warfare.
Despite their differences, both hinnies and mules share some advantages over their purebred parents, including hardiness, disease resistance, and longevity. These traits make them valuable to people who need dependable working animals in challenging conditions.
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Comparison Chart
Parentage
Male horse (stallion) and female donkey (jenny)
Male donkey (jack) and female horse (mare)
Size
Generally smaller, as influenced by the smaller size of the donkey mother
Typically larger, due to the larger size of the horse mother
Temperament
Often more docile and mild, but can vary
Known for being strong-willed and intelligent, with individual variations
Commonality
Less common due to breeding challenges
More common and widely used for work and transportation
Physical Traits
Resembles both parents but may have more horse-like features; size and conformation influenced by the jenny
Often inherits the strength and endurance of the donkey parent, with physical traits from both parents
Compare with Definitions
Hinny
A hybrid animal born from a male horse and a female donkey, known for its mild temperament.
The farmer introduced a hinny to help with the lighter tasks around the farm.
Mule
Known for their intelligence and sometimes stubborn temperament.
The mule outsmarted its handlers but also showed its stubborn streak.
Hinny
Often praised for its gentle nature, making it a preferred choice for those looking for a calm working animal.
Their hinny has a sweet disposition and works well with children.
Mule
A hybrid animal resulting from breeding a male donkey with a female horse, valued for its strength and endurance.
The mule carried the heavy supplies up the mountain with ease.
Hinny
Recognized for being less common than mules due to the specifics of their breeding.
Spotting a hinny at local farms is quite rare compared to finding mules.
Mule
More common than hinnies and widely used in various sectors, including agriculture and transport.
Mules are a common sight in rural areas, where they help with farming tasks.
Hinny
Tends to be smaller in stature compared to mules, influenced by the size of the donkey mother.
The hinny was noticeably smaller than the mules, despite being fully grown.
Mule
Inherits traits from both parents, including the mare's size and the donkey's hardiness.
The mule's endurance comes from its donkey sire, while its size is a trait from the mare.
Hinny
Can exhibit physical characteristics of both parents, though it may lean more towards the horse's features.
The hinny had the sleek coat of its horse father and the sturdy legs of its donkey mother.
Mule
Typically larger and stronger than hinnies, making them suitable for heavy work.
The farm's mules were integral to plowing the tough terrain.
Hinny
A hinny is a domestic equine hybrid that is the offspring of a male horse (a stallion) and a female donkey (a jenny). It is the reciprocal cross to the more common mule, which is the product of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare).
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes.
Hinny
The sterile hybrid offspring of a male horse and a female donkey.
Mule
The sterile hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, characterized by long ears and a short mane.
Hinny
The hybrid offspring of a stallion (male horse) and a she-ass (female donkey).
Mule
A sterile hybrid, as between a canary and other birds or between certain plants.
Hinny
(Geordie) A term of endearment usually for women.
Mule
(Informal) A stubborn person.
Hinny
To whinny
Mule
A spinning machine that makes thread or yarn from fibers. Also called spinning mule.
Hinny
A hybrid between a stallion and an ass; - correlative of the mule.
Mule
A small, usually electric tractor or locomotive used for hauling over short distances.
Hinny
A term of endearment; darling; - corrupted from honey.
Mule
(Slang) A person who serves as a courier of illegal drugs.
Hinny
Sterile offspring of a male horse and a female donkey or ass
Mule
A backless slipper or shoe, often with a closed toe.
Mule
The generally sterile male or female hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
Mule
The generally sterile hybrid offspring of any two species of animals.
Mule
A hybrid plant.
Mule
(informal) A stubborn person.
Mule
(slang) A person paid to smuggle drugs.
Mule
A coin or medal minted with obverse and reverse designs not normally seen on the same piece, either intentionally or in error.
Mule
(RPG) A MMORPG character, or NPC companion in a tabletop RPG, used mainly to store extra inventory for the owner's primary character.
Mule
Any of a group of cocktails involving ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, and various liquors.
Mule
(sailing) A kind of triangular sail for a yacht.
Mule
A kind of cotton-spinning machine.
Mule
A shoe that has no fitting or strap around the heel, but which covers the foot.
Mule
To smuggle (illegal drugs).
Mule
A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare. Sometimes the term is applied to the offspring of a horse and a she-ass, but that hybrid is more properly termed a hinny. See Hinny.
Mule
A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; - called also hybrid.
Mule
A very stubborn person.
Mule
A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; - called also jenny and mule-jenny.
Mule
A slipper that has no fitting around the heel.
Mule
Sterile offspring of a male donkey and a female horse
Mule
A slipper that has no fitting around the heel
Common Curiosities
Can hinnies and mules reproduce?
No, both hinnies and mules are generally sterile due to having an odd number of chromosomes, which prevents them from producing viable offspring.
Which is bigger, a hinny or a mule?
Mules are typically larger than hinnies, as they inherit the larger size of their horse mother.
What's the main difference between a hinny and a mule?
The main difference lies in their parentage: a hinny is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey, while a mule is produced from a male donkey and a female horse.
Why are mules more common than hinnies?
Mules are more common due to the easier breeding process and their widespread historical use in agriculture and transportation.
Are hinnies or mules better for working purposes?
This depends on the specific tasks and personal preference. Mules are often preferred for heavy-duty work due to their larger size and strength, while hinnies might be chosen for their gentler temperament.
Why are hinnies less common?
Hinnies are less common due to the more challenging nature of breeding a male horse with a female donkey and the less frequent demand for them compared to mules.
Do hinnies have a different temperament than mules?
Yes, hinnies are often considered to be more docile and easier to train than mules, though individual temperaments can vary greatly.
How can you tell a hinny from a mule?
Telling them apart can be challenging, but generally, hinnies may be smaller and have more horse-like features, whereas mules might be larger and exhibit more donkey-like traits.
What are the advantages of using hinnies or mules over horses or donkeys?
Both hinnies and mules are valued for their hardiness, disease resistance, and longevity compared to purebred horses and donkeys.
Can hinnies and mules be used for riding?
Yes, both can be trained for riding, though mules are more commonly used due to their size and strength.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
