Horse Hybrids

Image from pat Henson

There is a great deal of variation within the Equidae family, much of it due to controlled cross-breeding and hybridization.

Mankind has shaped horses and asses into the animals we recognize today & most modern breeds have been developed for specific purposes.

For those of us who love horses, learning more about their family, history and evolution is of deep interest.

Today we meet some of the hybrids, the paring of animals from two different subgenus species. Often the resulting hybrid is born sterile and unable to further their line.

This is the combination of a male Donkey (jack) and a female Horse (mare) and are usually bred as draft animals. Perhaps due to instinct, many Jack Donkeys aren’t interested in covering mares and must be trained to do so. Male mules are always born sterile however some females are able to reproduce.

This combination of a male horse (stallion) and a female Donkey (jenny or jennet) is far less common and harder to produce than the Mule. Hinnies tend to be smaller and more refined than mules with more horse-like heads and tails.

Always More to Learn

If you enjoyed learning about the hybrids, be sure to learn more about all of the Equidae family from the Equus and Asinus to the Zebras & be sure to check back for more hybrids of the striped type.