A breed apart Identifying horses and mules

The difference between horses and mules lies in their genes: horses have 64 chromosomes, donkeys 62 and mules 63. There are 350 horse breeds, including thoroughbreds for racing, and Shires and Suffolk Punches for farm work. But there is only one mule. Mules are the result of breeding a male donkey and a female horse. Their ears are smaller than donkeys’, but larger than horses’. Though reputed to be stubborn, they are often steady and calm. This made them popular with the British Army in both world wars, when they were used to carry munitions in situations that horses and ponies could not tolerate.