Helen Taylor, owner at Oxhey Western Trail Rides based in Denshaw, welcomes two unique additions to her farm. Here, she tells us all about them.
‘So why have you got MULES?’
The truth is for the past 20 years I have always wanted one. But all of a sudden two come into my life.
A mule is a cross between a donkey (father) and horse (mother) to create a hybrid.
So, meet Marmite who is 12 months old and shall grow to 13.2hh and Napoleon is seven years old and 16.2hh – the tallest mule in the UK.
Marmite came to me because the people at the livery yard where he was born decided as he got older they did not want him playing in the same field with their horse so he came up from Cheshire to live at Oxhey Western Trail Rides in Denshaw.
Napoleon was on my ‘tick list’ as I have always wanted a tall mule but here in the UK they are very hard to come by.
I found him on the internet and he was based down in London, which was too for me to see him yet I did the crazy thing and after talking the owner I bought him unseen!Mad I know!
I arranged an equine currier and he arrived inDenshaw a week later. I believe as you get older you have to do the odd crazy thing – and here he was.
Napoleon’s mother is a racehorse who had won several races at Newmarket and his father is a French breed of donkey called a Poitou who are around 14.2hh.
Mules live well into their 30s or 40s and have better feet, less illnesses, are more economical and have greater strength than a horse of their equal size. So this is why I love them and fly the flag to use them more in the UK.
If you would like to follow the mules see their Facebook page ‘Marmite & Napoleon the MULES UK’ or come and visit: www.oxheywesterntrailrides.co.uk
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