Equines: Horses, Mules & Donkeys
Horses: A male is called a stallion or a horse.
A young male is called a colt.
A female is called a mare.
A young female is a filly.
Baby horses are called foals.
Donkeys: Male-Jack
Female- Jenny
Baby- Foal
Mules, etc.
A mule has a donkey father and a horse (mare) mother.
A hinny has a donkey mother (jenny) and a horse father.
Most mules are sterile and cannot reproduce. However, there are rare but documented cases in which a mare mule or mare hinny has had a foal.
Basic Equine Safety When Visiting Horses
Real horses are not like the cartoon characters and horses you see on TV and in books. Real horses can be friendly and affectionate, but they think like
horses and not like humans. Horses are easily frightened and often act on instinct. There ARE vicious horses that try to hurt people.
Never stand behind or directly in front of a horse. Any horse may kick (at a fly or another horse) and accidentally kick a human. Likewise, the gentlest
horse may get scared and bolt, knocking over a person in front of him.
Never wrap a lead rope around your hand when leading a horse. The horse could bolt and drag you.
Always approach a horse quietly and confidently. Never shout or run around horses; it could frighten them and they could hurt you or someone else.
Usually it’s best to speak to a horse as you approach. The horse may be asleep (horses can sleep standing up) and you may startle him.
Basic Equine Tack
Halter & Lead Rope
Saddle Blanket
Saddle: Western, English, Australian, Sidesaddle, etc.
Bridle (headstall, bit, reins)
Breast Collar
Horses: A male is called a stallion or a horse.
A young male is called a colt.
A female is called a mare.
A young female is a filly.
Baby horses are called foals.
Donkeys: Male-Jack
Female- Jenny
Baby- Foal
Mules, etc.
A mule has a donkey father and a horse (mare) mother.
A hinny has a donkey mother (jenny) and a horse father.
Most mules are sterile and cannot reproduce. However, there are rare but documented cases in which a mare mule or mare hinny has had a foal.
Basic Equine Safety When Visiting Horses
Real horses are not like the cartoon characters and horses you see on TV and in books. Real horses can be friendly and affectionate, but they think like
horses and not like humans. Horses are easily frightened and often act on instinct. There ARE vicious horses that try to hurt people.
Never stand behind or directly in front of a horse. Any horse may kick (at a fly or another horse) and accidentally kick a human. Likewise, the gentlest
horse may get scared and bolt, knocking over a person in front of him.
Never wrap a lead rope around your hand when leading a horse. The horse could bolt and drag you.
Always approach a horse quietly and confidently. Never shout or run around horses; it could frighten them and they could hurt you or someone else.
Usually it’s best to speak to a horse as you approach. The horse may be asleep (horses can sleep standing up) and you may startle him.
Basic Equine Tack
Halter & Lead Rope
Saddle Blanket
Saddle: Western, English, Australian, Sidesaddle, etc.
Bridle (headstall, bit, reins)
Breast Collar
| Western saddle by Hereford (Tex-Tan) |
| English saddle (shown without stirrups or girth) |
| Modern English-style Sidesaddle. |