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National Mule Day

Animal · History · October 26

A day for the mule, the sturdy cross between a donkey and a horse, and the work it has done on American farms, trails and roads.

National Mule Day falls on Tuesday, October 26, 2027. That is 364 days away.

A mule is what you get when a male donkey and a female horse have a foal. The result borrows from both sides: the long ears and sure feet of the donkey, the size and strength of the horse. Mules are almost always unable to have foals of their own, so every one of them starts from that same pairing.

For a long stretch of American history, mules did much of the hauling. They pulled plows on farms, carried packs over mountain trails and towed boats along canals. Farmers valued them because they could work hard in heat and tended to eat less than a horse of similar size.

Mules have a reputation for stubbornness, but people who work with them often describe it differently. A mule that refuses a step is frequently judging that the step is unsafe, and it may simply wait until it is convinced. Handlers tend to call that good sense.

Today mules still carry gear for packers and trail crews, and some people ride them for long, steady miles. Others show them, drive them in harness or keep them as companions. Many towns with farming roots hold mule shows or parades, and rescue groups care for mules that need new homes.

If you meet one, let it see and sniff your hand before you touch it, and ask the owner first. A mule that knows you will often follow you along a fence line, ears turned your way.

Ways to celebrate

• Visit a local farm or stable that keeps mules and ask to meet one.
• Look for a mule show, parade or pack demonstration nearby.
• Read about how mules worked on farms and canals in your region.
• Donate or volunteer with an equine rescue that takes in mules.
• Learn to tell a mule from a donkey by its ears, tail and size.

Dates

All national days on October 26

Also on October 26

• National Pumpkin Day
• National Mincemeat Day
• Worldwide Howl at the Moon Night

Categories: Animal daysHistory days