Mules

The Mules of Poitou were long famous for their quality. They were considered to be the finest in the world, and in high demand. Until the advent of mechan-ization with the wars, mules were preferred for heavy draft situations. With machines came the decline of the draft mule. The parent breeds of the magnificent French mule, the shaggy Poitou donkey, and the unique Mulassier nearly dissapeared altogether.

Now there are some 500 pure and part-bred Baudets left in the world, and only about 250 Mulassiers. The mules number only a handful. The Mulassier mare may have only one mule colt (her first foal - since the mule foal is smaller than the horse). The Poitou mule, once the most sought after in the world, has been reduced to a novelty.