Poitou Mules ("the finest Mules in the World")

The Poitou mule used to be known as "The finest mules in the world".  However, they are now a rarity as both parent breeds reached near extinction in the 1970's.  There are now about 400 Poitou donkeys and about 160 Mulassier horses in the world.  There may be 100-150 Poitou mules, but the Mulassier mare is only allowed to have 1 mule foal - her maiden foal.  In spite of the mass and hairiness of both parents, the Poitou mule is relatively smooth.  Gray, Dun, and black are the most common colors for the mule.  Dun or black is the favored color for Mulassiers, and the Poitou can only be bai-brun (bay-brown or black/brown).

Kerry Ford , in France, with a dun Mulassier mare, and a 4 month old black stallion, Mesidor.  Kerry is 5'11" or so....the mare is a 3-year old.  (Mesidor not hers.  Her first foal will be a mule colt ).

This is Thalia (the fellow's French is a local "patois" and we though he said "Dolly")  in the Poitou region of France.  She is 17 hh.  She is more heavily feathered than most mules.   She is a true grulla in color (see next section on DUN)

A mule foal and Mulassier horse foal, both under 4 months, side-by-side for comparison.  Both owned by M. Faivre, L'UPRA, France

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This is a Poitou jack (3 yrs old) at the Concours (show) in France in August.  He is good in type, and has a good coat, prized by the French.

this is Thalia and her stable (and harness-) mate Frimousse.  Thalia is a grulla (dun) and Frimousse is a mahogany bay or blue roan.  Both big girls - Thalia is 17h+, Frimousse is over 16 hands.

Since a mare is only allowed to have one mule foal (her first foal), there are very few Poitou mules left in the world.  Almost all the photos in a new book (in French) about the Poitou donkey where Mules are featured are of Thalia and Frimousse.  We had the honor of seeing them on their home farm.  We extend our thanks to M. Richards! Currently there are two Poitou mules in the USA, both owned by Don Shadow.  They are from the original Mulassier mare in the USA, Savanne, who's photo appears on the DUN page.  Savanne is in foal for a third Poitou mule foal.