hinnies

A hinny is the hybrid offspring of a stallion (male horse) and a jenny or jennet (female donkey). It is one of the two common equine hybrids, the other being the mule, which is the offspring of a jack (male donkey) and a mare (female horse). The hinny results from a sire-horse and dam-donkey pairing, in contrast to the mule’s dam-horse and sire-donkey combination.

Hinnies typically exhibit a blend of features from both parent species. They are generally smaller than horses and may display body proportions that sit between those of horses and donkeys. Their ears are usually longer than a typical horse’s but not as long as a donkey’s, and facial characteristics can reflect both lineages. Coat colors vary, and temperament is variable, with some hinnies being cautious or reserved and others more outgoing, combining traits associated with both horses and donkeys.

As with most interspecies hybrids, hinnies are typically sterile. The chromosome difference between horses (64) and donkeys (62) results in offspring with an uneven chromosome count, making regular fertility unlikely. There have been rare, isolated reports of fertile hinnies, but such cases are exceptional and not the norm.

Historically, hinnies have occurred in regions where horses and donkeys lived in proximity. They have been used as pack animals and for light draft work in various cultures, though they have remained much less common than mules. Their relative rarity, coupled with their mixed traits, has limited their widespread use compared with other equine hybrids.