Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Geezer on 24/07/2011 00:24:36
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I heard recently that one of the advantages of a mule over a horse is that you can't work a mule to death, whereas a horse will keep on going until it conks out.
Is this true, or is at a load of horse shιt manure?
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Interesting question. I've heard that horses can literally die of exhaustion, but I've never witnessed it myself, and most of the horse owners I know are pretty caring of their animals.
I did find this quote.
During the first twelve months of the war, I had charge of one hundred and six mule-teams, and I noticed in particular, that not one solitary mule as high as six years old gave out on the trips that I made with the teams. I also noticed that, on most occasions, the three year olds gave out, or became so leg-weary that they could scarce walk out of the way of the swingle-tree, whereas those of four and upward would be bright and brisk, and able to eat their forage when they came to camp. The three year old mules would lie down and not eat a bite, through sheer exhaustion. I also noticed that nearly all the three year old mules that went to Utah, in 1857, froze to death that winter, while those whose ages varied from four, and up to ten, stood the winter and came out in the spring in good working condition.
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In 1858, I took a train of mules to Camp Floyd, in Utah, forty-eight miles south of Salt Lake City; During the march there were days and nights that I could not get a drop of water for the animals. The young mules, three and four years old, gave out from sheer exhaustion; while the older ones kept up, and had to draw the wagons along. Now, there arc many purposes to which a young mule may be put with advantage; but they are altogether unfit for army purposes, and the sooner the Government stops using them, the better.
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Q. Can you work a mule to death?
A. not if the RSPCA (http://www.rspca.org.uk/home)/ASPCA (http://www.aspcapro.org/grants-from-the-aspca-equine-fund.php) get to it first.
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A. not if the RSPCA (http://www.rspca.org.uk/home)/ASPCA (http://www.aspcapro.org/grants-from-the-aspca-equine-fund.php) get to it first.
Sounds a lot like PETA (http://www.peta.org/)
Fortunately we don't have a Royal PETA (http://www.peta.org/) here in the USA.
Apparently it is now difficult to get rid of old/lame horses around here as I think it may be illegal to sell them for dogfood. And the renderers are virtually out of business. One of the few options left is to send them off for Lion Chow.