Those familiar with the equestrian discipline of
dressage, might imagine it as populated exclusively by stuck up riders and spoiled, excessively shiny overbred horses. A few mule trainers beg to differ.
Developing out of
military movements and aristocratic pageants of equine grace, dressage is now recognized by non-equestrians through exposure to the Andalusian
Lipizzaner Stallions or in the Olympics. Performances can include remarkable equine dancing (
previously), and competition generally takes place in accordance with strict rules. These rules govern everything from the
movements to be performed, the locations in the
arena at which they must take place, permissible
attire for horse and rider, and
so forth (pdf).
However despite the upper crust reputation of dressage and in contrast to other competitive equestrian disciplines, dressage's US governing bodies - the United States Dressage Federation and the United States Equestrian Federation -
permit performance of dressage with a mule. A mule is a cross-breed of two species: horse, carrying 64 chromosomes and donkey, with 62. Technically, a male donkey and a female horse produce a
mule, whereas a male horse and female donkey produce a
hinny. Often considered a fairly ungainly animal, inferior to the horse, mules have
some staunch
defenders. The dressage mules are
starting to get noticed. Rider and trainer Audrey Goldsmith and her mule named 'Heart B Porter Creek' perform against the traditional warmblood and thoroughbred breeds typically used in dressage. As the apparent mule ambassador in the dressage world, Goldsmith feels the pressure: If she doesn’t ride well, people may discount the potential of all mules.
(Title quote from
Robert G. Ingersoll.)
posted by subbes at 7:21 PM on April 15, 2010