Source:  News Release

Enthusiasts invited to meet country’s largest group of mules

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary is renowned for its work with donkeys the world over, but it is a little known fact that the charity also cares for the largest collective group of mules (a donkey-horse hybrid) in England.  To celebrate this, The Donkey Sanctuary is inviting mule enthusiasts to meet the herd at one of its outlying farms near Exeter from 2pm on Saturday 12^th May 2012.

The charity is also thrilled to have been chosen as the venue for the British Mule Society’s annual general meeting on the same day.

Mule experts and novices alike are invited to join visiting members of the British Mule Society for an afternoon of talks and demonstrations at the farm, which is home to more than 140 of the charity’s mules and hinnies.  Staff will share their first-hand experiences of working with these often misunderstood animals, and demonstrate how they work with those animals with behavioural problems.

It will also be an opportunity to find out more about The Donkey Sanctuary’s foster scheme, where mules as well as donkeys are rehomed with loving foster homes that can give them the one-to-one attention that they so enjoy.  Mules can prove more of a challenge than donkeys to the inexperienced handler, so the charity takes great care in matching them with prospective foster owners to ensure a happy outcome for both animals and homes. 

Claire Shapcott, Events Supervisor at The Donkey Sanctuary, says:

“Sometimes people wrongly label the mule as stubborn and they prefer the simplicity of donkeys or horses and ponies. In fact mules are highly intelligent and some people, like me, love their complex nature and find the challenge of working with these amazing creatures highly rewarding. Whether you are already an avid mule fan, or if perhaps you already love horses or donkeys and would like to learn about mules, this is the perfect opportunity to find out what it is like to care for these enigmatic creatures.  Come along and meet our mules, chat to our mule experts and maybe even find out if fostering mules with The Donkey Sanctuary could be for you.”

For more information about the event and to book your place, please call The Donkey Sanctuary’s Farms Equine Assistant, Nicky Spence, on 01395 573055.

To find out more about fostering mules and donkeys with The Donkey Sanctuary, please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.

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