Hinny

Equus caballus × Equus asinus

A hinny is a domestic equid hybrid produced by breeding a horse stallion to a female donkey, or jenny. It is the reciprocal cross of the mule, which comes from a donkey jack and a horse mare, and it is not a true breed or species. Because a hinny inherits one chromosome set from each parent, it is almost always sterile. Size, ear length, head shape, coat color, and way of going vary widely with the parents, though many hinnies are smaller and less common than comparable mules.

People keep hinnies for riding, driving, packing, and companion use where their temperament and build suit the job. Safe fencing and compatible companions come first, and feeding should respect the efficient metabolism many donkey-influenced animals have. Farrier and dental care matter as much as they do for horses or donkeys, as do routine health and parasite plans. Saddle and harness fit deserve attention because backs, shoulders, and withers may not match horse expectations. Breeding hinnies is less common than breeding mules, partly because jennies can be harder to settle to a stallion and demand is more specialized.