I can personally attest to how many asses there are in the Army.
But now, Tina, an Army mule, is looking for greener pastures and could be coming to a farm near you.
As a 20-year-old mule with 1st Cavalry Division’s Horse Detachment at Fort Hood, Texas, Tina's been serving her nation honorably since 2006 and is now up for adoption.
“She was a fully operational draft mule until 2018 and has participated in countless Cavalry charges, mounted weapons demonstrations, civic parades, and color guards,” the Detachment said in a Facebook dated February 15.
They added she “could always be counted on to be steady and dependable.”
As the unofficial animal and pineapple correspondent here at ConnectingVets, let’s talk about what a mule is and isn't.
Mules are the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. The idea is to combine both equine partners to make a much tougher, more resilient working animal. They eat less and live longer than horses, making them particularly well-suited for farm life.
A hinny, on the other hand, is what happens when a male horse and a female donkey get together, but they’re far rarer.
The idea for a mule came along as early as the dawn of the second millennium BC, but the exact origin is damn near impossible to determine. For thousands of years, mules have been helping pull their human care-takers through the Middle Ages and into present day.
They were also a pet favorite of George Washington, who recognized the value of a mule in agriculture and became the first mule breeder in the area that would eventually become the United States. He also helped to expand the mule population significantly in the Colonies.
Fast forward to the 20th century when mounted troops of the 1st Cavalry Division traded their hoofed friends for jeeps, tanks, and trucks. The days of horse cavalry may be behind us, but the division whose unit patch features a one is keeping the tradition alive.
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According to the Detachment, Tina “will be suitable for light work alone” since she’s only ever been paired with her sister Dolly, who died of bone cancer last year.
“She is sound and does not have any chronic health issues, and is currently fed free choice Coastal Bermuda hay with lots of pasture grass,” they added.
If you’re interested in adopting Tina, you contact the 1st Cavaltry Division Detachment here. But hurry up, they’ll be accepting applications for only a few more days.
I wouldn’t bullshit you.
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