Life span question

SunnyKS · 12-13-2007, 08:04 AM

I was watching Meridith Hodges last night and she was doing a very nice special on Theripudic riding, anyway I think I heard her say one of the reasons Mules were so good for these programs is that on the average they live 20 years longer than horses.

Did I hear that right?

Carri · 12-13-2007, 08:11 AM

Wow, really? I did not know that!

SunnyKS · 12-13-2007, 08:23 AM

Well I'm not sure I heard it right so don't take it to the bank yet!

Mule Fool · 12-13-2007, 09:23 AM

I think I heard about 10 years longer once, and that they are generally useful for a longer period, too.

SunnyKS · 12-13-2007, 11:00 AM

Okay I tried to research this on my own and look what my search got me!

...and God created the mule, and told him: "You will be Mule, working constantly from dawn to dusk, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and you will lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years."

The mule answered: "To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20." And it was so.

Then God created the dog, and told him: "You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years."

And the dog responded: "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so.

God then created the monkey, and told him: "You are Monkey. You will swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years."

And the monkey responded: "Lord to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years." And it was so.

Finally, God created Man and told him: "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years."

And the man responded: "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 30 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog didn't want, and the 10 years the monkey selected."

And it was so.

And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 30 years like a mule, working & carrying heavy loads on his back. Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years more as a monkey, acting like a clown to amuse his grandchildren.

And it was so... for evermore ...Amen.

Sheri Tarrant · 12-13-2007, 11:05 AM

OMG! Sunny! That is just too funny! I thought I was going to fall off my chair!

So true tho, that men tend to get more like mules after marriage, and then like monkeys in their old age!

Bandit · 12-13-2007, 04:13 PM

That is what she said - I watched it last night as well.

According to rural heritage donkeys can live 30-50 years. And the smaller ones tend to live longer than the larger ones.

Chic · 12-13-2007, 05:06 PM

I'm going to have to tell my DH that one! LOL!

Yes, it's true. Donkeys can live up to 50 yrs but I think 30 to 40 is more common. They are truely a pet for the long haul. I'm not sure about Mules... I would imagine that since they are part donk and part horse they would be somewhere in the middle.

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12-13-2007, 08:04 AM
SunnyKS Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,452	Life span question I was watching Meridith Hodges last night and she was doing a very nice special on Theripudic riding, anyway I think I heard her say one of the reasons Mules were so good for these programs is that on the average they live 20 years longer than horses. Did I hear that right? __________________

12-13-2007, 08:11 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern US Posts: 9,938	Wow, really? I did not know that! __________________

12-13-2007, 08:23 AM
SunnyKS Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,452	Well I'm not sure I heard it right so don't take it to the bank yet! __________________

12-13-2007, 09:23 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	I think I heard about 10 years longer once, and that they are generally useful for a longer period, too.

12-13-2007, 11:00 AM
SunnyKS Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,452	Okay I tried to research this on my own and look what my search got me! ...and God created the mule, and told him: "You will be Mule, working constantly from dawn to dusk, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and you will lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years." The mule answered: "To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20." And it was so. Then God created the dog, and told him: "You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years." And the dog responded: "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so. God then created the monkey, and told him: "You are Monkey. You will swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years." And the monkey responded: "Lord to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years." And it was so. Finally, God created Man and told him: "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years." And the man responded: "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 30 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog didn't want, and the 10 years the monkey selected." And it was so. And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 30 years like a mule, working & carrying heavy loads on his back. Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years more as a monkey, acting like a clown to amuse his grandchildren. And it was so... for evermore ...Amen. __________________

12-13-2007, 11:05 AM
Sheri Tarrant Weanling Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 450	OMG! Sunny! That is just too funny! I thought I was going to fall off my chair! So true tho, that men tend to get more like mules after marriage, and then like monkeys in their old age! __________________ ~ No hour of life is lost... That is spent in the saddle. ~ Winston Churchill ~Isn't it amazing the things we will do and endure...All for the love of horses~

12-13-2007, 04:13 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	That is what she said - I watched it last night as well. According to rural heritage donkeys can live 30-50 years. And the smaller ones tend to live longer than the larger ones. __________________

12-13-2007, 05:06 PM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,208	I'm going to have to tell my DH that one! LOL! Yes, it's true. Donkeys can live up to 50 yrs but I think 30 to 40 is more common. They are truely a pet for the long haul. I'm not sure about Mules... I would imagine that since they are part donk and part horse they would be somewhere in the middle. __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale