Hinny is easier to obtain when the lower chromosome count, the donkey, is in the male. Therefore breeding for hinnies is more hit-and-miss than breeding for mules." The male hinny or mule can and will mate, but the emission is not fertile. Male hinnies and mules are usually castrated to help control their behavior by eliminating their interest in females. Female hinnies and mules are not customarily spayed, and may or may not go through estrus. Female mules have been known, on rare occasions, to produce offspring when mated to a horse or donkey, although this is extremely uncommon. Since 1527,
The Adventures of a Donkey woman telling Dan that someone is looking for a lost donkey in Tunbridge. Dan decides to take Jemmy to Tunbridge the next day to see if anyone recognises him. The pair walked round Tunbridge before coming to an inn. A voice from the inn window bellowed to them; it as Jenkins. He informed Dan that this was his master’s donkey which had gone missing some weeks ago. Dan passes Jemmy to Jenkins and leaves. Jenkins ties Jemmy up outside of the inn and re-enters to finish his drink and card game. During the game Jenkins bets Jemmy; he loses. Jemmy