haleth wrote:
What makes a good jack for producing mules? I am kind of getting the impression that the best jacks are mainly used to breed more donkeys, and lesser ones are bred to mares, but I can't really tell. I don't know anything about proper donkey conformation, and I haven't been able to google up much, either. They all just look so-ugly-they're-cute to me.

What makes a good mare for producing mules?

The best jacks a used for producing good donkeys and good mules. The lesser ones produce lesser donkeys and poor mules. What KG said: a good mind is imperative. The jack should also have a show record (just like you should look for in a stallion) and preferably a proven record of producing quality mules. If he's a young jack, he can still have been shown and he should at least be by a good mule jack (a lot of the best ones will breed both mares and jennets).

Also what KG said: the mare is chosen by being suited for what you want to do with your mule. Some minor shortcomings in the mare can be compensated for by the choice in jack but a crap mare with major conformational faults will pass that along to the mule. A lot (but not all!) mules seem to get the bulk of their 'looks' from the mama and a good chunk of their temperament from the jack. Again, if a jack has a lot of mule babies on the ground, you will know if they take after their sire in temperament.

My mare is a bit high-strung and spazzy but the jack I bred her to is very mellow and tends to stamp his get with that mindset. He is not prepotent physically; other than basic mule characteristics, his progeny get most of their conformation from the mare. So far that has been borne out with our breeding. The mule colt is much more like his sire --very little rattles him-- than his mom. Thank heavens!

As for finding the jack you want... You need to look into some of the mule publications, either in print or online. I love Mules & More (http://mulesandmore.com/mmhome.htm) and I think there is a Western Mule magazine. See if you can get on some mule list groups or forums with members in your neck of the woods. Check out the American Donkey and Mule Society (http://www.lovelongears.com/). Look at the show results from Bishop Mule Days or other donkey & mule shows and then ask around about/research the jacks that place high and farms that show them. Also look into the breeding of individuals of the type of mule you're interested in -- most mule people love to talk about their animals.