Welcome, Sheila. I don't have any of them either, but I love them.
I guess you know what a donkey is. Donkey, Ass and Burro are the same
thing: Burro is the Spanish word. A mule is a cross between a horse
and a donkey, in particular the product of a jack donkey and a mare, but
is used for both types of cross. A hinny is a mule whose sire is a
stallion (horse) and mother a jenny donkey.
I had always thought that a Jennet was the jack/mare cross, but Chambers
dictionary gives that as a small Spanish pony. Anyone else anything to
contribute on that topic, please?
Mules are not necessarily the bigger - it all depends on how they are
bred. A small pony/small donkey mating will produce a mule which is
much smaller than a large donkey, especially a really large donkey such
as the Poitou breed.
Hope I've helped a bit.
--
Jenny M Benson
Jennet is a female donkey/burro/ass. Jack is a breeding male donkey. (and I
think a gelded donkey is called a jack also. Speaking of Jacks, an intact
male mule is called a jack (rare, as they always are gelded--obnoxious and
won't reproduce anyway.) Jack/mare cross is a mule. Stallion/jennet (jenny)
cross is a hinny.
Cynthia