Pedro the mule set to meet the Queen

Aug 13 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

HE may only measure 29 inches, but Pedro the mule is standing tall after winning the Royal seal of approval and getting to meet the Queen.

The tiny mule hit the headlines earlier this year when he was born in County Durham and The Journal’s story of his arrival travelled all over the UK and the world.

Now Pedro is set to meet Her Majesty, after being invited to represent the North East at one of the top horse shows on the equestrian calendar.

The mule and his owner, Maisey Watson, will be going to the prestigious Blenheim Show in Oxfordshire next month, after they were invited by the British Mule Society.

Maisey, 49, who lives in Moorside, Consett, County Durham, said: “It is all very exciting, it will be a great honour to be there, representing the North East. We have to go down a few days early to learn the protocol and we’ve been told to expect to see several members of the Royal Family.

“Zara Phillips is riding at the show and the Queen will hopefully be there. Pedro will be the star of the show, we have been told his picture will be on the front page of the programme for the event.

“It has been amazing all the interest we have had since The Journal first ran the story. People still stop by the farm and want to have a photo of little Pedro. He is very mild mannered and friendly.”

Vets have now checked Pedro and have confirmed he is not growing anymore.

Maisey, who breeds horses, donkeys and mules, said: “He is now about 29 inches tall and we have been told he won’t grow any more.

“But he is a lot heavier than he was so I can’t pick him up for a cuddle any more. He is in good health and there have been no problems at all.”

Male mules, the offspring of a male donkey and female horse, are always infertile and are usually somewhere between a horse and a donkey in size.

His mother Mrs Pickles is only about 30 inches tall herself and still feeds her offspring.

She will nurture him until he is around six months old and will travel down to the horse show with Maisey and Pedro.

Paul Kitchin of the British Mule Society said they believe Pedro is the tiniest mule anywhere in the UK. He said: “As far as we can tell Pedro is the smallest mule in the country, we don’t know of any which are smaller. He is a special creature.”