In January of 2019, the Fédération Equestre Internationale, or FEI, rewrote it's definition of the term "horse" to allow mules to compete on the International stage. However, in recent months, a request to remove mules from permission has been made arguing that mules are in fact not horses and therefore should not be permitted to compete as such.

This reversal would potentially encourage national governing bodies in equestrian sport to close the door on allowing mules to compete in non-breed specific disciplines. Subsequently, there would be a trickle-down effect and many regional and local competitions that utilize the FEI rulebook could also disallow mules.

The primary argument against mules states that "mules are not horses." This statement is quite literally only half correct; though mules are not horses, they are most definitely half horses. They are used in all the same facets as a horse (riding, driving, pack, etc), wear the same tack, and are trained/ridden in the same manner as a horse, display the same gaits, and can perform the same training maneuvers in competition. For these reasons, an official should be capable of judging a mule amongst horse competitors. Mules have more in common with horses than not and therefore should be viewed simply as another breed.

Allowing mules to compete will open equestrian sport to a whole new set of members with which will come increased participation, fresh ideas, a larger volunteer pool, and more opportunities to grow and improve equestrian sport throughout the world.