A Guide to Raising and Showing Mules – Mule, Donkey & Horse Training with Meredith Hodges

May 22 2024

MULE CROSSING: Why the “Guide to Raising and Showing Mules”

Kyle Davidson Mule Crossing A Guide to Raising and Showing Mules, lucky three ranch, Meredith Hodges, Mule Crossing 0

For the last 50 years, mules have been gaining popularity in the United States, because they are now performing in more equine athletics than ever before. Not only are they used in the more common driving, draft and pack work, but they are performing in every class in equine shows and doing remarkable things in exhibition.

They are typically more surefooted than horses on rugged trails, they are more resistant to parasites and disease, less likely to injure themselves, require less feed than horses and are thus more economical to keep. However, they are a little different than horses when it comes to feeding and training, so horse techniques do not always work.

My books and videos cover a large gamut of information on the management, care and feeding of mules and donkeys, and what is not present in the training books and videos is compiled in A Guide to Raising & Showing Mules. Not only do you get a review of feeding, maintenance, and training, with reference to the other products available, but you also get information on breeding, caring for foals, diseases, safety measures, supplies needed, all about showing, points programs, how to set up shows, clubs and organizations and a wide variety of other mule related issues that are important in the raising, showing, promoting and selling of these animals.

I wrote this book as a result of letters and phone calls from people who needed access to this kind of information. As mules increased in popularity, there were multiple requests from families for a book that could double as a 4-H Club manual for Longears should a child opt to make a mule or donkey their 4-H Club project. The complaint from 4-H leaders was that there were no manuals written specifically for Longears, and the kids would therefore not be allowed to have a mule or donkey as a project. Some areas modified their equine manuals and allowed mules as a project (no donkeys), but most areas just turned the kids down. It is the hope that 4-H clubs will adopt this book as their official 4-H Mule Project manual along with my other management and training materials. 4-H Club leaders can devise their own tests from the content.

Mules and donkeys, affectionate animals that they are possess a natural attraction to children and seem to want to cooperate with them even more than they do with adults, so it is not inordinate that they be included in the 4-H Club agenda.

This book was targeted for the kids, but also serves as a general manual for all beginners and a great reference for advanced horsemen alike. It is written simply so that it is easily understood as are all of my products. I can only hope that everyone can learn to love and appreciate their Longears as much as I do mine!

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com, MEREDITH HODGES PUBLIC FIGURE Facebook page, or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe, YouTube and Twitter.

Covered in TRAINING MULES & DONKEY: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAINING, TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE and EQUUS REVISITED at www.luckythreeranchstore.com.