MULE CROSSING: A.D.M.S. National Show 1986
By Meredith Hodges
The 1986 A.D.M.S. National Donkey & Mule Show was held in Dallas, Texas, October 24-26, and hosted by the Southwestern Donkey & Mule Society. Glen Heiney, owner of the Heiney Training Center in Joshua, Texas, who has devoted his life to the advancement and promotion of the equine industry, was the chosen mule judge. Dr. Suzy Schoener, member of the A.D.M.S. since 1976 and founding member of the Texas Draft Horse & Mule Society, took time from her veterinary practice in Mansfield, Texas, to come and judge the donkeys. There were 70 different classes in the show, equally divided between mules and donkeys. This is one of the few shows I have attended that gave donkey owners an opportunity to exhibit their abilities. One need only try to train a donkey to really appreciate the patience and effort these donkey owners have put into their animals. They deserve a place to display their talents. This was one of the primary reasons we travelled all the way from Colorado to attend this show. This was one of the few shows where we could show our jack, Little Jack Horner at more than just halter. Another important reason for attending was to meet those in Texas who share our interest in Longears and what an hospitable group of people they turned out to be!
From Loveland, Colorado, it took two days to reach Dallas. The first night, Cliff Rich and Gary Marble were kind enough to arrange for accommodations for us and our Longears at the Equestrian Center in Canyon, just south of Amarillo. The following day, Cliff led us safely into Dallas for the show. Without his help, we would surely have been lost! At the show we were greeted cheerfully and enthusiastically by several A.D.M.S. members and friends whose hospitable contributions made our trip more than worthwhile. Our deepest thanks go to Cliff Rich, Katharine Bradley, Paul and Betsy Hutchins, Darlene Winters, Grady and Wanda Alexander, Jeb and Sue Wilson, Walter Nunn and Keith and Micki Woods. These folks went out of their way to make our experience a pleasant one.
Besides the number of donkey classes made available, there were other things about this show that made it special. Exhibitors were encouraged to decorate their stall areas with photos and facts about mules, donkeys and their farms and ranches. This kind of enthusiasm made for an informative and interesting display for the spectators who strolled through the barn area, helping them to better understand just what was really going on at the show.
So many times, those who work long and hard on such functions as this National Show get lost in the shuffle once things have begun. I was particularly impressed with their thoughtfulness in holding an awards ceremony to appreciate those who made this show possible and for those who have made other measureable contributions to Longears. It is things like this that keep people interested in contributing!
I have noticed at many other shows that costume classes are not always well defined, which can really leave a judge “out in left field,” so to speak. The costume classes at the A.D.M.S. National Show were expertly decided in three different categories: humorous, historic, and authentic. Done in this manner, each class was well defined to the judge, exhibitors and to those who were watching, promoting more enjoyment and less confusion. My compliments go to the wonderfully creative costumes that were exhibited. They were fascinating and most enjoyable!
As impressive as the adult classes were youth classes. These young people did a fine job showing their donkeys and mules, and should be congratulated on their mature conduct and horsemanship (or should I say Longearsmanship?!). They did as fine a job as I have ever seen!
Congratulations to our National Champions:
Thanks to all of you who made the 1986 National Donkey and Mule Show the tremendous success that it was. We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Texas and appreciated the warmth and hospitality that we received. Congratulations on a terrific show!
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.
The Donkey & Mule Society of the Carolinas is to be commended on a job well done in the organization and running of this show, with special thanks to Leslie Bruce and Jackie Sanders for their tireless dedication and support. Founders of the American Donkey & Mule Society, Paul and Betsy Hutchins from Denton, Texas, were thrilled with the success of the show while they too made their own personal contributions. Paul’s captivating and humorous comments throughout the show kept the audience perked, while Betsy spent the long hours manning the A.D.M.S. booth, taking new memberships and renewing old ones, selling longears products, and talking Longears with hundreds of eager spectators and exhibitors. Tennessee mule balladeer Marilyn Powell Greene’s melodic voice filled the air, musing on mules and setting an enchanting ambiance to the whole affair. Even I was compelled to travel all the way from Colorado to lend my support to this special Longears event… and I am really glad that I did! I was particularly thrilled that I was able to bring with me my apprentice mule and donkey trainer/breeder, Ruth Elkins, a representative of the British Mule Society! We both had a wonderful time!
Of particular interest were the driving classes: Single Hitch, Youth Hitch, Multiple, and Parade Hitches, Pleasure Driving, Reinsmanship, Races, and Obstacle classes. There were teams of all different sizes and colors, in beautiful harness, pulling a variety of carts and carriages. Classes were held for both mules and donkeys. As we know, running mules in races of any kind is lucrative at best, but the mules that ran in the harness races at this show were really quite good. Even the donkeys did a respectable job, although there were a couple of them that gave us a chuckle with their deliberate unconcerned attitude during their driver’s enthusiastic “Yee-Hawing” and flailing arms!