Training Products

By Meredith Hodges

Our Training Mules and Donkeys DVD training series, was developed to help you to train your own animal with resistance-free techniques. This is important, especially in the case of mules and donkeys that actually bond to the person who trains them. In order for our program to work, it is important to use it correctly. Regardless of the age or experience of the animal, you need to begin with DVD #1 and take the training in sequence. Each DVD poses different tasks to help facilitate a good working relationship with the trainer and helps to strengthen the muscles at each stage to prepare the animal for things to come. We are preparing the animal physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is why it is important not to proceed too quickly and to do things in their natural order.

Each DVD should take six months to a year to complete, depending upon the individuals involved. Though you can buy the DVDs one at a time, there are benefits to purchasing the entire series. In addition to substantial discounts, you are able to look ahead and understand the purpose in what you are doing at the time.

Our program is like grade school for equines, and lays a good solid foundation for versatility and optimum performance. We begin with simple tasks that build on each other. This not only teaches the animal to do what we ask, but it also teaches us to become more prompt and appropriate in rewarding positive behaviors to get the best results. We do not use the reward system (crimped oats) to bribe or coerce. The oats are given only after a positive task has been completed. When you do this correctly, there are little to no resistive behaviors.  When we do this correctly, the animal learns to want to please, enjoys his time with you, and actually looks forward to each training session. The result is an obedient, submissive, dependable companion and athlete, capable of performing English, Western, Gymkhana, Driving, or any other equine activity that you would prefer.

We developed this program to encourage people to form their own relationships with their animals, so they can get the best from their animals. The DVDs give you a lot of detail about what to do from day to day in your training sessions, which is virtually impossible to do with clinics or from sending your animal to a trainer. I am available by phone or mail should you have difficulties along the way, and I am prompt in getting back to you, so problems can be dealt with when they arise. Imagine! Your trainer is only a phone call or e-mail away! The cost is also considerably less than sending your animal to a trainer.

Mules and donkeys bond to the people who train them, so we encourage owners to do the training with the help of our resistance free training series that provides a solid base for all equine activities. This series will help you get the best from any equine whether large or small, donkey, mule or horse. It is designed like grade school is for children. You and your equine will learn together in a natural and logical order.

Whether your equine is a foal, has had partial training or a new animal, begin with DVD #1 (and with DVD #8). In this DVD, you will not only teach simple things like haltering, tying and leading, but you will learn to employ a reward system of training called Behavior Modification. You will learn to recognize and reward good behaviors in your animal and set up situations that can be rewarded. Your equine’s athletic conditioning begins with appropriate exercises that develop all internal structures that support the body. Your equine will grow and develop properly, and will consequently perform better.

 

Training Mules and Donkeys: A Logical Approach to Longears is the first book to be published, has a more abbreviated view of the overall training process and general information about the psychology of mules and donkeys.

 

 

 

The book, Donkey Training is basically the same as DVD’s #9 and #10 without the benefit of the moving pictures (and has bonus information that the DVDs do not have) and illustrates the things that are different about training donkeys as opposed to horses and mules. Donkeys often do things in a different order and sometimes, they don’t need to learn to lunge at all until much later in their training…after they are already going well under saddle, or in harness. This DVD is designed to be used in conjunction with DVD #1 through DVD #8 when training donkeys.

 

 

Our book, A Guide to Raising & Showing Mules has a lot of valuable general information that complements the resistance free DVD training series with more about breeding, mare and foal care, and general Mulemanship and maintenance issues. It is the perfect complement to the video series and a must-have for beginners and 4-H projects.

 

 

 

In DVD #1: Foal Training, you will not only be imprinting your animal and training for the simple tasks such as tying and leading, but you will also learn how to be prompt and appropriate with your rewards. The exercises will start your equine on a program that will begin to strengthen his muscles and promote coordination. Imprinting is not just something you do with a foal and then it’s done. Imprinting is the way you touch and handle your animal every time you are with him throughout his entire life. As you learn how he likes to be touched, you can use this to help him to stay calm and accepting.  How you touch him will determine whether, or not, he develops confidence and trust in you! When your equine is approached with patience and kindness, and is rewarded for standing quietly, it will be easier to handle him for such things as deworming and doctoring and he will be more willing to stand still to be mounted. The leading exercises in this DVD will start your equine on a program that will begin to strengthen his muscles and promote balance and coordination.

 

In DVD #2: Preparing for Performance: Groundwork, you will begin your lunging and ground driving lessons. The exercises will increase in their demand and begin to develop more bulk muscle in preparation for work in harness and riding. Equines will be introduced to the snaffle bit and other tack in this DVD. We use English bridles with a noseband and drop noseband over a mild snaffle bit right from the beginning, so they never even try to get their tongue over the bit. This teaches them to accept the bit easily and to form the good habit of taking contact with the bit instead of avoiding it and allowing bad habits to start. It is easier to prevent a bad habit than it is to try to break it later. You will see how putting the animal in the correct frame (or posture) from the beginning in the round pen with what we call the “elbow pull” enables him to build his muscles correctly and symmetrically throughout his body You will learn how your body language affects his movement in the round pen and on the drivelines. Your equine may begin to be aggressive for his reward and you will learn how to set limits to these aggressive behaviors to set the stage for a polite and well-mannered equine. If biting, or kicking, has been a problem in DVD #1, you will learn how to correct these behaviors in DVD #2.

DVD #3: Preparing for Performance: Driving, provides all the information you need to safely train your equine to drive. It covers carts and carriages, hitching training, Reinsmanship, Pleasure Driving, Obstacle Driving, working in harness, lateral exercises, obstacles, driven dressage and driving rules. You can begin this DVD after you have completed the foundation work in DVD’s #1 and #2.

 

DVD #4: Basic Foundation for Saddle. If you don’t wish to drive, you can go straight to DVD #4 and begin your equine’s riding training in a natural and non-stressful manner that eliminates adverse behaviors such as bucking or running off. We address both the needs of the rider and the equine as a team focusing on the right approach, good balance and coordination of both equine and rider. You can begin this DVD after you have completed DVD’s #1 and #2.

When you finally mount your equine and start riding, the only thing left for him to do is to get used to your shifting weight on his back and the new leg cues he will feel on his sides. Because he has learned to carry his own body in good, strong equine posture and has already learned what rein cues mean through ground driving, he will be better able to do all the different moves that you ask of him under saddle without being generally overwhelmed by too many things happening all at once. As you progress under saddle, you will be better able to perfect your own riding skills and your equine will become lighter in the bridle and more responsive to your cues. You both will not have to deal with the weakness, awkwardness, confusion and disobedience that originate from a lack of preparation for the tasks.

 

In DVD #5: Intermediate Saddle Training, we help the rider fine tune his own skills and begin to cultivate a harmonious rapport between equine and owner with fun, safe and simple exercises that will enhance your riding experience whether it is for show, or pleasure. You can begin this DVD after you have completed DVD’s #1 and #2 and #4.

 

 

DVD #6: Advanced Saddle Training will begin to prepare the rider for specific disciplines and help them to make choices about what they might enjoy more. It demonstrates how the simple elements of dressage are the basis for all equine disciplines including gymkhana, reining, cutting, English and Western pleasure, trail, or even simply weekend trail riding. This kind of training is not just for show, but to keep both of you safe and happy during your time together. You can begin this DVD after you have completed DVD’s #1 and #2, #4 and #5.

 

DVD #7: Jumping gives the owner the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of jumping and condition their equine in a safe and methodical manner and… how to ride, build and evaluate jump courses. It covers exercises to prepare your equine to carry him safely over any obstacle, multi-level terrain or jumps. You can begin this DVD after you have completed DVD’s #1 and #2, #4, #5 and #6.

 

DVD #8: Management, Fitting & Grooming. Of course, your equine needs to be fed and maintained properly to get the best response from him during training and this is done in DVD #8. We also offer grooming tips and more advanced lessons in showmanship at the end of this video.

DVD’s #9 and #10 cover techniques that are specific to donkeys and these two DVDs are designed to be used in conjunction with the other video tapes.

 

DVD #9: Keys to Training the Donkey: Introduction and Basic Training covers groundwork technique that is specific to donkeys, how to train jacks to breed mares for mule production and how to measure your animal for athletic potential and should be used in conjunction with DVDs #1 and #2.

 

 

DVD #10: Keys to Training the Donkey: Saddle Training & Jumping covers saddle training and jumping and should be used in conjunction with DVD’s #4 through #7. You can also purchase our book, Donkey Training which is the same as DVD’s #9 and #10, but sometimes having the moving pictures can be more helpful than still shots. Also, if you want to teach your donkey to drive, you would also need DVD’s #1, #2, and #3.

 

 

Training Without Resistance (DVD’s #1 – #7) and Equine Management & Donkey Training (DVD’s #8 – #10) are exactly the same as the electronic workbooks that accompany the DVDs. These two manuals are also helpful to those who cannot afford the DVD series or for those who would like a professionally published workbook. They are both translated into French, German and Spanish, so our non-English speaking friends can read along with the DVD series in their own language.

 

 

Equus Revisited: A Complete Approach to Athletic Conditioning. This comprehensive 4-part DVD and companion manual explains WHY it is so important to spend plenty of time on groundwork and development of the core strength of your equine. It covers multiple aspects of your equine’s care in great detail with a team of experts. It has a lot of special features about various subjects and in-depth explanations about the anatomy and physiology of the equine.

Why So Many Different Books and Videos?

I do offer “Packages” because each of the materials covers the elements of management and training from a different perspective with a different focus:

• Training Mules and Donkeys: A Logical Approach to Longears book is an overview or summary of the entire training program
• Donkey Training book is mostly about what things are done differently with donkeys than with horses and mules during the training process at each stage
• A Guide to Raising & Showing Mules book includes management (housing, fences, disease, teeth, hooves, etc.) , breeding and showing information with some regard to training
• 10-DVD Training Mules and Donkeys DVD series is a collection of the exercises that you DO in what order with each DVD representing roughly 1 year of training (except for 8, 9 and 10…see explanations in detail in what I sent before)
• Training Without Resistance manual is a collection of DVD’s #1 through #7 with extra detailed information in print and available in French, German and Spanish translations.
• Equine Management & Donkey Training manual is a collection of DVD’s #8 through #10 with extra detailed information in print and available in French, German and Spanish translations.
• Equus Revisited manual/DVD combo addresses WHY you are doing all the things that you do in the books and videos. If you had to pick just one book, I would suggest the “Equus Revisited” manual AND the companion DVD.
• However, buying the Horse/Mule Complete Package (at a discount rather than buying products individually) would give you all you need because basically the Donkey Training book (that is left out) is exactly the same as DVD #9 and #10 and the Equine Management and Donkey Training manual has extra information that the book does not have.

Our online school, TMD-Equine University offers the ultimate equine experience including a course in equine business. It was founded in order to provide extensive education in the care, maintenance and training for horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other equine hybrids. We think it is important to understand and embrace the differences between the breeds. This course of study will teach the student in-depth management practices that assure that graduating students fully understand and can implement these practices in a healthy and safe manner for both the equine and the owner. Students who complete the program successfully will receive full Certification from the State of Colorado. Visit www.TMDequineuniversity.com.

 

For more information and purchase of our products, you can call 1-800-816-7566 or visit our website at www.LuckyThreeRanch.com. Our website is also translated into French and Spanish for foreign convenience. Under Training, be sure to read archived articles posted in the Mule Crossing section, peruse commonly asked questions in Ask Meredith, get more details in our Training Tips and watch our new television shows and past RFD-TV shows with Video on Demand. If you don’t have a computer, you can go to a library and use their computer, or ask a friend to help you out. Take time to peruse our Classified Ads section (this is a free service and an open forum, so we caution buyers to beware and check carefully). Under Resources, we post contact information for mule and donkey clubs and rescue organizations, keep you up to date about Equine Welfare in the news and heavily support Therapeutic Riding. Click our Homepage links for You Tube, Facebook and Twitter. And, don’t forget to check out our children’s website at www.JasperTheMule.com. Join the American Donkey & Mule Society (www.lovelongears.com,adms@lovelongears.com) to receive their bimonthly magazine with even more valuable information for a mere $27/yr. Learn together, enjoy the time with your equine and excel together!

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.

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