Bowker Biography:
Meredith Hodges

Meredith Hodges, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in California, has been associated with mules and donkeys since 1973 and has been associated with horses all her life. She worked as assistant trainer for her mother at the Windy Valley Ranch in Healdsburg, California, until its dispersal in 1979, at which time she started the Lucky Three mule ranch in Loveland, Colorado with Windy Valley broodstock.

 

Since then, Meredith has studied Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. She became an animal inspector, representative and judge for the American Donkey and Mule Society. Her popular and successful column called "Mule Crossing", has appeared in over 25 publications internationally since 1980. She sponsors Longears research at Colorado State University and Lousiana State University. She has, to date, produced five educational books: Training Mules and Donkeys: A Logical Approach to Longears; Training Without Resistance; Donkey Training and Equine Management, Donkey Training and A Basic Guide to Raising and Showing Mules along with a ten-tape video series that accompanies the books. MediaTech Productions has created the video tape series and 27 half-hour TV shows that have aired on Discovery Channel, Outdoor Life Network, RFD-TV aired on DISH Network and DirectTV.

 

Representing the first in a series of children’s books, Meredith's hardbound book for kids, "JASPER: The Story of a Mule” is fun for the whole family. Jasper can be read to small children by chapter as a bedtime story, perused by new readers with confidence and enjoyed by anyone with a passion for animals.

 

At the Lucky Three Mule Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, she began breeding a line of mules exceptional in quality and athletic ability. Since 1980, Meredith has owned and operated her own breeding and training farm for top-quality donkeys and mules, producing numerous World Champions. She has performed in numerous reining, dressage and jumping exhibitions and demonstrations at major horse and longears shows since 1984.

 

Meredith is a respected authority as a riding and training instructor, and breeder and promoter of mules and donkeys. Since 1980, Meredith has been an animal inspector, representative and judge for the American Donkey and Mule Society (the national organization donkeys and mules). She has written Mule Crossing since 1983, a column that appeared in over 25 equine publications internationally.

 

Always working toward the positive promotion of Longears, Meredith has studied horsemanship with a variety of instructors and clinicians, including world class jumping instructor, Denny Emerson, and Swedish Olympic Team member, Major Anders Lindgren. Melinda Weatherford, a USDF/USCTA regional instructor, sees to it that Meredith is continually learning and growing in her expertise. Meredith was instrumental in getting mules accepted by the USDF in 1986, and in 1988 she and three of her mules appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade. After successfully competing in breed shows for several years, Meredith further challenged her mules to compete and excel in Dressage and Combined Training. They have performed at levels beyond anyone’s expectations.

 

 

What Meredith says about mules: According to Meredith, “Mules are wonderful animals—strong, intelligent, affectionate, and with a great sense of humor. And what incredible athletes! But training a mule or donkey is different from training a horse. When people say ‘stubborn as a mule,’ they’re making a mistake! In order for training to be successful, you need to fully understand the horse-half of the mule and the donkey-half as well.” For more information, go to www.LuckyThreeRanch.com or www.JasperTheMule.com

 

 

Training Mules and Donkeys
"Highly recommended by the on-staff trainers, handlers and judges at ADMS. The best books around on training, whether you are looking for a show or pleasure prospect in your mule or donkey. A frequently asked question is 'Can't you train a mule like a horse - Well, almost.' Do you want the answers why and know how to deal with the differences? Read Meredith's books. The best at explaining the nuances of working with mules and creating a winning companion, working, or show animal. Add video tapes, which give you a reference in video and audio to correspond with your book, tuck the invaluable field cards in your pocket, and start working toward that Motto - Mules Can Do - and this series will show you how!"
Leah Patton, Secretary, American Mule and Donkey Society

 

 

Web: www.LuckyThreeRanch.com
           www.JasperTheMule.com
Email: order@luckythreeranch.com
Address: MediaTech Productions
P.O. Box 272345
Fort Collins, CO 80527 USA
Phone: (800) 816-7566
Fax: (970) 472-0743