Training Mules & Donkeys on TV

By 1983, Meredith Hodges had built a solid reputation as a mule and donkey trainer. She’d also realized that mules and donkeys develop an especially strong bond with the one who trains them. Just as you wouldn’t have someone try to make a friend for you, likewise, you can’t have someone build a relationship with an animal for you. If you want a bond of trust with your mule or donkey—the kind of relationship that fosters real progress—you must develop it yourself. To help with the process, Meredith wrote a comprehensive book titled, Training Mules and Donkeys: A Logical Approach to Longears.

During the next several years, she wrote three more training books and produced her Telly Award-winning series of 10 videotapes. These resources have given thousands of students everything they need to nurture and train their animals in a resistance-free, cruelty-free environment. The program is methodical and easy to follow, and if a question does arise, no problem. Meredith is there to help her students by phone or e-mail. (See Ask Meredith.) Training Mules & Donkeys is the first equine-training correspondence course. The sequential training techniques, combined with Meredith’s personalized support, create a powerful program unique in the industry.

But Meredith didn’t stop there. In an effort to reach an even larger audience, she turned to television. In 2000 the Outdoor Life Network aired a 13-week series based on her video series. Her programs were also shown on the Discovery Channel, and since 2002, Training Mules and Donkeys has aired on RFD-TV, a rural-lifestyle channel available on the DISH Network, DIRECTV and in several cable markets, with more coming on board all the time. Boasting more than 50 different shows completed or in production, this long-running series includes programs on all aspects of equine training, from beginning to advanced levels, Meredith’s animated children’s program, Jasper: The Story of a Mule and other animated programs adapted from hr children’s series, and Those Magnificent Mules, a multi-part documentary series offering an in-depth look at therapeutic riding programs, Bishop Mule Days and other topics of interest. Meredith’s show reaches a growing audience of longears enthusiasts, and she’s always looking for new information to share. We hope you enjoy Training Mules and Donkeys with Meredith Hodges and look forward to reaching more of you as RFD-TV expands its broadcast market.

TV Schedule:
Watch RFD-TV on Dish Network’s basic-programming Channel 231 and DIRECTV Channel 379.Cable Networks across the country continue to add RFD-TV to their basic-cable offerings. If your cable company doesn’t offer RFD-TV, give them a call and request it.
This Weeks RFD-TV Schedule

Coming up on Training Mules and Donkeys with Meredith Hodges:

March Schedule

Training Your Driving Mule Part 2 Wed - 3/5/08 First Airing
Importance of routine, sacking out, ground driving techniques, carts & carriages and driving a team.

Training Your Driving Mule Part 3 Wed - 3/12/08 First Airing
Hitching to the cart, unhitching, reinsmanship, pleasure driving, obstacle driving, pulling and more

Intermediate Donkey Training Wed - 3/19/08 First Airing
Riding in the round pen, ground driving, riding in the arena, obstacles and the canter.

Advanced Donkey Training Wed - 3/26/08 First Airing
Changing leads, lateral training, proper frame, lengthening strides, cavaletti, jumping and message.

April Schedule

Advanced Jumping Wed - 4/2/08 First Airing
Safety and equipment, riding positions, types of jumps, gymnastics, stadium jumping and showing.

Cross Country Jumping Wed - 4/9/08 First Airing
Combined training, levels, protective gear, rating speed, types of jumps, warm up and walking the course

Those Magnificent Mules and the Road to Bishop Wed - 4/16/08 First Airing
ENCORE AIRING - following Meredith Hodges' Longear love affair with Bishop Mule Days

Those Magnificent Mules and Bishop All Stars Part 1  Wed - 4/23/08 First Airing
NEW SPECIAL featuring interviews & performaces of Bishop Mule Days All Stars

Those Magnificent Mules and Bishop All Stars Part 2  Wed- 4/30/08 First Airing
NEW SPECIAL featuring interviews & performaces of Bishop Mule Days All Stars

May Schedule

Those Magnificent Mules and The Bishop Experience Part 1 Wed - 5/7/08 First Airing
NEW SPECIAL Bishop Mules Days is more than an event it’s an Experience!

Those Magnificent Mules and The Bishop Experience Part 2  Wed - 5/14/08 First Airing
NEW SPECIAL Bishop Mules Days is more than an event it’s an Experience!

Those Magnificent Mules and Theraputic Riding Part 1 Wed - 5/21/08 First Airing
ENCORE AIRING - explores unique benefits of therapeutic riding to disabled riders.

Those Magnificent Mules and Theraputic Riding Part 2 Wed - 5/28/08 First Airing
ENCORE AIRING - explores unique bond between equines and disabled riders.

June  Schedule        

#1:  Basic Management and Grooming  Wed - 6/4/08  First Airing
Basic considerations of owning an equine - shelter, fencing, health, grooming and advanced showmanship.       

#2:  The Mule Foal  Wed - 6/11/08  First Airing
Differences between horses and mules, behavior modification, catching, haltering, tying, leading & trailer loading.        

#3:  Showmanship  Wed - 6/18/08  First Airing
Basic concepts of showmanship - grooming, showing, patterns, halter and sportsmanship.        

#4:  Good Manners  Wed - 6/25/08  First Airing
Importance of routine, preventing bad habits, training aids, introduction to the saddle, obstacles & more      

 July  Schedule        

#5:  The Round Pen  Wed - 7/2/08  First Airing
Lunging for good posture & fitness, in the round pen, in the open and appropriate tack,        

#6:  Ground Driving  Wed - 7/9/08  First Airing
Importance of sequential training, equipment, ground driving, characteristics of driving animals and shoeing.        

#7:  The First Ride  Wed - 7/16/08  First Airing
Use of proper tack, mounting & dismounting, aids, gaits, use of patterns for successful development.        

#8:  Speed It Up  Wed - 7/23/08  First Airing
Techniques & mechanics of riding - patterns, canter, refining cues, dressage tests and obstacle courses.        

#9:  Collection  Wed - 7/30/08  First Airing   
Equitation, draw reins, riding the green mule, dressage, bending & proper collection “on the bit”.

August  Schedule    

#10:  Intermediate Skills  Wed - 8/6/08  First Airing
Bending, lateral exercises, riding obstacles, lead changes, trail and tips on showing.        

#11:  Advanced Skills  Wed - 8/13/08  First Airing
Fitting your bit, dressage, lateral exercises, counter canter and simple lead changes.        

#12:  Reining and Western Riding  Wed - 8/20/08  First Airing
Equipment, circles, rating your speed, stopping, backing, spins, flying lead changes and patterns.        

#13:  Jumping  Wed - 8/27/08  First Airing
Equipment, equitation, shoes, body positions, types of jumps, avoiding bad habits, stretching & warm-ups.

For show times, please visit www.rfdtv.com.

Don’t Get RFD-TV? Call your Cable Company.
If you’re a cable customer and your cable company doesn’t offer this super station, call ‘em up and ask for it. Cable companies across the country are adding RFD-TV to their station menus every day. If you have any problems, e-mail info@RFD-TV.com.

Television Sponsors
Now, in its 6th year of broadcasting, RFD-TV proudly serves the needs and interests of rural America, horse lovers, farmers & ranchers with traditional, family-oriented television programming.

RFD-TV is distributed on DIRECTV, DISH Network, Mediacom and NCTC cable systems in all 50 states, serving over 28 million U.S. homes, with another 19 million homes in Brazil now enjoying selected RFD-TV including Training Mules and Donkeys shows through Terraviva.

For information about the RFT-TV program Training Mules and Donkeys with Meredith Hodges and sponsorship opportunities please contact Paul Vitello at Vitello Productions, (818) 955-9930 or click here to contact by e-mail