“The passion that Meredith Hodges feels for the equines that she has fought for all her adult life is still as fresh, inspiring and infectious as it was when she first discovered the world of horses, donkeys and mules. She has never wavered in her devotion to them and in her mission to carve a lasting and honored place for them in our world. They are lucky to have her as their champion, but Meredith actually sees it a bit differently. She feels honored and privileged to be a part of their world.”
View Posts By Category:
All Posts | General Interest | Historical |
Longears People News | Lucky Three Ranch | Good-byes
Ground Breaking – Raising the Barn
Hearts and Horses broke ground on a new arena where they will continue to change lives through therapeutic riding. The new arena will be called Lucky Hearts, as much of the funding for the arena was given by Lucky Three Ranch.
MULE CROSSING: Good Basic Training Includes Common Sense, Part 4
By Meredith Hodges In Part3, your equine was properly strengthened and balanced in good posture during the more passive exercises in leading training over obstacles. Now, in the fourth and final part of this article, you and your equine will head to the round pen and learn how to balance correctly on the circle at the faster gaits. You’ll also learn the more advanced and quicker moves that are required under saddle and in harness. Only after you have adequately completed lead line flatwork and obstacle training is your equine ...
MULE CROSSING: Good Basic Training Includes Common Sense, Part 3
By Meredith Hodges In Part Two of this article, your equine was introduced to the ground rails, cavalletti and bridge obstacles. This helped develop his confidence and trust in you, his handler, while focusing on your animal just getting through each obstacle with true forward movement without hesitation. First, he learned the basics of negotiating these obstacles in Stage One. During Stage Two, when he went back through same the obstacles, he learned to do them in good posture and balance. Now, in order to continue your equine’s mental and ...
Another Augie and Spuds Adventure: Barrels in the Park
“Hey Spuds, where are we going today? What’s that over there?” “Oh, it’s just the barrels. I remember ground driving through these!” “This is my favorite part of the lessons, Augie!” “What the heck does she want now, Augie?” “Okay, I get it now Augie!” That was easy!” “Now what is she up to? I have to work by myself?!” “Spuds, I just can’t back between the barrels. I can’t see where I’m going!” “I’ll show you how, Augie! Forward around the ...
MULE CROSSING: Good Basic Training Includes Common Sense, Part 2
By Meredith Hodges Proper training is much more than just teaching your equine to do “movements.” You are conditioning his body so he can do those movements easily, which in turn produces an equine with a happy and healthy working attitude. In order to do this, you need to be prepared to spend plenty of time during the leading stage of training both on flat ground and then over obstacles, conditioning the “core” muscles that support your animal’s skeletal frame. When training any equine for saddle or driving, you will ...
MULE CROSSING: Good Basic Training Includes Common Sense, Part 1
By Meredith Hodges Many times I have been asked, “Is training a mule any different than training horses?” The answer to this is “Yes.” Since a mule is half horse and half donkey, the trainer must learn to appeal to the donkey half of the mule as well as the horse half. Donkeys are very sensitive animals requiring infinite patience and understanding. They possess a natural willingness to please which is evident when their training is approached properly. When training is done incorrectly, they will exhibit resistant behaviors that include ...
MULE CROSSING: Equine Behavior: Look Who’s Talking! Part 3
By Meredith Hodges In Part 1 of Equine Behavior: Look Who’s Talking, we discussed the evolution of man’s self-discovery and how he applied this to his approach to equines. If we want to manage our equines in a healthy way and accomplish even the most basic performance with them, there is much to consider during the training process. In Part 2 of Look Who’s Talking, we learned that equines are honest in nature and produce quick and honest reactions to a stimulus. Therapeutic Riding provides an exemplary teaching experience for ...
Another Augie and Spuds Adventure: Bathing with Roll II
“Roll’s hogging the washrack, Augie! How are we supposed to fit?” “Is this better, Spuds?” “I suppose so, Augie…as long as he keeps his distance!” “Hey, Spuds, how’s it feel?” “It’s so hot, this feels GREAT, Augie!!!” “Oh yeah, Spuds, this is great…nice cool water!” “Uh, excuse me, is anyone listening? BIG FOOT here is getting a little too close again!” “Oh good! Thanks, Mom!” “Just you wait, Spuds!” “Hey, Augie! Did he just threaten me?” “Naw, he’s just kidding, Spuds.” ...
MULE CROSSING: Equine Behavior: Look Who’s Talking! Part 2
By Meredith Hodges In Part 1 of Equine Behavior: Look Who’s Talking, we discussed the evolution of man’s self-discovery and how he applied this to his approach to equines. If we want to manage our equines in a healthy way and accomplish even the most basic performance with them, there is much to consider during the training process. In the not-so-distant past, the prevalent belief was that, if you had a reasonably large patch of grass with a fence around it, you could have a horse. We now know it ...
Another Augie and Spuds Adventure: In the Park
“Hey, Augie! Where are we going today?” "Isn’t there a better way to go than up the steps?” “Really Augie, do you always have to be so cooperative?” “Okay, what’s up now?” “Oats are always good!” “Are you kidding me? You really think that book will help?” “Augie, do you always have to be such a show-off?” “If you took the time to study, Spuds, things might be a lot easier for you!” “Maybe you’re right, Augie!” “I like how ...
MULE CROSSING: Equine Behavior: Look Who’s Talking! Part 1
By Meredith Hodges What kind of equine handler are you? When interacting with your Longears or any equine, are you an observer or a participant? Are you fully aware of the reasons for your equine’s behaviors? Behavior in general is most often motivated by a stimulus that elicits a response, yet the early years of physiological development are most dependent on heredity. Heredity includes not only physical characteristics, but mental, emotional and instinctual behaviors as well. We are taught that if an equine’s knees are beginning to fuse, he is ...
From the SWISS BULLETIN: Project Mule Museum in Törbel
By Mariette Herzig and Josefine Jacksch Background The idea of creating a mule museum is already old. When the association "Interessengemeinschaft für das Maultier" (IGM) was founded 30 years ago, some members wished to realize this idea at some point. They started to collect everything about the mule and they could present small exhibitions in other museums in Switzerland. In 2007 the working group "Museum" was formed, in 2012 the association "Mule Museum Switzerland" was founded. Its task was to push the idea of a mule museum forward. Already in ...
How a Sturdy Mule Triumphed Over 198 Champion Horses in the Great American Horse Race of 1976
We hope you enjoy this intriguing and inspiring article that was submitted by one of our contributing writers, Tara Edwards, Trimepil: Sometimes, miracles do happen. Such was the case in the not so distant 1976, when a proper underdog proved to be better than the competition. The competition being over 198 champion horses who were gunning for the title. A simple mule came out on top when put against some of the most treasured horses from all over the world. But was this outcome truly miraculous, or was it a ...
From the SWISS BULLETIN: The Mule as a Workhorse in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
By Elke Stadler The history of mankind is closely connected with the use of the working force of animals. Animal power was of special importance in transport and traffic - before motorization it was the only available movable driving force, almost at any time and versatile. What people themselves could not wear or pull; oxen, mules, horses and donkeys carried or pulled. In the past, despite their essential importance for working life and the economy, the working animals were hardly noticed in literature. The work of the animals was so ...
