MULE CROSSING: Colorado Classic Horse Show 1986
By Meredith Hodges
Mule Lovers of Colorado showed True Grit and perseverance in their acceptance to put on a mule show at the Colorado Classic Horse Show held in Denver on April 26, 1986. Notice of the invitation to show mules at the Classic was given only a month in advance. Still, these undaunted mule lovers were able to band together and put on an impressive show, despite the short notice. Over 40 mules were exhibited, with the proceeds going to the Colorado Heart Association. The mules were shown in the elite company of Arabian and Appaloosa horses. At the beginning of the show, the skepticism of the horse people was fairly apparent, but it wasn’t too long before their skepticism turned to awe and admiration. The mules were not what they had expected. They were clean, shiny and extremely well mannered. Mules made many new friends that day!
Much of what mules do today is a first for mules publicly, but they were able to claim a first in the equine world at the Colorado Classic. 
In the horse world in this country, one generally shows either English or Western, but the mule people have elected to open doors and accept many different riding styles in their shows via the Open Pleasure class. At the Colorado Classic, Sally McLean, astride her husband’s mule, Bucko exhibited the Australian mode of riding, complete with Australian clothing and tack. The man from Snowy River would have been proud and had he known mules a little better, he may have preferred using one in the film. His ride down the cliff would certainly have been more secure!
In spite of some chiding and jokes, these mule lovers put on a whale of a show, successfully turning heads for the overall favorable promotion of mules everywhere. They are to be duly congratulated. We would also like to thank those who were responsible for having enough faith in mules to have extended the invitation to participate in one of the largest horse shows in Colorado for the benefit of such a worthy charity. I can only hope that the future will bring many more mules!
AWARD ENTRY NAME OF ANIMAL SHOWN BY OWNER
Class 325: Mules up to 52” 3 years & over
- 1094 Miss Minnie Mae Sue Moore Cee Wolf, Littleton, Co
- 1082 Nutmeg Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 1074 LJ Lee Schweizer Lee Schweizer, Larkspur, Co.
- 1081 Daffney Nicole Hinojosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
Class 327: Mules over 58” 3 year & over
- 1017 Rambling Rose Diane Walston Walston, Longmont, Co.
- 854 Mae Bea C.T Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland , Co.
- 1072 Maggie Danny Langston Danny Langston, Boulder,Co.
- 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 1063 Dummy Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
Class 331: Youth Showmanship
- 1096 Frijole‘s Dixie Belle Leslie Basque Sharon Anthony, Col, Springs, Co.
- 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1084 Blackjack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bannett, Co.
- 1059 Judy Kimberly Nordyke Gordon Nordyke, Bennett, Co.
Class 333: Mules Foaled in 1984
- 851 Stardust Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland , Co.
- 865 Shenandon Patti Haddon Patti Haddon, Col, Springs, Co.
- 1097 Moonshadow Sally McLean L. T. R., Loveland, Co.
- 1077 Cody Gale Fortney Gale Fortney, Col. Spring, Co.
- 1073 Pehzutah Tanka Patty Barnard Patty Barnard, Littleton, Co.
Class 337: Jennets & Gelding Donkeys
- 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.
- 1092 Tinkerbell Marshall Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.
Class 339: Jacks
- 1069 Blue Zebulon Fran Howe Larry & Fran Howe, Bennett, Co.
Class 343: Sidesaddle
- 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1064 Gin Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft, Collins, Co.
- 1089 Miriah Carol Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
- 1084 Blackjack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
Class 345: Youth Pleasure Riding (13 yrs. & under)
- 1084 Black Jack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
- 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1080 Nifty Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 1059 Judy Kimberly Nordyke Gordon Nordyke, Bennett, Co.
- 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
Class 347: Youth Pleasure (14-17 years)
- 1096 Frijole’s Dixie Belle Leslie Busque S. Anthony, Col. Springs, Co.
- 1089 Miriah Wade Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
Class 349: Pleasure Riding (Open)
- 1072 Maggie Dick Ayers Danny Langston, Boulder, Co.
- 854 Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland, Co.
- 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1089 Miriah Carol Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
Class 351: Single Hitch
- 1038 Princess Tom Mowery T. Mowery, Englewood, Co.
- 854 Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland, Co.
- 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.
Class 353: Drive & Ride
- 1038 Princess Tom Mowery T. Mowery, Englewood, Co.
- 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
- 854 Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland, Co
Class 355: Team Driving
- 1093 J.R. & Sue Ellen Elmer Ausfahl Elmer Ausfahl, Littleton, Co.
- 1068 Nip & Tuck Bill Shively Bill Shively, Castle Rook, Co.
Class 357: Ranch Riding
- 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 854 Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges M. Hodges, Loveland, Co.
- 1064 Gin Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.
- 1083 Chester Bill Rossman Bill Rossman, Longmont, Co.
- 1080 Nifty Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
Class 359: Costume
- 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.
- 1039 Gus Tom Mowery Tom Mowery, Englewood, Co.
- 1062 Jill Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown , Co.
- 1084 Black jack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.
- 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.
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.
© 1986, 2016, 2024 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Most of the world’s calendars begin with New Year’s, but a mule lover’s calendar begins and ends with Bishop Mule Days held in Bishop, California, over Memorial Day weekend each year. This year marked the 17th Annual Mule Days Celebration with over 600 mules participating in everything from the parade to packing to steer roping and jumping. But Bishop Mule Days is more than just a mule show. It is an annual rendezvous of mule lovers from all over the world. It is an opportunity for these people to come together, exchange ideas, demonstrate their talents and pay their respects to the one animal most responsible for the building of this great country of ours – the mule!
Just as the mule has suffered great injustice to his character throughout the ages, so have his admirers and advocates. Stories and rumors have repeatedly portrayed the mule as an unattractive, stubborn creature, but modern day mule lovers have found that these rumors are simply not true. Fast breaking and gross impatience are probably the underlying reasons for such ignorant remarks. Mule lovers today are doing their level best to educate the general public about the true nature of the mule. The simple fact is that he’s generally better than the horse out of which he came, and much more personable!
The hard work and dedication of the owners, Dr. Robert and Debbie Miller and trainer of “Jord Ass Jean” was also quite apparent; she exhibited the grace and agility of a truly fine animal. Congratulations on tying for World Champion Performance Mule! It was well earned. Not to be outdone by horseracing, mule-racing fans cheered the victory of Cajun Queen, owned by J.P. Rogers, as the World Champion Running Mule. She was indeed a queen! Demonstrating speed and skill, the World Champion Packer was awarded to Tony Holdridge of the Red’s Meadows Pack Outfit. He did it so smoothly! The best for the best – good mules need a good farrier and Lee Green was where it’s at! Congratulations to our World Champion Farrier! Is it that wonderfully loud shirt, or was it the mule? Congratulations to Johnny Enos and Poco Streak, the 1986 World Champion Working Mule!
As more people are educated about mules, we see more participants in Bishop Mule Days. Ordinarily Bishop is a town of only 4000 people, but streets were lined with 50,000 spectators for the Mule Days Parade, the largest non-motorized parade in the world. In 1986, the parade consisted of 240 entries. Among those entries were real diehards such as the Vision Quest Wagon Train and Tindell Wagon Train. Both wagon trains travelled over 300 miles to take part in the Bishop Mule Days Celebration. The impressions they left along the way will probably go down in history. Once arrived, the young adults from Vision Quest gave us an extra-special treat with their multi-talented marching drill team. Our deepest thanks for their special contribution!
Sunday afternoon, Wadi, an Appaloosa mule, was chosen for the part. Congratulations, Wadi! In addition, Dix Country Pictures will also be putting together a documentary about the Bishop Mule Days Celebration. With their enthusiastic help, we should be able to reach more people than ever in praise of mules! In addition to the actual mule show, special events and people are an important part of Bishop Mule Days. The Governor of California, George Deukmejian participated in the parade and later held a press conference. Ted Dawson, award-winning sportscaster for KABC-PV Los Angeles, was honored as Grand Marshall for the Bishop Mule Days Parade. Struck with “Mule Fever,” enthusiastic Ted also participated in many mule events, with his memorable performance being in the musical tires class. Surely, it is a time he will never forget…and neither will we! Semi-truck pulls, steer packing, large hitch demonstrations, and races with eight to ten mules per wagon were just a few of many special events enjoyed by spectators that year.
All the way from Colorado, the Coors Belgian Hitch gave several impressive performances during the weekend show. Under the steady hand of Jim Hilgendorf, the Belgians exhibited an awesome display of power and grace. Monty Montana, 1978 Grand Marshall of the Mule Days Parade, returned to tantalize the crowd with his intricate rope tricks and trick riding, a wonderful contribution to Mule Days. Even the United States Armed Forces were represented at Bishop Mule Days – two were from the Mountain Warfare Training Center. Rumor has it that mules will still be replacing some modes of transportation in the more mountainous regions. The overall feeling is that mules would be more practical and economical for this type of use.
Each year, before the Saturday and Sunday evening performances, a very special lady, Nita Vick makes her contribution to Bishop Mule Days. Affectionately known as “Sarge,” she takes rookie volunteers and shapes them into the Bishop Mule Days Drill Team. No one would know from the actual performances that this team had the absolute minimum practice time, only one hour of practice before the performance on Saturday and only one hour before practice on Sunday! Their performance “Under the Flags” is a sight to see!
Mule Days is the most important American Association Show – it appeals to everyone in some way. Western cuisine, Western art shows and Western dances add to the overall picture of Bishop Mule Days. Fiddlers across America rosin up their bows for the Mule Days Fiddling Contest. As they wandered the grounds serenading the crowds, they were joined in harmony by singing donkeys and mules, and dancing exhibitions and spectators. A fun time was had by all! Bishop Mule Days is more than just a mule show. The area around Bishop is filled with mountain lakes and streams and offers backpacking and hiking, fishing, swimming and even skiing. Couple this with unique and spectacular entertainment and you have the opportunity for the time of your life! Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the year for these maligned animals and the unique people who love them!