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:      

For show times, please visit www.rfdtv.com

April Schedule

 #29: Massage for Your Equine w/Joanne Lang Wed - 4/1/09 First Airing
Meredith and Joanne discuss the benefits of equine massage and how to get the best from your equine.

 #39: “Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Road to Bishop”  Wed - 4/8/09 First Airing
Special – following Meredith Hodges’ Longears love affair with Bishop Mule Days

 #42: “Those Magnificent Mules
 & Bishop All Stars Part 1”  Wed - 4/15/09 First Airing
Special – featuring interviews & performances of Bishop Mule Days All Stars

 #43:  “Those Magnificent Mules
 & Bishop All Stars Part 2”  Wed - 4/22/09 First Airing
Special – Featuring interviews and performances of Bishop Mule days all Stars

 #44: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Bishop Experience Part 1  Wed - 4/29/09 First Airing
Special – Bishop Mule Days is more than just an event…it’s an Experience!

May Schedule

 #45: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Bishop Experience Part 2  Wed - 5/6/09 First Airing
Special – Bishop Mule Days is more than just an event…it’s an Experience! 

 #37: Meredith Hodges Presents
 “Love Those Longears” Part 1  Wed - 5/13/09 First Airing
Special – featuring excerpts from Video Mike’s Bishop Mule Days video

 #38: Meredith Hodges presents
 “Love Those Longears” Part 2   Wed - 5/20/09 First Airing
Special – featuring excerpts from Video Mike’s Bishop Mule Days video

 #27: “Training Mules & Donkeys
 with Meredith Hodges & Richard Shrake”   Wed - 5/27/09 First Airing
Meredith and Richard discuss the advantages of resistance free training when dealing with equines

June Schedule

  #28: “Evaluating Your Equine’s Athletic Potential
 with Meredith Hodges & Richard Shrake” Wed - 6/3/09 First Airing
Meredith and Richard discuss realistic ways of evaluating and selecting your equine to suit your purpose

 #1: Basic Management, & Grooming      Wed - 6/10/09 First Airing
Basic considerations of owning an equine – shelter, fencing, health, grooming and advanced showmanship

  #30: Keys To Successful Training:
 Attitude & Approach        Wed - 6:17/09 First Airing
Subtle components of good training practices for the success of your training program

 #31: Keys To Successful Training:
 Your Working Environment      Wed - 6/24/09 First Airing
Importance of setting up the environment and considering safety rules in a way that promotes success

July Schedule

#10: “Intermediate Skills”
Bending, lateral exercises, riding obstacles, lead changes, trail and tips on showing

Wed – 7/8/09 #11: “Advanced Skills”
…covers the curb bit, dressage, lateral exercises, counter canter and simple lead changes.

 #46: Equus Revisited: Part 1  Wed - 7/15/09 First Airing
Special - Premier Airing of “A Healthy Beginning” for your equine

#47: Equus Revisited: Part 2  Wed - 7/22/09 First Airing
Special - Premier Airing of “Balance, Body Awareness & Good Posture” for your equine

   #48: Equus Revisited: Part 3  Wed - 7/29/09 First Airing
Special - Premier Airing of “Elements of Good Communication” for your equine

 August Schedule

  #49: Equus Revisited: Part 4  Wed - 8/5/09 First Airing
Special - Premier Airing of Athletic Conditioning for Longevity” for your equine

#29: Massage For Your Equine w/Joanne Lang Wed - 8/12/09 First Airing
Meredith and Joanne discuss the benefits of equine massage and how to get the best from your equine.

#25: Advanced Jumping   Wed - 8/19/09 First Airing
Safety and equipment, rider positions, types of jumps, gymnastics, stadium jumping and showing

#26: Cross Country Jumping  Wed - 8/26/09 First Airing
Combined Training levels, protective gear, rating speed, types of jumps, warm up and walking the course

September Schedule

#32: A Labor of Love: The Making of Jasper Wed - 9/2/09 First Airing
The making of the animated special “Jasper: the Story of a Mule” (Family interest)

#33: Jasper: The Story of a Mule  Wed - 9/9/09 First Airing
Animated special adapted from Meredith Hodges' children's book, "Jasper: The Story of a Mule." (Family interest)

  #20: Training Your Driving Mule Part 1 Wed - 9/16/09 First Airing
Riding versus driving, determining the driving candidate, selecting and fitting harness, whips and ground driving.

#21: Training Your Driving Mule Part 2 Wed - 9/23/09 First Airing
Importance of routine, sacking out, ground driving techniques, carts & carriages and driving a team

#22: Training Your Driving Mule Part 3 Wed - 9/30/09 First Airing
Hitching to the cart, unhitching, reinsmanship, pleasure driving, obstacle driving, pulling & more

October Schedule

#17: Donkey Training Part 1  Wed - 10/7/09 First Airing
Chromosome differences, characteristics, imprinting, tying, leading, obstacles, trailer loading and showmanship

#18: Donkey Training Part 2      Wed - 10/14/09 First Airing
Review of basic groundwork, measuring for athletic potential, the donkey jack, breeding and behavioral problems

#19: Donkey Training Part 3      Wed - 10/21/09 First Airing
Round pen training, moving away from pressure, lunging and mounting

#23: Intermediate Donkey Training     Wed - 10/28/09 First Airing
Riding in the round pen, ground driving, riding in the arena, obstacles and the canter

November Schedule

#24: Advanced Donkey Training  Wed - 11/4/09 First Airing
Changing leads, lateral training, proper frame, lengthening strides, cavaletti, jumping and massage

 #34: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Lucky Three Ranch Part 1     Wed - 11/11/09 First Airing
SPECIAL 3 part series featuring Riders In The Sky performances from Jasper Celebration Day

#35: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Lucky Three Ranch Part 2     Wed - 11/18/09 First Airing
SPECIAL 3 part series featuring Riders In The Sky performances from Jasper Celebration Day

#36: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Lucky Three Ranch Part 3     Wed - 11/25/09 First Airing
SPECIAL 3 part series featuring Riders In The Sky performances from Jasper Celebration Day

December Schedule

#37: Those Magnificent Mules
 & the Road to Bishop  Wed - 12/2/09 First Airing
SPECIAL following Meredith Hodges’ Longears love affair with Bishop Mule Days

#40: Those Magnificent Mules
 & “Walk On” Part 1  Wed - 12/9/09 First Airing
Special – explores the unique benefits of therapeutic riding for the disabled

#41: Those Magnificent Mules
 & “Walk On” Part 2      Wed - 12/16/09 First Airing
Special – explores the unique benefits of therapeutic riding for the disabled

JS1: Jasper Goes To Bishop     Wed - 12/23/09 First Airing
EXCLUSIVE RFD TV PREMIER - Meredith Hodges New animated Special starring Jasper the Mule

JS1: Jasper Goes To Bishop      Wed - 12/30/09 First Airing
ENCORE AIRING - Meredith Hodges New animated Christmas Special

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.