Training Mules and Donkeys

A Logical Approach to Longears

Training for every stage of your equine's life from Meredith Hodges. Each of these episodes were taken from Meredith's original Training Mules and Donkeys DVD series.

More Episodes

Equus Revisited

This four-part special is a complementary training set for the series Training Mules & Donkeys, with a complete athletic conditioning regimen suitable for all equines—including horses, donkeys, mules and other equine hybrids. Featuring in-depth interviews with equine professionals, including a veterinarian, farrier, chiropractor, breeder and a massage therapist.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
Part 1 (A Healthy Beginning) - 37 minutes 54 seconds
Part 2 (Balance, Body Awareness and Good Posture) - 36 minutes 25 seconds
Part 3 (Elements of Good Communication) - 37 minutes 50 seconds
Part 4 (Athletic Conditioning for Longevity) - 38 minutes 33 seconds

Equus Revisited: All Extended Features

Collection of 9 extended features all in one package. Includes Equine Skeletal Structure, The Elbow Pull for Good Posture, Multiple Uses of the Elbow Pull, How to Make an Elbow Pull, Building Coordination Through Obstacles, The Equine Skull, Choosing the Right Bit, Developing Your Hands and Obstacles Under Saddle.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
Approximately 3 hours total

ER: The Equine's Skeletal Structure

Understand the workings of the equine skeletal structure with Kevin Haussler, DVM, DC, Ph.D. in this discussion from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
25 minutes 16 seconds

ER: The Equine's Skull

Understand the equine skull and teeth with Gregory Ferrand, DVM, in this discussion from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
24 minutes 35 seconds

ER: Choosing the Right Bit

Explore the details and differences of bits in this discussion with Meredith Hodges from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
29 minutes 4 seconds

ER: Developing Your Hands

Take a lesson with Meredith Hodges and learn the importance of developing your hands for rein control and communication in this extended feature of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
25 minutes 20 seconds

ER: How to Make an Elbow Pull

Meredith Hodges shows you the step by step details of how to make your own Elbow Pull, her unique self-correcting restraint in this demonstration from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
5 minutes 52 seconds

ER: The Elbow Pull for Good Posture

Meredith Hodges gives a lesson in using her unique self-correcting restraint, the elbow pull, in this demonstration from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
6 minutes 1 second

ER: Multiple Uses of the Elbow Pull

Meredith Hodges takes you through the many uses of her unique, self-correcting restraint, the elbow pull, in this demonstration from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
8 minutes 55 seconds

ER: Building Coordination Through Obstacles

Meredith Hodges demonstrates how obstacles build coordination on the lead line and with ground driving.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
27 minutes 38 seconds

ER: Obstacles Under Saddle

Learn how navigating obstacles under saddle benefits your equine's coordination, core strength and posture in this demonstration from Meredith Hodges from the extended features of Equus Revisited.

Subtitles available in English, Español, Français and Deutsche.
24 minutes 09 seconds

Episode 01 - Management, Fitting & Grooming

Episode 01. Loafing Shed, Box Stall, Tie Stall, Grain Box, Water Source, Bedding, Manure Disposal, Dangerous Confinement, Hot wires, Vinyl and Pipe Fencing, Healthy Equine, Feed, Supplements, Trace Mineral Salt Block, Corn Oil, Routine Times, Water, Training and Exercise, Walking, Trotting, Turns, Vaccinations, Worming, Cleanliness, Pasture Rotation, Symptoms and Simple Treatments, First Aid Kit, Infectious Diseases, Immunization, Tools, Hoof Care, order of Grooming, Clipping, Bathing, Coats, Vacuuming. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 02 - Foal Training

Episode 02. Definition of a Mule, Training, Handling, Haltering, Tying, Leading. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 03 - Foal Training: Showmanship

Episode 03. General Concepts, Grooming, Lead Shank, Showing, Show Patterns, Halter vs. Showmanship, Sportsmanship. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 04 - Preparing for Performance: Groundwork I

Episode 04. Work Station, Preventing Bad Habits, Ground Training, Training Aids, Sacking Out, Saddling, Routine, Obstacles. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 05 - Preparing for Performance: Groundwork II

Episode 5. Working Space, Tack and Equipment, Lunging, Mad Jack Hanks, Elbow Pull, Lunge Line, Lunging in Open. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 06 - Basic Foundation for Saddle I

Episode 06. Different than Horses, Persuasion vs. Force, Round Pen, Arena, Flight or Freeze, Hourglass Pattern, Equipment, Maturity, Farrier, Mad Jack Hanks. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 07 - Basic Foundation for Saddle II

Episode 07. Work Station, Round Pen, Canter/Bucking, No Assistant, Hourglass, Follow the Leader. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 08 - Basic Foundation for Saddle III

Episode 08. Different than Horses, Persuasion vs. Force, Sequence, Equipment, Maturity, Techniques, Patterns, Canter, Refining Cues, USDF, Obstacle Course. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 09 - Intermediate Saddle Training I

Episode 09. Equitation, Draw Reins, Green Equine, Patterns, Obstacles, Dressage Levels, On the Bit, Half Halt, Bending, Long Rein vs. Loose Rein. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 10 - Intermediate Saddle Training II

Episode 10. Bending, Lateral, Riding Obstacles, Lead Changes, Trail, Showing. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 11 - Advanced Saddle Training I

Episode 11. Warm-up, Snaffle vs. Curb Bits, Dressage, Ground Lateral Exercises, Counter Canter, Simple Lead Changes. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 12 - Advanced Saddle Training II

Episode 12. Reining and Western Riding, Equipment, Circles, Speed, Sliding Stops, Backing, Rollbacks, Spins, Flying Lead Changes, Patterns. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 13 - Jumping

Episode 13. Tack, Clothing, Equitation, Farrier, Clipping, Body Positions, Types of Jumps, Making Standards, Ground Poles, Stretching and Warm-up. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 14 - Management, Fitting & Grooming: Review

Episode 14. Housing, Feed, Nutrition, Peak Condition, Routine Health Care, Grooming. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 15 - Management, Fitting & Grooming: Advanced Showmanship

Episode 15. Differences of Longears, Understanding the Mule, Showmanship for Foals, Advanced Showmanship, Patterns. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 16 - Management, Fitting & Grooming: Showing

Episode 16. Body Clipping, Braiding, Trailer Loading, At the Show, Bishop Mule Days. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 17 - Keys to Training the Donkey I

Episode 17. Understanding the Donkey, Imprinting, Tying, Leading, Obstacles, Trailer Loading, Showmanship. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 18 - Keys to Training the Donkey II

Episode 18. Measuring for Athletic Potential, Assessing Trainability, Donkey Jack, Behavior, Characteristics. Available with English captions.
21 minutes

Episode 19 - Keys to Training the Donkey III

Episode 19. Round Pen Training, Moving Away from Pressure, Turns on Forehand and Haunches, Lunging, Mounting. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 20 - Preparing for Performance: Driving I

Episode 20. Riding vs. Driving, Make Sure You're Both Ready, Fitting Harness, Lunging in Harness, Ground Driving, Carts and Carriages. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 21 - Preparing for Performance: Driving II

Episode 21. Sacking Out, Ground Driving with PVC Poles, Pulling a Drag, Travois, Driving a Team, Working in Harness, Pulling Competitions. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 22 - Preparing for Performance: Driving III

Episode 22. Hitching to the Cart, Ground Driving Cart, First Drive, Unhitching, Reinsmanship, Pleasure Driving, Obstacle Driving. Available with English captions.
20 minutes

Episode 23 - Saddle Training the Donkey, Part I

Episode 23. Riding with an Assistant, Verbal and Leg Cues, Ground Drive open, Ride Arena, Obstacle Course, Canter. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 24 - Saddle Training the Donkey, Part II

Episode 24. Canter Leads, Changing Leads Straight Line, Lateral Moves, Proper Frame, Lengthening, Jumping, Massage. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 25 - Advanced Jumping

Episode 25. Equipment and Showing, Safety, Riding Positions, Types of Jumps, Gymnastics, Stadium Jumping, Coursework, At the Show. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 26 - Cross Country Jumping

Episode 26. Safety, Combined Training, Levels, Protective Gear, Rating Speed, Types of Jumps, Warm-up, Walking the Course. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 27 - Training Mules & Donkeys with Richard Shrake

Episode 27. Meredith Hodges and Richard Shrake discuss the advantages of resistance-free training when dealing with equines. Available with English captions.
22 minutes

Episode 28 - Evaluating Your Equine's Athletic Potential with Richard Shrake

Episode 28. Meredith Hodges and Richard Shrake discuss realistic ways of evaluating and selecting your equine to suit your purpose. Available with English captions.
25 minutes

Episode 29 - Massage for Your Equine

Episode 29. Meredith Hodges and Joanne Lang discuss the benefits of equine massage and how to get the best from your equine. With equine massage and stretch demonstration. Available with English captions.
24 minutes

Episode 30 - Keys to Successful Training: Attitude and Approach

Episode 30. Subtle components of good training that will influence the success of your training program. Available with English captions.
23 minutes

Episode 31 - Keys to Successful Training: Your Working Environment

Episode 31. Importance of setting up the environment and considering safety rules in a way that promotes success. Available with English captions.
22 minutes