UPDATE ON NATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER - JOE BRAZIL ST. CHARLES COUNTY COUNTY MISSOURI COUNCILMAN

• The facts regarding the operation of the National Equestrian Center.
• Who is running the NEC? Why are the Board of Directors absent from community meetings regarding the future of the NEC?
• Proactive equestrian people need to serve to help run the NEC.
• Rodeos, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Truck Shows, Car Shows, Horse and Mule Auctions, Wild West Shows to name a few can easily use the NEC; it is a huge venue of the Mid West with so much to offer!

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

THE LANGUAGE OF LONGEARS & WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MULE GIRL - MEREDITH HODGES - LUCKY THREE RANCH

• Times have changed, which presents new challenges in working with your animals.
• Learn how to work with your mule.
• Video your progress when possible.
• Animals will mirror you and react to what your body is telling them.
• Become sensitive to the needs of your animals.
• Working with a coach may not work for you and your mule.
• Meredith discovered her donkey, Little Jack Horner, had gone deaf; his training program was then adapted to his needs.
• We are mule girls and mule girls are tough.

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

STANDING STILL WHILE MOUNTING - MEREDITH HODGES - LUCKY THREE RANCH

• It starts with good nutrition and being fed on schedule to reduce anxiety.
• Ground training is essential, using a logical approach.
• Begin mounting in the Round Pen first - using a mounting block.
• Desensitize your mule with gentle strokes to the body to learn his sensitive areas.
• Start with a mounting block to eliminate pulling on the saddle.
• Have an assistant work with you for safety reasons.
• Sit quietly for a minute before walking on after mounting.
• Train your mule to understand the command "WHOA."
• Train your mule to understand the command "STAND" when you are ready to mount him.
• Use the reward system to let him know he is doing well.
• Balance your weight when stepping up into the saddle and stepping down.
• English riders - remove both feet from stirrups when dismounting.
• Western riders position their foot in the left stirrup to eliminate getting hung up.
• Ride in a saddle that is comfortable for your mule and a proper fit for you the rider.
• This will eliminate potential hazards.

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

DO MULES NEED TO BE SHOD? MEREDITH HODGES - LUCKY THREE RANCH

• Take into consideration where you will ride your mule.
• Find a knowledgeable farrier and work together.
• Include your mule in the conversation while working on his feet. Have your farrier acknowledge your mule and talk to him as well.
• Terrain - rocky - mud - sand - grass - mountain trails - prairie.
• Mules inherit their hooves through their genes.
• Climate and weather greatly affect the condition of your mule's feet.
• Hoof products - are often overused.
• Stress rings and what they mean.
• Your mule's diet is important to producing healthy hooves.

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

HUZZAH VALLEY MULE DAYS - RECAP WITH MAX BISHOP

• Huge success for the MidWest!
• Obstacle course set up.
• Mule Rodeo!
• Over 90 entries for the mule sale.
• Family oriented and well received.
• Planning for next year!

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

SURGE OF MULE SHOWS - MEREDITH HODGES - LUCKY THREE RANCH

• Work with horse show organizers about letting your mules attend.
• Develop a positive and winning attitude to work with other exhibitors.
• Attending clinics.
• Open shows are a learning curve.
• All equines are safer on the trail with proper training and exposure to develop their confidence.

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

DESENSITIZATION AND YOUR MULE - FOLLOW UP - CINDY K ROBERTS - MULE TALK

• Learn about the mule for what he is.
• Learn about his physiological being - to understand how he thinks and reacts.
• Using oats as a reward.
• Do not overdue the desensitization process, which causes flooding and creates high anxiety in the mule.
• Flooding can develop the SHUT-DOWN mule.
• Developing your partnership and more!

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/

Myths About Desensitization - Meredith Hodges - Lucky Three Ranch

• Develop trust with your equine.
• Correctly apply desensitizing techniques.
• Approach obstacle training with safety in mind.
• Break down tasks to achieve solid, reliable behavior from your equine.
• Keep safety first and foremost.
• Apply what your equine knows from his previous training, while on the trail.

Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

www.MuleTalk.Net

Meredith Hodges Interviews:
www.LuckyThreeRanch.Com/Podcast-Appearances/