MULE CROSSING: Colorado Classic Horse Show 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 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, shining 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. They are to be congratulated. We would also like to thank those who were responsible for having enough faith in mules to extend 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 more mules! AWARD ENTRY NAME OF ANIMAL SHOWN BY OWNER Class 325: Mules up to 52” 3 years & over

1. 1094 Miss Minnie Mae Sue Moore Cee Wolf, Littleton, Co 2. 1082 Nutmeg Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 3. 1074 LJ Lee Schweizer Lee Schweizer, Larkspur, Co. 4. 1081 Daffney Nicole Hinojosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.

Class 327: Mules over 58” 3 year & over

1. 1017 Rambling Rose Diana Walston Walston, Longmont, Co. 2. 854 Lucky Three Mae Bea C.T Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland , Co. 3. 1072 Maggie Danny Langston Danny Langston, Boulder,Co. 4. 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 5. 1063 Dummy Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.

Class 331: Youth Showmanship

1. 1096 Frijol-‘s Dixie Belle Leslie Basque Sharon Anthony, Col, Springs, Co. 2. 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 3. 1084 Blackjack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co. 4. 1059 Judy Kimberly Nordyke Gordon Nordyke, Bennett, Co.

Class 333: Mules Foaled in 1984

1. 851 Lucky Three Stardust Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland , Co. 2. 865 Shenandoah Patti Haddon Patti Haddon, Col, Springs, Co. 3. 1097 Lucky Three Moonshadow Sally McLean Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Co. 4. 1077 Cody Gale Fortney Gale Fortney, Col. Spring, Co. 5. 1073 Pehzutah Tanka Patty Bernard Patty Barnard, Littleton, Co.

Class 337: Jennets & Gelding Donkeys

1. 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co. 2. 1092 Tinkerbell Marshall Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.

Class 339: Jacks

1. 1069 Blue Zebulon Fran Howe Larry & Fran Howe, Bennett, Co. Class 343: Sidesaddle

1. 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 2. 1064 Gin Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 3. 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft, Collins, Co. 4. 1089 Miriah Carol Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co. 5. 1084 Blackjack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.

Class 345: Youth Pleasure Riding (13 yrs. & under)

1. 1084 Black jack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co. 2. 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 3. 1080 Nifty Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 4. 1059 Judy Kimberly Nordyke Gordon Nordyke, Bennett, Co. 5. 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.

Class 347: Youth Pleasure (14-17 years)

1. 1096 Frijole’s Dixie Belle Leslie Busque Sharon Anthony, Col. Springs, Co. 2. 1089 Miriah Wade Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co.

Class 349: Pleasure Riding (Open)

1. 1072 Maggie Dick Ayers Danny Langston, Boulder, Co. 2. 854 Lucky Three Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Co. 3. 1080 Nifty Zell Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 4. 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co.

5. 1089 Miriah Carol Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co. Class 351: Single Hitch

1. 1038 Princess Tom Mowery Tom Mowery, Englewood, Co. 2. 854 Lucky Three Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Co. 3. 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 4. 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 5. 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co.

Class 353: Drive & Ride

1. 1038 Princess Tom Mowery Tom Mowery, Englewood, Co. 2. 1062 Jill Crystal Nordyke Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 3. 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co. 4. 854 Lucky Three Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Co

Class 355: Team Driving

1. 1093 J.R. & Sue Ellen Elmer Ausfahl Elmer Ausfahl, Littleton, Co. 2. 1068 Nip & Tuck Bill Shively Bill Shively, Castle Rook, Co.

Class 357: Ranch Riding

1. 1065 Rufus Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 2. 854 Lucky Three Mae Bea C.T. Meredith Hodges Lucky Three Ranch, Loveland, Co. 3. 1064 Gin Ruth Jarrett Larry Jarrett, Franktown, Co. 4. 1083 Chester William Rossman William Rossman, Longmont, Co. 5. 1080 Nifty Cindy Brink Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.

Clas 359: Costume

1. 1091 Grubstake Garrie Bates Garrie Bates, Evergreen, Co. 2. 1039 Gus Tom Mowery Tom mowery, Englewood, Co. 3. 1062 Jill Mel Hickmore Larry Jarrett, Franktown , Co. 4. 1084 Black jack Tammy Dishong Dishong, Bennett, Co. 5. 1079 Sally Nicky Hinjosa Zell Brink, Ft. Collins, Co.

For more information about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive correspondence training program, Training Mules and Donkeys, please visit www.LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800-816-7566. Also, find Meredith Hodges and Lucky Three Ranch on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. © 1986 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.