GINGER'S STORY
The Horse That Makes People Cry

In the early spring of 2002 my husband and I were wakened to the sound of someone pounding on our back door. A man, clearly concerned, was standing there. He asked, "Do you own that horse walking down your driveway?" Of course, I panicked thinking that the horses had gotten loose. But, no. Instead I saw a sad looking, disheveled black horse sadly walking down the driveway headed straight for the main gate to the paddocks. The other horses were all standing at the gate seemingly waiting for this stranger. There were a bit of low rumblings but no squeals, no loud trumpeting of whinneys. Just a grumbling that almost seemed comforting. The horse walked right up to the other horses and stopped with a sigh. They all began the custom ritual of sniffing nostrils. Again, no squeals, no whinneys. Simply the quiet, inquisitive sniffing that happens when strange horses meet one another.

After a few moments I realized where this horse belonged. I called the horse by name and she allowed me to quietly walk up to her and put on an old halter and lead. I then walked her back to her home which was about 1/2 mile up the road. When we reached her driveway, I had to convince her to continue up to her own paddock - a small enclosure with a shelter amidst caged dogs, broken household appliances, discarded childrens' toys and other  belongings that clearly had been thrown out for trash. There was no break in the fenceline of this pen. The twine gate had been untied and this is apparently where this mare 'escaped'. She allowed me to lead her to the middle of her pen and then lowered her head and shuffled to the side of her shelter. I tossed some hay that I found to her. When I left, she had remained there, hay untouched, head still to the ground and feet unmoved.

A few days later the horse's owner sent one of her children down to my home to ask if I wanted "Ginger". I said no, I didn't think so. Thank you.

I had been praying for another "Schooling Horse" with the visions of a young, healthy, well mannered horse that would fit in with our existing "family". Little did I know that I had my answer right there in front of my face. I did include a little bargaining tool in my prayer; I told God that if this horse were to walk down my driveway a 2nd time in the next week or two, I'd "believe" that He was "sending" me this horse.

2 weeks later, on one of the coldest mornings of the season, my husband and I were again wakened but this time by the donkeys braying, the dogs barking and the horses hollering. In the middle of this noise I managed to hear the shuffling clip-clop of hooves coming down the driveway. I went out side to see Ginger making her way down back. She by-passed the main gate this time, scooted under the dog run and planted herself by the back of the paddock while the others all ran up with nickers of welcome and greeting. It was only 3 am and I wasn't about to walk that horse back home again so, instead, I called the police. They stopped at the neighbor's on the way here and in a few short minutes, the neighbor's arrived to take their horse back "home" again. Little did we know that Ginger was home already. The neighbor informed me that someone was due in the next day to "take" Ginger. She didn't know where; she just knew that the horse would be out of her hair forever. As the son walked Ginger back up the road, I began to cry. I felt this horse anguishing over why no one loved her; after all her years she's been loyal to her people they hated her. Why? Why? My husband had left for work by then; (he leaves at 3:30 am) so I did not have time to talk with him. Again, I prayed ... as tears streamed down my face. "God, if THIS old horse is the one you want for me to take in, I will. I know you'll provide for whatever medical expenses she needs and the extra feed it will take to feed another horse that cannot "work" for her keep. But I have to know for sure. I will call my hubby and if he says to me, and it has to be exactly this, "Well, I guess you better go get her, then." then I will know, for sure, and promise I will take her and keep her for as long as she lives."

I called my husband later on that day fully expecting him to rant about another sickly mouth to feed. When I reached him on the phone I told him what I felt as Ginger was going back to our neighbor's house and asked if we could, please, take her in? "Well, I guess you better go get her, then."    !!! 

You GO, God!  :) 

On her first day at "home."

Ginger settled right in as if she'd been here all her life but her knees were grossly swollen; her back was tender; her hooves looked as if they hadn't been trimmed in years. They were at least 6 - 7" long and curling up. They were horribly mis-shapened; so badly that her outside hoof walls were an inch longer than the inside and the soles were cockeyed and squished. In fact, she was foundered. Her ribs could be counted from 15 feet away from her body and her unshed fur was matted with dried manure and mud. Her mane was so tangled in dreadlocks that I thought I'd have to roach it.

Her tail was stiff with dried manure. Her spirit was unbearably sad but, at the same time, at rest now, in our back paddock. Ginger was home.

Over the summer, we trimmed her hooves, bathed her, groomed her until she was slick and shiny. Rode her gentlya and slowly, at first, then strongly to build her back up to fitness. She came fit with a venegence! Her legs straightened out as her hooves regained a healthy shape and state. Her back became strong and straight. Her muscles rippled in the sunlight of the later summer days. Her fortitude and natural nature returned to the delight of all who know her.

During that time, also, I received bits and pieces from a couple of former owners about her past. Her knees never regained the smooth, strong look of equine legs because they had both been "broken" by a drunk with a 2 X 4. Her age was questionable. One said at least 34 but by the looks of her body, her recovery and her teeth, 24 was more in line with the truth. Her last owner acquired her because someone had tied her to the front porch of her house one day. Apparently before that she had been "retired" to a cow pasture in the back of some business in another ;town. Before that she was a little girls first horse who had outlived her time.  The little girl grew up and no longer wanted an older horse that couldn't perform to standard. She gave her to a "friend" who then "retired" her to the business owner. The business owner decided one day he no longer wanted her in his cow field so trucked her and dumped her at this woman's house. This woman up the street loves horses but due to life circumstances, was not able to keep her in the healthiest environment or feed. She had called the canner to come get her.

Ginger could have walked right across the street when she "escaped" to the other horsey neighbors but walked down the middle of the road instead, to our farm - she came "home".  She and God both knew that here she'd find love and warmth, friendship and loyalty and a place where she'd be hugged and praised and told she's beautiful for the rest of her life. That's all she wants and that's all she needs.

As much as we can give her, here at Penzance, we give. She's become a strong, healthy, teacher and wise counsel for those students who need her wisdom. She has unbelieveable power and will plus gaits that even dressage warmbloods would die for. She's regained her equine nature and doesn't hesitate to put someone with more than a gentle hand on the rein in his or her proper place. She watches out for her riders and is brave to venture into unknown forest and trails, all the while watching out for her rider.

She's become our  "Grand Lady" of the farm.

In all of this, though, her heart still breaks because of   those humans  whom she served who so easily discarded her like an unwanted ragdoll. All she wanted was to be loved and cherished. She gave and gave and gave with her whole heart and spirit and received, in turn, crops, whips, 2 X 4's, harsh words and shouts and was then thrown away. Her spirit easily reaches those people who come in contact with her now whom she knows need healing and who will "open up" with her. All she needs to do is brush her gentle, giant head against a broken heart to melt it. Whatever special "powers" she has to break down walls and help bring out the real meaning of life to those humans, they work. She makes people cry. She releases bound hearts and minds. She cries out to those who need love and wisdom. Those who need to feel their own pain, acknowledge it and heal are drawn to her. She's found and she gives out   in return - unconditional love.

Ginger is home, now, forever - loved and whole.

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