Ginger is a dark-brown, small mule who was admitted to the DONKEY SANCTUARY OF CANADA Farm in late 2006. At the time she was 5 years old and she had lived for 18 months in a petting zoo in Eastern Ontario. When the farrier was brought in to trim her hooves, he hobbled her, which made her panic. She was then forced to the ground and restrained further. The experience filled her with terror and, from that point, she refused to allow anyone to touch her. Her hooves were left to grow and eventually they became so long that they turned up at the ends.
When the owner of the petting zoo realized that the little mule would have to be tranquilized in order to have her hooves trimmed, he contacted the local SPCA because he did not want to spend the necessary amount for such a procedure. In turn he was referred to the DSC and he requested that she be admitted to the Sanctuary.
Over the years of our work with the donkeys and mules we have come to realize that they can sense much more about the nature of their environment than we assume. When the Sanctuary’s Animal Caretaker went to pick up the little mule, the owner of the petting zoo anticipated that she would have to be tied and restrained and dragged on to the trailer. Instead, she was approached quietly and patiently and, as soon as the lead was put onto her halter, she trotted into the trailer.
Shortly after her arrival at the Sanctuary Farm, the little mule, who was named Ginger, was examined and then our farrier was called to begin treatment on her hooves. His quiet and gentle technique was effective. Gradually, she calmed down enough to undergo the initial trimming.
Nowadays, Ginger lives amongst the small herd of mules at the Sanctuary. Although she is small, she does not allow the larger mules to push her around. She is a spirited, lively little mule.