Many of you already know Ginger's story - the story of an old mare who ran away from "home", not once but twice. (Her original story can be found HERE: http://www.kersur.net~santa/gingersstory... In 2001, Ginger found her forever home here at PENZANCE in Douglas, MA. It was here that she found her calling of healing and discovered that humans really can be loving and respectful. It had been many years since she had been cared for in the dignity and respect of which she was deserving. Her broken knees couldn't hide the truths of human cruelty and selfishness. The way she would turn her head and eyes away from humans told of a feeling of misconceived shame and unworthiness. She would do what she was asked of her but one could tell her heart was heavy and what she did was out of obedience and not with a willing heart. Her mane and tail took time to grow back from the matted filthy tangled mess that she had when she walked onto our farm. Her old body was bony and sharp with a dull, manure matted coat. Her eyes were wary and dull. But, it wasn't long, however, before her ribcage disappeared in the black, sleek shininess of a midnite coat that grew in with a rebounding vigor. Her knees began to lose some of the swellings with proper nutrition and care for her foundered hooves. Her eyes began to, once again, shine with compassion and hope. I knew she was well on the road to recovery of her inner pain the day I called to her and she looked at me with both eyes then allowed me to hug her head and stroke her ears, burying my own nose in the sweet scent of her soft nostrils. We both knew she was "home". We both knew, too, that she still had "work" to do even at the age of 36.
The autumn and winter following her arrival here at Penzance, Ginger became a favorite horse for a few women who attended our Progressive Equine Partnership Training course here. It was this group who dubbed her, "The Horse that Makes People Cry". It all started on the first day of class when one woman picked Ginger to be the horse she wanted to work with for her exercises that day. She went up, wrapped her arms around Ginger's neck and the next thing we all knew was this woman was sobbing as hard as anyone had ever seen. You see, this woman was feeling rejected, ugly and unloved and so lonely at that time just like Ginger was feeling when she walked onto our farm. Ginger was the catalyst, somehow, of opening the doors to this woman's heart so she could begin her journey of healing. Today, 4 years later that same woman is whole and rebuilding her life with her young son. It all started that 1st day of class with a simple hug from a horse. The next week during class sharing time we all learned that two other women had gone home, thought about Ginger and spent the weekend crying. Through that opening of hearts, they, too, were able to heal old wounds that held scars of years before them. All Ginger needed to do was allow herself to be loved and through that she gave hope to so many others.
