A HEART WARMING STORY

[avril]

I found this article by chance, although I believe nothing in life is accidental. It's a very moving account of one horse's impact on humanity that is a joy to read. It's also resonates strongly with us because we will be doing much of this sort of work and more at the Centre.





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 deserved. 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 midnight coat that grew in with a rebounding vigour. 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 favourite 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 her to be loved and through that she gave hope to so many others.

I understand that Ginger once taught a young girl how to canter bareback, caring for her young charge as a mother cares for her own child. I also learned that Ginger once proudly walked in parades and won many children and adults, alike, proud blue ribbons over her years. She must have been a beauty in her younger years with her thick, wavy, black mane and tail glistening in the summer's sun. In her golden years, though, she was so much more than just a big, beautiful black mare with a white star on her forehead and white socks on her legs. She tried to hide her broken heart when she first arrived but then it grew and then she began to give it away - to the very species who had so rejected and so hurt her in the past. In the hope restored and the healing for humans Ginger became even more beautiful in body and spirit than in the younger days of her life. She showed us that there is beauty and love even in the deepest; darkest of our wounded souls and most of all ... there is Hope. We find that hope by taking steps ... sometimes one at a time on broken knees, shattered ankles and hidden heart pain. But there's always Love and there's always Hope.
My prayer is that through this and through Ginger's Story that you may find hope and love for the hurts that fill your heart today. My prayer for you is that someday you, too, will find a horse whose heart is bigger than the sun and shines just as brightly. My prayer for you is that Ginger will still touch your heart today as it has done for so many over so many years. My prayer is that Ginger is now able to run free of pain and hurt and disappointment and that now she can look down upon us all and share her Hope of Heaven ... Heaven here on earth for you, and me.
Ginger by Grace, 1965 - 2005, Penzance, Douglas, Massachusetts. May you rest in peace Beautiful Girl...? God Bless.

[LisaSaf]

Such a moving, heart rendering story, it made me cry...
Lisa and Saf

[clairemc]

After reading that......I feel a bit more grateful and a lot more hopeful - Thankyou.

God Bless you Ginger may you rest in peace.