Thurston
Thurston
Name: Thurston
Type: Miniature Hinny
Color: Dapple Grey
Markings: None
Sex: Gelding
Birthday: 12/30/2012
Shorty and Patrick
Shorty and Patrick
Name: Patrick
Type: Miniature Mule
Color: Dun
Markings: None
Sex: Gelding
Birthday: 12/29/2011
Name: Shorty
Type: Miniature Mule
Color: Palomino
Markings: None
Sex: Gelding
Birthday: 12/28/2012
Shorty’s story can’t be told without that of his sidekick Patrick. You never see these two adorable little troublemakers apart. One afternoon Celine Myers of the Ark Watch Foundation called us and said “Oh, by the way, we were picking up horses at the kill lot and these two little mules wanted to come…will you take them?” She had already loaded them onto the trailer. Of course, we said yes – I mean they ARE irresistible so Shorty (for Shortbread) and Patrick (for Pack Rat) made their way to Red Bell Run after a stop at the vet clinic for evaluation and treatment and a 30-day sojourn at a quarantine farm. How these two little guys ended up in such a bad situation we don’t know because they are definitely at the top of the “Cute as a Button” Meter. The truth is that even if these little equines aren’t sold to a big cat sanctuary where they would be used as meat for lions and tigers, they would have ended up on a sad downward spiral into the auction pipeline.
These two were already ill with respiratory problems so prevalent in these nasty kill pen environments. They needed treatment, not to be shipped around the country from auction to auction until they were desperately ill and debilitated. These two were lucky enough to be spotted by Celine Myers and got off that deadly merry-go-round early – and we’re so glad!
So what do two little mules do for fun? Well, they mock fight, they rest, take long naps on their sand pile, then race around and annoy the other Mini Woods residents…and then mock fight some more! Shorty has turned out to have a rather mysterious illness – he exhibits mild colic symptoms and will lie down at odd times, then seemingly recover. He has had several diagnostic tests that are inconclusive, but we watch over him constantly. Our vet has prescribed meds to help his tummy and we’ll stay on top of his care. Patrick on the other hand has remained healthy after recovering from his initial kill pen crud, and because he and Shorty are so bonded, we’ll never separate them. Best friends get to stay with best friends at Red Bell Run!
Shorty
Patrick
Newt
Newt
Name: Newt
Type: Miniature Mule
Color: Brown
Markings: None
Sex: Gelding
Birthday: 12/30/2012
We had never seen a saddler little group of refugees – Newt, Bucky, and Pinto Bean. Newt was a little black mule who was completely unhandled, terrified, and clinging tightly to his best friend Bucky. All were covered with lice and hadn’t had a decent meal in recent memory judging from their condition. The owner had decided to dump them and they were bought by a man who provides tiger and lion sanctuaries with meat. The poor equines who are unlucky enough to be purchased for this purpose are shot and their bodies thrown to the big cats for food.
We said NO!
Some kind-hearted ladies pitched in and purchased them, but they needed a place to go. Red Bell agreed to take them and began the process of getting vet care, quarantine and transport. Upon arrival, the little fellows were de-liced, received vet care and then began the process of teaching them that all people aren’t monsters and that their life was completely changed. It’s a long road that takes patience, understanding and of course, money.
Today they are happy members of the Red Bell Run herd!
Newt remains fast friends with Bucky in our Mini Woods barn. Newt has learned that people aren’t going to hurt him and while still shy, can now be handled and care provided without the terrible stress he experienced previously.
Pedro
Pedro
Name: Pedro
Type: Donkey
Color: Paint
Markings: Brown Spots
Sex: Gelding
Birthday: 1/1/2019
Pedro arrived at Red Bell Run with his mother Petrina and older brother Pico. There is just something about those mini donkeys with the spots that melts your heart! Pedro is currently living with all of his friends at our Mini Woods Barn where he enjoys rough housing and playing tag.
Clarissa
Clarissa
Name: Clarissa
Type: Somali Wild Ass
Color: Bucksin
Markings: Zebra stripes on legs
Sex: Mare
Birthday: 12/29/2013
If you’ve ever been at the sanctuary and happened to hear a call reminiscent of what a pterodactyl may have sounded like…Clarissa is likely the reason! She’s always up to something…whether making dinosaur-like calls or frolicking in the woods with her friends, she constantly finds ways to make us laugh.
Blanche
Blanche
Name: Blanche
Type: Miniature Mule
Color: Bay
Markings: None
Sex: Mare
Birthday: 12/26/2005
Blanche, named for her white nose, is the oldest member of our trio of “Golden Girls,” Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose. Saved at the last second from the meat truck, these three tiny mules have led everyone who has ever met them a merry dance!
When we got the call from a rescue in Texas that these three were simply too cute to meet a horrible fate, we stepped up and agreed to take them in if they could be saved. The three started out by causing a huge ruckus at the kill pen (we say, good for them!) by leaping out of a loaded trailer and escaping. they spied the open door of the rescue trailer and made a beeline for it, terrifying horses and people on the way. Legend has it that these three tiny mules scattered everyone in their path as they ran into the rescue trailer as if to say “Get us out of here!”
We quickly learned that Blanche was the leader of the bunch – where she went, Dorothy and Rose followed. We also learned that no one was going to get within twenty feet of them without Blanche heading for the hills, the other two in hot pursuit. Dorothy is the “security guard” of the trio and would place herself in position (hind end kicking apparatus aimed at whomever dared approach) to take on anyone with the misguided idea of catching them. Rose is the sweet one – just as her name implies.
We enquired if anyone had been able to ascertain their age? Check them for pneumonia? The answer was no – they were snappng turtles in mule suits. So – we waited. They sailed through quarantine untouched by human hand but were exposed to strangles the day before coming to Red Bell Run. Back into quarantine they went. They slowly gained weight and got stronger. Being tough as nails, no strangles dared infect them. Finally, our vet deemed them safe to come to the farm. Blanche in the lead, the three launched off the trailer like a series of small rockets and took off into the far reaches of their paddock. Many months later, having taught us all the true meaning of patience, we came to an accommodation about the necessities of vet and farrier care. Blanche and her pose now live happily at our Mini Woods barn with their friends.
