With a great loud bray, Zeke arrived on the scene last week to a chorus of horsey ‘hellos’ (and a few confused sounds as well — not everyone is used to mules just yet).

Zeke, a mule john in his mid-twenties, has a melty pair of big brown eyes, and a pair of skyscraper ears. This big-headed guy stepped off the trailer and directly into our hearts. The donkey in him means that he can pull a pretty good ‘I’m outta here’ when he wants to — big emphasis on the ‘pull’ — but it also means he has that certain je ne sais quoi about him that long ears possess, a kind of tuning fork for the human soul. It’s hard not to be wooed when in his presence, harder still when he sidles up to ask for an ear scratch.

Zeke came from the same place as our recent arrivals, Wilma and Stanley. He and Stan had been turnout buddies, so we paired the two up upon Zeke’s arrival to help him settle. This is definitely a guy who has some trouble settling, especially in the confines of a stall, but with his friend nearby he let down a bit. We have since moved Zeke to an outdoor living situation, and he is much happier — so much of the intake process mirrors any new relationship, learning the likes and dislikes of our beaus.

Getting Zeke up to date on his medical care was mostly straightforward, though he was certainly not a cheap date when it came to sedation for his dental. His current hurdle has been learning how to have his hind feet handled so he can see the farrier, a piece of his puzzle we are chipping away at daily as we spend time with this sweet, sweet guy.

It’s not every day that we get to save a forgotten Equine, and so we have enjoyed getting to know our newest long-ear, Zeke.