Rebuilding Curry's confidence

A nervous mule living at Hannigan’s Farm is now more at ease with visits from the vet and farrier thanks to the patience and expertise of our staff.

10-year-old Curry was rescued in 2015 with his companions Tarzan and Gravy. His nervous character made it difficult for him to trust people, but his friendships gave him confidence and helped him navigate through life’s challenges.

Curry suffered two huge losses in the span of two years, after Tarzan passed away in 2022 followed by Gravy in 2023 due to advanced, untreatable sarcoids.

Nervous mules and donkeys put a lot of trust in their more confident companions. When they lose these friends they can feel more vulnerable, increasing nervous behaviour. After the loss of his friends, Curry became more fearful and would avoid anyone who approached him.  

A tailor-made training plan was put in place and his behaviour mentors Jill Murphy and Emma Sheehan worked with him every week to rebuild his confidence.

Jill explained: “Through patience and gentle reinforcement, a sense of trust was gradually established. Offering treats like forage balancer, coupled with comforting scratches, helped Curry to become more relaxed when being approached.

“Since we started the training, he’s so much better – before, he’d run away when he saw someone coming, but now he runs excitedly to greet people when they approach his paddock.

“Curry has now built a strong friendship with two donkeys he was also rescued with, Ben and Scooby. Their companionship is critical for their overall wellbeing.”

Thanks to Jill and Emma’s dedication and patience, Curry is growing in confidence again and much less anxious during visits from farriers, vets and equine dentists.