MEET CLOUD DANCING
Cloud Dancing was a surprise when Debra White, owner of Winslow Farm, came out one day and found this baby in the barn on June 11,1999. Her father, Stardust the donkey, had been recently rescued and was shortly getting neutered. However, Cloud’s mother, Stormy, who was a horse, and Stardust, who is a donkey, got together before that happened, resulting in Cloud Dancing, the mule.
Soon after she was born, Cloud was weaned. Stormy, her mother developed sand colic. She had to be sent to Tufts where they removed 189 feet of her colon, which was irrigated and placed back in. Cloud was only 12 weeks old at the time. Tufts allowed the little mule stay with her mother during her recovery.
Mules are much stronger than horses and have a tendency to be more independent than other equines. This is certainly true of Cloud Dancing. Without a doubt, she has a mind of her own. Mules are also very intelligent. Cloud is adept at figuring out doors and gates. It can be challenging at times keeping her to where she should be.
Cloud Dancing likes to go where she wants and do what she wants. Mules are very athletic. Cloud has no problem jumping over fences to get to where she wants to go. It’s quite a sight watching her effortlessly bound over obstacles in her path.
Having been born at the farm and not having any hardship in her life, she is “ahem” rather privileged.
Mules are generally sterile, but it’s not impossible that a mollie (female donkey) could become pregnant, although unlikely. This is due to the uneven number of chromosomes a mule carries.
Cloud Dancing originally was stalled in the main barn near her mother. Sadly, Stormy passed on a few years ago. Cloud has now recently taken a liking to Spirit, our handsome Arabian horse. She made every effort to try to get into the back corral to be with him.
So the decision was made to move her stall to the back corral. She now spends her time with Spirit, Honey and Belle. She also has companionship of the two donkeys, Bianca and Zorro, as their nighttime stall is the round stone barn also located in the back.
Cloud Dancing and Honey have developed a close bond. Cloud has had and continues to have a very happy life. She is one of the lucky mules.