# Ginger — Black Beauty character guide > Ginger in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. **Role:** major **Also known as:** VII Ginger, VIII Ginger, dear old Ginger, poor Ginger, XL Poor Ginger **First appearance:** 0006-part-i-vii-ginger ## Snapshot A chestnut mare with a defiant eye and a biting history, she becomes Beauty's trusted partner in harness once patience and gentleness reach her. ## Who they are Ginger arrives at Birtwick Park wary and quick to warn off strangers, the product of rough handling she refuses to forget. Paired with Beauty in double harness, she pulls her full share up every hill, and under John Manly's steady kindness her watchful defiance slowly softens into trust. Her recovery shows what good care can do, and her memory of what came before shadows the happier years at the orchard. ## Relationships ### [Merrylegs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/merrylegs) _friendship_ Ginger and Merrylegs are fellow horses at Birtwick Park, with Merrylegs being friendly and Ginger more aloof. ### [Mr. York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_york) _professional_ Mr. York is the coachman who handles Ginger, a difficult horse, with firm but fair treatment. ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/james_howard) _professional_ James Howard is a groom who handles Ginger, a horse with a troubled past, with kindness. ### [Merrylegs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/merrylegs) _friendship_ Ginger and Merrylegs are fellow horses at Birtwick Park, with Merrylegs being friendly and Ginger more aloof. ### [Mr. York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/mr_york) _professional_ Mr. York is the coachman who handles Ginger, a difficult horse, with firm but fair treatment. ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/james_howard) _professional_ James Howard is a groom who handles Ginger, a horse with a troubled past, with kindness. ## In the story ### [I: My Early Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-i-my-early-home) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-hunt) Not directly present in this chapter; no mention in excerpts. ### [My Breaking In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-iii-my-breaking-in) Not directly present in this chapter. ### [Birtwick Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-iv-birtwick-park) A tall chestnut mare with a bad habit of biting; she is initially hostile to Beauty but is later revealed to have been ill-used before coming to Birtwick. ### [A Fair Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-v-a-fair-start) Black Beauty's partner in double harness; they work well together. ### [Ginger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-vii-ginger) Recounts her traumatic early life and breaking-in, expressing bitterness and anger at her treatment. ### [Ginger's Story Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-viii-ginger-s-story-continued) Tells the story of her past abuse, including the painful checkrein and harsh grooms, and her growing trust at Birtwick Park. ### [Merrylegs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-ix-merrylegs) Suggests a more violent response to the boys' behavior, contrasting with Merrylegs' gentle approach. ### [A Talk in the Orchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-x-a-talk-in-the-orchard) Expresses anger at men for their cruelty, linking her own suffering with the gag bit to the discussion of fashion. ### [James Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-james-howard) Paired with Black Beauty in the carriage for James's driving practice. ### [The Old Hostler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xv-the-old-hostler) Travels with Beauty and is groomed by the other hostler while the old hostler tends to Beauty. ### [The Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-the-fire) Coughing and frightened; rescued by James Howard after hearing Black Beauty's whinny. ### [XIX: Only Ignorance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xix-only-ignorance) Moved to another stable so Beauty could rest quietly. ### [The Parting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-the-parting) Sold with Black Beauty to the Earl of W⸺; works alongside Beauty in the final days. ### [Earlshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii-earlshall) Also subjected to the checkrein; warns she will not tolerate it if tightened too much. ### [A Strike for Liberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii-a-strike-for-liberty) Strikes for liberty by rearing and kicking, causing a crash; is bruised and never used in the carriage again. ### [XXIV: The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-the-lady-anne-or-a-runaway-horse) Left at home; later tells Black Beauty about Lady Anne's condition after the accident. ### [XXV: Reuben Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxv-reuben-smith) Mentioned as having arrived at the stable before the events of this chapter. ### [XXVI: How It Ended](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-how-it-ended) Returns with the dogcart and stands still as a stone during the grim task of loading Reuben's body. ### [Ruined and Going Downhill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii-ruined-and-going-downhill) Ruined by hard riding in a steeplechase, turned out to the meadow with Black Beauty, and laments their fate. ### [XL: Poor Ginger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xl-poor-ginger) Now a broken-down cab horse, she recounts her decline and expresses a wish for death. ### [Hard Times](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iv-xlvii-hard-times) Referenced by Black Beauty recalling her words about men being the strongest. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/ginger - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters