My Mustang Saga: Cappy's Log

In September of 2020, Reality's Chance Rescue & Sanctuary traveled to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and rescued a group of Mustangs from what has been described as heinous living conditions. Five Mustangs. Panel corral. No free access to water. Clearly undernourished. Footing of at least a foot of, well, let's call it mudnure. 

One of those horses was my own sweet little red mare, Cinderella's Story, aka Cinder. One of the others was Cappy, the sorrel paint I've recently begun working with at the Rescue. Cinder and Cappy have very different beginnings and middles of their stories, but I'm hoping they can both have a happily ever after ending.

In order to build understanding and empathy for Mustangs and the power of rescue, I'd like to share Cappy's story.

According to Cappy's paperwork, he was rounded up in Oregon by the BLM in 2016. His birth year was estimated at 2010, meaning Cappy lived wild on the range for at least his first six years. He was gelded shortly after, and in 2017 Cappy and four mares were bought and taken to Michigan. Five untouched Mustangs, who needed rescuing three years later. The horses hadn't been handled in those years by the purchaser. As common sense would seem to dictate, it isn't easy to start a domestic horse, and even trickier to gentle wild Mustangs. 

Luckily, in September of 2020, Reality's was able to rescue Cappy and some of the mares, each of whom was chosen by a trainer who would work with them from September through December and then showcase their progress in hopes of adoption. 

For a variety of reasons, after 30 days of training, Cappy was returned to Reality's, where he has lived ever since. 

After adopting Cinder in April, 2021 I became involved with Reality's, even writing a fundraiser book for them about one of the sanctuary horses. Each time I was there I made sure to check on Cappy, and eventually learned his story bit by bit. Knowing he'd spent three years with Cinder, my heart broke a little each time I saw Cappy in his paddock, doing his best to avoid contact. I wanted Cappy's story to have a happy ending, too!

This summer I approached Laura Hauenstein, founder of Reality's Chance Rescue, asking if it would be all right for me to spend time with Cappy. Shortly after, she started the Volunteer Training Challenge, and fate had me pull Cappy's name from the bucket. (I was going to work with him anyway!) 

In the beginning, even looking at Cappy straight was too much pressure and he would turn and walk away. He might come to the fence and snatch a treat from an extended palm, but didn't stick around to risk more contact. He couldn't be approached, let alone touched, and was smart enough to have figured out how to keep people out of reach.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I felt I needed to try. I promised Cappy each day I entered his paddock that I was not going to quit on him. My goal was not to get him haltered, but to want him to want to be with humans, to build his trust, and see where we could progress together. 

Since I started with Cappy in early July, I've been sharing his progress on my FB feed, raising awareness of this beautiful boy's story and the needs of Reality's Chance Rescue & Sanctuary. If you've been following, you've seen the changes and the pictures are a living testament to Cappy's progress. 

There are too many powerful positive moments to list, but a few of my favorites include:

    Sitting against his hay bin while he munched his breakfast, allowing me to simply be within a foot of him, chatting and getting him used to my voice.

    The moment I realized I didn't NEED to have a halter on Cappy before trying some things, giving us both permission to do things in non-horsey-conformist ways.

    FIRSTS: touch (only two fingers briefly on his right shoulder); brushing; fly spray; halter on from right side and many times later, his left; leading a few steps; and so many more.

Some changes stand out more vividly, though they might seem insignificant to others. The fact that Cappy looks FOR me, walks TO me, leans INTO me, and the softness he's developing in his eye. 

Just this week, I brought Cappy into the indoor arena to work with him for the first time. He leads much more quickly now, and stays closer to me, though we're not quite at shoulder level...yet. There was no spooking or shying from all of the things that scare some of the horses, and he even walked up and over the wooden arced bridge in a slow and steady pace, no rushing.

Cappy is a thinker. He likes to stop and check things out, processing before moving into something he's not quite sure about yet. On his second arena session, there was a small lake (major rainstorm that morning) between the pasture and the arena doorway. Many horses hesitate at water obstacles...they can't see the bottom, it moves, it reflects, and who knows what else! Cappy walked to the edge, waited, dropped his head and looked, all while I stood inside the arena, slight pressure on the line, and gave him time. Cappy took a mini step, moving a front hoof just into the puddle...and he looked at me. I waited, patient and encouraging him with my words and body language. Calm and quiet, Cappy walked through the puddle and into the arena. Level neck, no rushing, trusting me.

When I removed the lead line later, giving Cappy freedom inside the sandy, safe space, he waited until I released him, not leaving until I encouraged him to move away. He took a few tentative steps, keeping his right eye on me, unsure if it was okay for him to really move away. Only a few more strides, and Cappy sighed, buckled, and dropped for a hearty roll in the arena sand. Later, when it was time to leave, he was calm and patient when I approached and reattached the lead to his blue halter. He walked back to his paddock as calmly as he'd left.

Cappy, aka Capricorn, aka Capitano, aka Cappuccino, aka my sweet boy is only one horse, but he is one helluva horse. He has a brighter future now, and I pray every day he can find the right forever home. No matter what happens at the Reality's Chance Volunteer Trainer Challenge this weekend, I plan on continuing our work together, to help Cappy become more comfortable and move forward for his best life. 

If you're interested in learning more about Cappy and/or the other animals at Reality's Chance, visit their FB page or reach out to me. https://www.facebook.com/RealitysChance

Maybe you're the perfect future Cappy or another adoptable horse from Reality's is awaiting. 

Maybe you can't have your own horse at your own place, but there's still a lot you can do to help. Sponsor a horse or donkey or even the goats or fowl that live at the rescue. 

Maybe you can't afford a sponsorship, but you can DONATE. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KNCDPM8M8EAL2

Even $5 helps! If 100 people 'only' donate that's $500! It's easy and tax deductible and you'll be saving the lives of the Mustangs, rounded up from their wild birthplaces with choppers and quads, and eventually landing at Reality's Chance.

Cappy brings joy and an appreciation for the little things in life. We're working together toward his happily ever after story ending. 

Stay tuned...and please, help if you can!