Reflecting on the past 52 days of my journey and experience with my mustang Scout, I can say that it has been a challenge. She wasn’t my first choice when it came to all the yearlings. I had actually picked 7 or 8 other ones and she wasn’t anywhere on the list. I chose her after all of the other yearlings went well up over 800 dollars. I didn’t even pick her out. I accidentally clicked the wrong horse which turned out to be her and I liked the
way she looked so I chose her.  Then the journey started. We have
worked from early in the morning to late at night overcoming challenges. It’s a very
satisfying feat; all of the stuff we have accomplished and are
going to pursue to accomplish is just mind blowing. She has taught me so
many new things with how she acts and behaves. Also she has taught me many
lessons, such as respect, trust, and simply kindness. She has been a great
friend to me and always tries to do the best she can in every task that comes ahead of us.

    

    Wednesday was a challenging day because of the heat. We
continued to work the horses early in the morning and late in the evening and
even the temperatures were still close to 100. The horses are showing signs of
stress because of the relentless heat. Their attitudes are the most apparent
sign they are more easily agitated and would rather just be left alone. A
reporter from the Lincoln county journal was out Wednesday and we worked them
for her for a short time in the heat of the day.

                
     Thursday gave us a break in the weather with a little rain in the morning
and cooler temperatures. We taught Braydon’s filly to lie down and I’m not sure
but I think they curled up in the middle of the arena floor and took a nap. I
asked Braydon if he’s ever had so much fun doing something and with a big smile
on his face he said no.

    This morning we rode around the subdivision and we were met by a
growling barking Australian Sheppard charging at us. That was interesting for
awhile and after the horses regained their composure we saw another dog not too
far down the road but he was a lot more docile and gave a better chance to
expose the horses to a dog in a mild way. Then we rode on picked a couple plums
saw a few white tail deer. Then came back to the barn where Cindy had Breakfast
ready.

        This morning we stared out early again to try to beat the heat.
All the mustangs are coming around nicely. Braydon and I rode down the road
today and did some trail ridding. He led his yearling while he rode his horse
sport. Here are some pictures of us posing on top of a rock. It is a blessing to
be able to do something so enjoyable.

This is the story of how we came up with the horses names. The
black horse got his was the first horse that we purchased during the auction. I
did not notice it on the video so I either missed seeing there was something
different about him or something happened to him between when we purchased him
and when we picked him up. In fact I didn’t really notice it until he had been
home for a couple of days but his right hip was noticeably lower than the left
one. It was also noticeable larger than the left one, and he would sometimes
appear to be off in his movement but not real bad. He is a very kind eyed horse
and is very willing and always tries his best. So we felt that the passages from
genesis chapter 32 verses 22 through 32 were fitting for him. These are passages
that speak about Jacob wrestling with god, and god touched the socket of his
hip. That did not cause Jacob to quit and there didn’t appear to be any quitting
in this horse. Therefore he is named Jacob. The buckskin horse has from the
beginning been the most flighty and the most nervous, He is very fearful. Now
the chapter of Isaiah 35 speaks to those who are fearful hearted “Be strong and
do not fear behold your god will come with vengeance with the recompense of God
He will come and save you.” It also says “And the ransomed of the Lord shall
return, And come to Zion with singing, everlasting joy on their heads. They
shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Thus
this horse is named Isaiah 35 as the words from god in this chapter are fitting
for this horse.  The horses are all
progressing as we try to work around the heat. It is presenting us a challenge,
however we will prevail.

    Wednesday while braydon and Trenton were beating the heat in the
pool. I drove Ol Gus around the house and up to the pool so he could watch them
swim. It was a windy day and was a good day for him to get exposed to the
  elements outside. I also rode the black horse that is now named Jacob because
  of his hip. Wednesday the buckskin now named Isaiah 35 and Jacob got worked on
  cows and was working with Gus to improve his willingness to go forward. We are
  in for supper right now but when we go out I think I will but the flag up in
  the barn and work them on the flag.

Church service was held outside last night. Several in attendance with some new people joining us. We heard a message of hope on healing wounds from our past.

Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
Pastor Dennis Cappel

Something good is going to happen to you today.  
Hope is.......Having Opportunities Presented Everyday......Cindy Cappel

A mountain moving mustang message was delivered Sunday July 15th at the Audrian
County 4-H Fair by  Hope Givers Cowboy Church.
This was a wonderful time,  we took all the mustangs with us. So far all their outings have been to a church service. What a start!
Dave Hallows played some inspirational spiritual cowboy songs on his guitar,  while the goats joined in the singing. Cindy spoke on hope and Gods love. I  gave a message on overcoming
fear using the mustangs. This message was well received and heart felt. We have been invited to return next year so we will see you again soon. 
Hope Is Alive!  Pastor Dennis and Cindy

    On Thursday we’ve begun stepping up the progress of the horses.
Each day they seem to get better. The bay seems to be still pretty cautious but
is gradually surrendering his will over to ours. It seems like you can see a
daily improvement in their body condition, hair coat, and attitude. You know its
happening pretty rapidly when you can see it day by day. The black horse is
becoming more and more stable in his hindquarters. He came to us with a hip out
of socket. It is apparently not much of a hindrance to him. He is always
willing to try whatever we ask of him and he does it with a pleasant attitude.
Braydon has been working with his filly. Walking, trotting, and cantering behind
him on a lead rope. He is beginning working with her at liberty. They are
developing a bond and you can see they are working together is becoming more
enjoyable for them. They are really just playing together. Cindy had us to speak
about our journey at her Heart of the Horsewomen meeting Thursday night. Braydon
rode the bay horse and talked about his experience from his viewpoint of
overcoming fear. It was a good evening and especially good for all of the
  mustangs to get more public exposure. It was a pleasant week even though we
  almost had to wear a coat since it got down to the 90’s.

This morning Braydon was up early fed the horses
watered and got everything ready to go and was ready to start in on a cool
morning after a well needed rain. We worked the bay horse first. This horse is
coming along nicely however he is still hesitant to move forward as we need him
and he is still hindered by his own self-preservation. I worked him on the
ground with saddle on first. He is resisting staying in my boundary. He is very
strong physically and is bold mentally. He is tough. Braydon has been ridding
him for several days now while I work him from the ground. Today we will
transfer motivative force from me to braydon while he’s riding. You see it’s one
thing for a horse to be motivated by a person on the ground but it is quite
another for him to take direction from a passenger on his back. I keep reminding
braydon to squeeze first with his legs then follow up with a tap on the rear
with a bridle rein. Using this sequence the goal is to transfer meaning to the
riders legs. In a horse like this particular individual that is more concern
about saving his own life than he is about taking direction from someone hes not
sure he can trust yet. It is a moment in time that will stretch best of horsemen
to get beyond. Braydon will have to \trust what I tell him and believe what I
say and learn to overcome the fear he will experience in these next few
moments.  When you are setting on
an animal such as this and you squeeze on him to go you can feel the power that
he has and your own self-preservation will be screaming to you to quit. This is
a spot that horses will take their riders instinctively so they can have their
way. If you agree with the horse and quit doing what you’re doing. You will have
  successfully trained them to be more rebellious and it is a spot that causes
people to get hurt, and horse to become broncs. However braydon is armed with a
  willing attitude and my voice of experience so we will proceed on. I will
  attempt to give you a glimpse into conversation. Okay Braydon just squeeze with
  your legs and tap him on the rump until he moves his feet is what I said to
Braydon, but the voice inside of braydon said if I tap him he will buck me off
see if I tap him he kicks up. I said I know so hit him harder he will go forward
in a run if you hit him hard enough he will run forward. Again the voice inside
of Braydon said I am afraid because I feel his power in his resistance, then
again I said I know now look forward and squeeze with your legs  and
tap him on the rump this time the horse kicked up and then began top run. The
running freed the resistance, and started to give braydon the confidence that he
could listen to me and everything would be alright. We did this in both
directions until the horse had a relaxed attitude and was willing forward motion
from a slight squeeze of Braydon’s legs. Now we are at a spot that feels good to
both horse and rider. It was a growing experience for both of them , and I am
proud of both of them. There are not many at that particular spot that are brave
enough to believe. The other to horses are advancing  as
well. The race is on. 


“Success is not measurd by what a person accomplishes, but by the
  opposition they have encountered, and the courage with which they have
  maintained the struggle against overwhelming
odds.”

Orison Swett Marden