Cappel Blogs

Cappel Cowboy Wisdom – Eight things Dennis will not let a horse do.

This is something I have dedicated my life to. It did not come from obligation or circumstance, but from a deep, burning desire to communicate with the horse more clearly, more effectively, and more honestly every time I step up to one.

The bite of cold winter air is gone. The days are getting warmer. The sunshine seems brighter, the skies are bluer, and the grass well, the grass is finally green again. But that is where the problem begins.

Spring is here and with it comes fresh energy. Warmer weather, longer days, and horses that are finally starting to feel good again. When horses feel good, they often want to express more energy than we might be ready for.

A well-balanced horse with a strong hoof and a properly fitted shoe shouldn’t lose them often. When they do, it’s typically from something like overreaching or getting hung up.

Occasionally, I get a call from someone worried about a crack in their horse’s hoof. Most of the time, the horse is not even lame, but the crack looks bad enough to cause concern.

If you’re not getting the results you want with your horse, the solution may not be in the horse.

Horses do what horses do out of instinct and survival. They aren’t sitting around planning how to frustrate you. They are responding to what they feel in the moment. Every reaction, good or bad, comes from a place of self-preservation.

This is a never-ending question: How do I know when my horse needs shoes? My simple answer is this: When the horse tells you.

Reading a horse to tell if it is ready to ride is not as complicated as you might think. A lot of it comes down to common sense.

Fear is something every horseman encounters, no matter how much experience they have. In my work, I often describe fear using the acronym F.E.A.R., false evidence appearing real. Fear feels very real in the moment, but it is not always an accurate picture of what is happening.

People often correct the reaction without understanding what the horse lost in the process – Confidence!

Horses are herd animals, and within every herd there is a natural order based on leadership, safety, and trust. Horses do not follow because of force or dominance alone. They follow those who provide clarity, consistency, and a sense of security.

Many equestrians spend years learning how to improve their horse’s performance, yet far fewer take time to truly understand how their horse feels.

I remember telling my dad that I wanted to take Goldie to town to show her at a horse show. My dad hesitated and said, “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. You don’t really know what to do, and she doesn’t know what to do either.” Looking back I see my dad was telling me that I didn't have a "Clear Mental Picture!!

Picture this- You feel you have followed doing what you have been instructed and giving it your best effort, but the results still are not showing up.

As we leave 2025 behind and step into 2026, it is the perfect time to look back not to dwell, but to springboard forward. This is your moment to feel inspired, encouraged, eager, and confident that this coming year can be better than the last.

As I reflect on 2025, one thing rises to the surface above everything else and that is, the importance of appreciating the moment.

Horses are naturally built to handle cold weather, and most healthy horses do extremely well in winter when they’re allowed to live naturally without heavy blanketing or artificial lights that interfere with their seasonal changes.

Winter is often one of the healthiest times of the year for a horse’s feet, especially when there’s snow on the ground.