By Claire Cappella
When I first moved to North Carolina in late 2021, I was simply hoping to find a place to ride in exchange for helping out around a barn. I had no idea that within the year I would be the proud owner of a blue-eyed, 13.3-hand rescue pony– nevermind one who would take me to a national championship and completely steal my heart.
My trainer and now close friend, Emeraude Dandurand, rescued McDreamy (“Dreamy” for short) in May 2021, from the Bowie Texas Livestock Barn. She had never met him in person, and had seen only a brief video of him being led in-hand. He was underweight, battered, and clearly neglected, but Em saw something in him that was worth saving.
He arrived in North Carolina barely able to stand, his body thin and covered in cuts and scars, his coat dull, and his teeth so stained you had to wonder what he’d been fed. He was estimated to be only five years old. He was a shell of a pony, and Em genuinely wasn’t sure he would survive those first few days. But Dreamy, as it turns out, is as tough as he is sweet.
We first met a few weeks after I reached out to Em over Facebook. She mentioned having a small pony who needed a rider, and when I saw his adorable face and striking blue eyes in person, I was instantly drawn to him. I had been toying with the idea of buying my first horse, but only if I had time to lease and get to know them first, which isn’t always an easy arrangement to find.
Dreamy seemed like a great fit: green but willing, sweet-natured, and in need of time under saddle. My first ride on him was in Em’s backyard, and though he didn’t have much balance or steering yet, I could feel the potential.
At the time, Em’s plan was to get him going and then sell him. I thought I’d help bring him along, maybe help sell him, and then move on to finding my “forever horse.” I didn’t think that forever horse would be him. But over time, I rode Dreamy through many of his firsts; his first dressage tests, his first cross-country school, his first time in a crowded show environment. Each experience displayed more of his heart and try, and he just kept getting better. Somewhere along the way, the thought of selling him became unbearable. By October 2022, I made it official, he was mine.
We kicked off our new partnership by entering his first three-phase event. The schooling day beforehand didn’t go exactly to plan (including my first fall off him), but the next day, we came back strong and finished in second place. That moment confirmed what I had already begun to suspect — this little blue-eyed pony was my heart horse.
In July 2023, we traveled to the National Dressage Pony Cup at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio — our biggest show yet. It was a surreal experience for both of us. It was the biggest venue we’d ever seen, ponies everywhere, and the kind of energy that makes your stomach flip. After two days, countless baths, and far too much purple shampoo, Dreamy trotted into the winner’s circle as champion of his Introductory Level division. Just two years earlier, he’d been pulled from a kill pen. Now he was wearing a neck ribbon and standing proudly beside some of the top ponies in the country.
Barely a month later, we competed at the Jovee Pony Farm Dressage Championships in South Carolina and delivered our best test yet, just missing another championship due to a small equipment error. We also took second in-hand against some very well-bred ponies! Even in the moments that don’t go perfectly, Dreamy always gives me his all.
We’ve recently moved to Ocala, Florida, and are settling into a new chapter—one full of promise, sunshine, and new adventures. Though we haven’t shown as much lately, I know the best is still ahead for us.
What makes Dreamy special isn’t just that he’s a rescue or a pony or a champion. It’s that he meets every new challenge with quiet bravery and heart. He’s taught me to be patient, to trust, and to believe that sometimes the best things come in unexpected packages.
Outside of the show ring, Dreamy continues to make a difference. As an elementary teacher, I recently helped the fourth grade team at my school plan and host an Equine Day, where students learned about general horse care and careers in the equine industry. Dreamy came along as one of our very special guests, helping me teach the kids about different riding disciplines and tack. He soaked up the attention with his usual calm, curious attitude, and quickly became the star of the day. Watching him interact so gently with the students reminded me just how far he’s come—and how much he has to offer beyond the show ring.
For anyone considering a new partner, I can’t recommend rescue ponies enough. With time, the right guidance, and a little faith, you might just find your heart horse in a place you never expected. I certainly did.
