Congaree centers around a young wild Mustang as he moves from the open range through the frightening world of capture to a life of trust and adoption. What is the most rewarding aspect of writing a series for young readers?

The most rewarding part of writing the series has been the connection the books have created with both young readers and adult wild horse lovers. From the very beginning, my goal has been wild horse education. I wanted to do more than simply tell Congaree’s story—I wanted each book to open the door to learning more about Mustangs and what it takes to help a formerly wild horse transition into what we call “People’s World.”

I’ve also loved showing readers that every Mustang’s story begins in a very different place. Each Herd Management Area is vastly different, and the characteristics of those landscapes can influence the horses that come from them. That has made it fun to highlight the unique environments in each book while also teaching readers about Mustang adoption, the programs available to new adopters, and the resources that can help make the transition from “Nature’s World” into “People’s World” successful.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful parts has been sharing the books with the people who played such an important role in changing the lives of the horses featured in the series—Congaree, Happy, and Sapphire. Their stories are a reminder that when we take the time to understand these remarkable horses, we can build a bridge between their world and ours.

Why was it important not to rush Congaree’s adjustment to his new life?

It was especially important to me to show that this transition cannot be rushed. When Congaree first arrived, he was dealing with a massive change in environment. He had gone from the world he knew on the range to an entirely new one, and he needed time to process that change before we could expect him to begin building trust.

Part of the work we do at Nature’s View involves what we call a shift from TyranT to AlphA. My partner, Bruce Anderson, is a seasoned trainer and clinician who developed a system of Natural Humanship that applies to both horses and people. His work is built around what he calls the 4 Missing Pieces: building mental tools, understanding and reading your inner positive and negative poles, rewiring your muscle memory, and learning to let a situation tell you what, when, and how to react. The goal is to create a shift in the way you respond to pressure—to find a way of dealing with pressure that is healing rather than harmful. Congaree needed the time and space to allow that shift to begin taking place and to bring himself back to what we call “ground zero” before he was even ready to start building a foundation of trust.

That process took about a month. Once Congaree was ready, Bruce could begin introducing him to this new world. Congaree gradually learned that he was strong enough to handle more and more pressure. Bruce wasn’t simply desensitizing him to different things. Instead, he was giving Congaree the tools to handle whatever might happen, which ultimately made him a stronger and more confident partner.

That lesson was important to include in the book because it applies far beyond Congaree. You can’t rush the process of internal change and healing. Every horse is different, every person is different, and every relationship is different. Trust, confidence and a mindset shift have to be built at the pace the individual needs.

What surprised you most while learning about Mustang management, training, or adoption?

Living on the East Coast gave me a very different perspective on the wild horse adoption process. There are so many horses available, yet getting the right horses into the hands of appropriate adopters isn’t always easy. Instead of treating Mustangs like throwaway horses, available for a mere $25, I think we need to foster the understanding that they are desirable and capable of so much more than many people realize.

Each year, I would wait for shipments of horses to come into our area of South Carolina, only to watch the Mustangs with striking colors or particularly desirable conformation get adopted almost immediately at the adoption events. Because I live so far from the major holding facilities in the West—and even from facilities as far east as Indiana—those annual shipments were really my only opportunity to see and adopt a Mustang in person. What struck me was the disconnect between the enormous number of horses in holding facilities in the western states and the demand from potential adopters on the East Coast. The year that Bruce and I found Congaree, the available horses arriving for the adoption event in Columbia dwindled to three within an hour.

Unfortunately, there is a different side to that story. It really surprised me in the beginning that so many adopted Mustangs end up back in the system or at auction. The challenges of handling a formerly wild horse can overwhelm new adopters. I began to realize that the issue wasn’t simply getting Mustangs into homes—it was making sure adopters had the knowledge, resources, and support they needed to be successful once they got them home.

There can sometimes be a perception within the equestrian community that Mustangs aren’t capable of competing at the same level as other breeds. But with the appropriate foundational training, a Mustang can do many of the same things any other horse can do. I have been really encouraged to see more programs developing to give East Coast adopters access to larger, more versatile Mustangs and to make the adoption process more accessible. Also, having access to programs like ours and experienced Mustang trainers like Bruce in our area can give someone a different perspective on the process and the potential end goals. The more people have the opportunity to meet these horses, understand them, and experience what they are capable of, the more I think perceptions will change. People like Marsha Hartford Sapp, with Dressage Horse of the Year, Cobra, as well as Ann Hanlin and Elisa Wallace, with their numerous successful Mustang event horses, are demonstrating that Mustangs can excel in the English disciplines as well. They aren’t limited to one type of work or one style of riding. Given the right foundation, training, partnership, and opportunity, these horses can surprise you with what they are capable of. I personally experienced a team of Mustangs carry Lisanne Fear and her team across the country on the American Discovery Trail in 2022 during the Mustang Discovery Ride. Having the opportunity to ride her horse Pistachio while filming the documentary 5000 Miles 5000 Mustangs was the catalyst for my own personal Mustang journey.

For me, that’s one of the most exciting parts of Mustang advocacy—helping people see the horse that’s in front of them rather than simply seeing the word Mustang. Once you understand where these horses come from and give them the tools and time they need to succeed, the possibilities are remarkable.

What conversations do you hope families have after reading Congaree together?

I hope that families will use Congaree: The Little Black Mustang from Arapaho Creek and the other books in the Adopted by a Mustang series as an opportunity to start important conversations together. As a child, I remember reading a book about adoption with my own family, and one message stayed with me: my brother and I had been chosen by our parents. That simple idea had a profound impact on my life and shaped the way I understood love, belonging, and family.

As I began telling the stories of adopted Mustangs, I recognized a meaningful parallel between wild horse adoption and the experiences of children in adoptive or foster families. While every story is unique, themes of trust, transition, patience, acceptance, and finding a place to belong are universal.

I hope these books encourage conversations about compassion, understanding, and the many different ways families are formed. I also hope they help children and adults alike see that adjustment takes time, relationships are built through patience and trust, and that being chosen—and choosing to care for one another—can be a powerful thing.

If these stories can help even one family begin a meaningful conversation, create a deeper understanding, or make someone feel seen, then I believe they have made a difference.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon