The little Mayumi, an equestrian acrobat from Colón, Matanzas, reunited with her horse Rafá days after the animal was stolen. The emotional moment was captured in a video shared by the Rodeo Cubano page on Facebook.
In the images, the acrobat girls Mayumi and Jennifer are seen walking excitedly toward their reunion with their horses.
Little Mayumi embraced the animal while tears streamed down her face. The horse Rafá, recognizing his rider, responded with signs of joy.
The scene, lasting just twenty seconds, garnered over 83,000 views and nearly 7,000 reactions on the social network. Alongside Rafá, the mare Verena, owned by Jennifer, was also retrieved.
The publication of Rodeo Cubano celebrated the double reunion with a message of relief: "Now let's feed Rafá a lot, as he is hungry, and take good care of him so that he is never taken away again."
The theft occurred on the night of August 21 in Colón. The two horses, specifically trained for acrobatic performances with the girls, were taken from their stable. The Cuban equestrian community immediately reacted with a massive alert on social media.
The Rodeo Cubano page then issued an urgent call to cattle ranchers, riders, and livestock enthusiasts across the country, offering a reward for information regarding the whereabouts of the animals.
The message of protest that mobilized the community was direct and heartfelt: "This is not just any horse. It is part of the life, the work, the dreams, and the sacrifices of these children and their entire family."
The appeal also included a plea to the thieves: "Return their horses. Do not take away their dreams" and, especially, "please, do not kill them." After an intense search, the animals were found this Monday.
In Cuba, stolen horses are often illegally slaughtered to sell their meat on the black market, a practice that has intensified due to the economic and food crisis the country is experiencing.
In May 2025, in the municipality of Colón, a man was arrested after attempting to steal a horse and assaulting its owner.
The story of Mayumi and Rafá, and of Jennifer and Verena, had an outcome that is rarely seen in such cases. Rodeo Cubano concluded its publication with a promise that captures the sentiment of the entire equestrian community: “We will soon see her back in the rings, showcasing her amazing progress and delighting us with her spectacular performances.”
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