Young Mayumi, an equestrian acrobat from Colón, Matanzas, was overwhelmed with emotion when she finally embraced her stolen horse, Rafá, once again. The heartwarming reunion was captured in a video shared by the Rodeo Cubano page on Facebook.
The footage shows Mayumi and her fellow acrobat, Jennifer, walking eagerly towards their horses for the much-anticipated reunion.
As soon as Mayumi saw Rafá, she hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face. Rafá, recognizing his rider, responded with visible joy.
This brief yet touching scene, lasting only twenty seconds, has garnered over 83,000 views and nearly 7,000 reactions on the social media platform. Along with Rafá, Jennifer's mare, Verena, was also recovered.
Rodeo Cubano celebrated the dual reunion with a message of relief: "Now it's time to feed Rafá well, as he's hungry, and take good care of him so he is never taken away again."
The theft occurred on the night of Friday, August 21, in Colón. The two horses, specifically trained for acrobatic performances with the young girls, were taken from their stable. The Cuban equestrian community quickly responded with a widespread alert across social media platforms.
Rodeo Cubano issued an urgent call to ranchers, riders, and livestock enthusiasts throughout the island, offering a reward for any information about the animals' whereabouts.
The plea that galvanized the community was both direct and heartfelt: "These are not just any horses. They are part of the lives, the work, the dreams, and the sacrifices of these children and their entire families."
The appeal also included a plea to those responsible: "Return their horses. Do not take away their dreams," and importantly, "please, do not kill them." After an intense search, the animals were found this Monday.
In Cuba, stolen horses are often slaughtered illegally to sell their meat on the black market, a practice that has worsened amid the country's ongoing economic and food crisis.
The municipality of Colón has a recent history of such crimes; in May 2025, a man was arrested there after attempting to steal a horse and assault its owner.
The story of Mayumi and Rafá, as well as Jennifer and Verena, concluded with a rare happy ending for such cases. Rodeo Cubano concluded their post with a promise reflecting the sentiments of the entire equestrian community: "We will soon see her back on the tracks, showcasing her incredible progress and delighting us with her spectacular performances."
FAQs about the Horse Theft Incident in Matanzas
What happened to the horses stolen in Matanzas?
The horses, Rafá and Verena, were reunited with their young acrobat owners after being stolen from their stable in Colón, Matanzas.
How did the equestrian community respond to the theft?
The community quickly raised an alert on social media and Rodeo Cubano offered a reward for any information leading to the recovery of the horses.
Why is horse theft a concern in Cuba?
Stolen horses in Cuba are often illegally slaughtered for their meat, a practice exacerbated by the nation's economic and food crisis.