Cal Poly retired Chase, the university’s live mascot who ran onto the field before home football games for a decade. Chase II has now taken his place to continue the tradition.
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Chase II joined the Cal Poly herd after the university purchased him from the Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City three years ago, according to Lou Moore-Jacobsen, an animal science professor and Mustang Enterprise instructor. Since then, he has completed training to pick up the reins as the live mascot.
Animal science students played a large role in grooming Chase II and familiarizing him with interacting with new people and environments when he started training.
“He’s a really quick learner,” said Miah Villasenor, an animal science senior. “He’s definitely grown a lot more confident.”
After Chase II was comfortable around people, his mascot-specific training began. The first step was preparing him for what it takes to run across the field before football games.
Moore-Jacobsen, who is also the advisor and coach for the equestrian team, explained that mascot-specific training began with familiarizing him with someone leading him with a halter. The horse then learns to be ponied, which is when Chase II is lead by a handler on horseback.
Early in training, Chase II did not understand his job was to stay alongside his handler’s horse, Niño, said Emma Massamiri, animal science senior and an equine center student manager.
Over the past year, Chase II was gradually introduced to the rest of his responsibilities, giving him time to adjust to the noise and activity of football games. Between cheerleaders, fans, the band and children coming up to take photos and meet him, the field has constant activity.
“Being able to see his confidence grow in these situations, and develop his love for working with the public, meeting all the kids, and have people run around and take pictures with him and he’s just happy to be here, that’s a really rewarding experience,” said Carolyn Wickstrand, an animal science senior who works at the equine center.
Two other horses went through the training process with Chase II. Chase II’s ability to relax in stressful environments set him apart.
“Every horse won’t do this. Just because we introduce it doesn’t mean that they’re going to put up with it,” Moore-Jacobsen said.
She said Chase II remained calmer than the other horses around crowds and activity, rising to the occasion as he adjusted to his mascot duties.
Chase II’s official beginning to his mascot career came at the Year of the Horse Farmers’ Market in Downtown San Luis Obispo on Feb. 19. The event highlighted his personality and love for working with the public, especially children.
“[Chase II] loves meeting all the kids, loves meeting all his fans,” Wickstrand said. “He loves being involved in the photoshoots and the videos that we’ve done.”
Chase II has successfully taken on the role previously held by Chase I, even having a similar look and behaviors towards cameras. Niño, the companion horse who runs alongside Chase II, is enjoying being able to run full speed to keep up with Chase II, according to Moore-Jacobsen.
While the mascot tradition stays alive, it also provides students more opportunities to participate in Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy. Students at the equine center have watched Chase II step into his role and fulfill his mascot duty.
“He’s a representation of Learn by Doing, from students getting to work with him to us getting to ride him across the field,” Villasenor said.