The Thousands

The term ‘horse whisperer’ carries faintly ridiculous Dr Doolittle connotations, but there’s definitely something beguiling about horse trainer Buck Brannaman’s cowboy drawl. Brannaman, who consulted on Robert Redford’s film The Horse Whisperer and was one of the models for the title character, is a legend in ‘natural horsemanship’ and travels America holding clinics. Cindy Meehl’s documentary is a study in his wry, blunt charm; only a total dickhead would emerge from the cinema not liking this guy.

Rather than ‘breaking’ horses, Buck ‘starts’ them, using empathy and kind authority to inspire a seemingly uncanny transformation. Meehl shows Buck shrewdly sizing up clients along with their horses. Some are amazed, others ashamed. Some cry. Some hug him.

It could’ve been a cheap, melodramatic revelation that Buck’s sensitivity to abused horses springs from his own childhood – he and his brother were cruelly beaten into becoming child rope-trick prodigies ‘Buckshot’ and ‘Smokie’ – but Meehl lets the full picture emerge gradually. Buck’s deliberate choice to be gentle in his family life as well as his work is very moving. His foster mum is another inspiring presence – stay for the end credits to see her tell a very funny joke!