"Horse Whisperer" Will Meet Village Teens
Abusive Childhood Could Not Break Brannaman’s Love For Horses

   SAN DIEGO — Children from St. Vincent de Paul Village’s Toussaint Teen Center (TTC) and PromiseLand Ranch will attend a horsemanship clinic directed by the man whose ability to interact with equines was largely the basis for the main character of the movie "The Horse Whisperer" on Sunday, June 9, at 12:30 p.m. at Clews Horse Ranch, 11911 Carmel Creek Road.

   As many as 10 youths will attend the clinic run by Buck Brannaman, an icon in the Western industry and who worked closely with Robert Redford during the filming of "The Horse Whisperer." Brannaman will also take time to sit down and talk to the youths about his work and life growing up with an abusive parent.

   Brannaman is known throughout the Western industry for his ability to gentle – not break – horses using empathy and discipline.

   Much of the patience and love he has for the animals he works with stems from the experiences of his own childhood, where he suffered emotional and physical abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father. It was a caring foster family that helped Brannaman overcome his pain and focus on healing, a healing he now extends to horses.

   Through his childhood experiences, Brannaman has developed his passion for helping animals.

   Fr. Bill Metzdorf, executive director of the TTC and the Village’s newest project, PromiseLand Ranch, hopes the youngsters from the teen center will be positively impacted by Brannaman’s skill and life story.

   "Many of the children living with us at the teen center and our foster care program at the Ranch are going through the same pain Buck went through as a youngster," he says. "I’m confident through Buck’s words of encouragement and gentle way, our children’s lives will be touched much in the same way as the horses he helps."

   Fr. Bill is eager to share with Brannaman his plans for PromiseLand, a residential development for San Diego County’s foster youth in Campo, Calif.

   "While we already have children living at the ranch, our long-term plans will include residential housing, counseling, educational and recreational opportunities, an animal-care program and dignity for as many as 250 youngsters in the county’s child welfare system," Metzdorf says. "The parallels between Buck’s life and those of the children we help are obvious and his support of and involvement in our project would be priceless."

   For more information on Brannaman’s clinic, call (858) 755-5022.

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