Famous 'horse whisperer' to give clinic at Longhorn Arena

Feb. 26—Well-known horse handling expert and instructor Buck Brannaman is scheduled to teach horsemanship classes at Longhorn Arena and Event Center on March 15-17.

Over the course of his more than 30-year career, Brannaman has been working with horses and their owners based on classical concepts from the California vaquero tradition. He travels much of the year doing horsemanship clinics in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Brannaman also provided part of the inspiration for Tom Booker, the main character in the book/movie "The Horse Whisperer." The book's author, Nicholas Evans, said Booker was modeled after real-life horse whisperers Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman.

Brannaman also served as a double for the movie version of "The Horse Whisperer," which starred Robert Redford. Redford then, in turn helped produce a documentary about Brannaman titled "Buck."

Brannaman's approach to training centers around "working with the horse's nature" and "using an understanding of how horses think and communicate" to help the horse "feel safe and secure around humans so that the horse and rider can achieve a true union."

Those wanting to learn more about his upcoming clinic at Longhorn Arena can contact the venue at (903) 287-9501.