Monday July 6, 2009, 4:41 pm
Wild Horse Redemption

At a prison in the high desert foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, hard-core criminals are taught the training methods of 'horse whisperers' and given 90 days to tame wild mustang horses culled from the herd that roams government range lands. Failure means one more defeat for the inmate; success could save both of their lives.

The inmates who volunteer for the program are in for armed robbery, assault, drug offences, and theft. Most have never ridden a horse before, let alone trained a wild one.

"These mustangs, you pressure them too much and they can't handle it. They are either going to be trying to jump out of the pen or they are going to turn and try and fight, trying to save their life," says staff trainer Guy McEnulty. "People to me are a lot the same way as the horse. If you get them excited they can't think very good and a lot of the times make the wrong decisions."

Can a wild creature be rehabilitated, and socialized for safe interaction with humans? Can two wild creatures - prisoner and mustang - help each other to a better life?
wild horses redemption wild horses redemption Mustang Training

The Wild Horse Redemption follows the men and mustangs of the Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP) through one three month training cycle: staff member McEnulty guides experienced inmate trainers as they try to teach new inmate trainees how to break horses fresh from the range. Some won't make it.

"Almost all of them are scared starting out but as they work with the horse and develop a communication that helps get rid of some of that fear. There are a few guys that never get over that fear. They are just not cut out to be a horse trainer."

With spectacular footage and raw emotion, this is a film about man and nature in one of the rare instances where the balance between the two seems to be working out just about right.

Wild Horse Redemption was produced by Point Grey Pictures for CBC -TV in association with the National Film Board

Monday July 6, 2009, 4:43 pm
Sounds like a worthwhile project.

Monday July 6, 2009, 5:11 pm
Thanks Raffi!

Monday July 6, 2009, 5:43 pm
saw this the other evening. it was an excellent documentary. win-win,it helped prisoners who, in turn, helped the horses.

Monday July 6, 2009, 5:45 pm
A project like this, IMO, is very worthwile. Good for the horses and the criminals. Maybe there is hope for both.
Tx Raffi

Monday July 6, 2009, 5:52 pm
Wonderful, aniimals are great life teachers.
Thanks Raffi

Monday July 6, 2009, 6:38 pm
Thanks Raffi for sharing!

Monday July 6, 2009, 6:40 pm
I saw this just the other night and it was fascinating. Thank you.

Monday July 6, 2009, 10:27 pm
I wish more Prisons would have programs like this,most inmates have very little to do and when it comes time to get out they end up right back in prison.They become institutionalized and can not function outside.

Monday July 6, 2009, 11:19 pm
I think this is great! I bought a wild horse and she was very wild. We trained her and became so gentle that children could ride her, so it can be done, with love. Thanks for sharing this!

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 1:17 am
that's so interesting a Canadian news company doing a story about Colorado and horse training with inmate...

maybe to take the heat off of the Calgary Stampeed

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 3:23 am
90 days doesn't seem like much time, but I am all for any programs that help! They should do this with rehabilitating pitbulls that were trained to fight too.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 9:23 am
These programs are really great for all involved. I agree with Katie that it is worth looking into with pit bulls (and other dogs with other behaviour problems as well.) It would take a load off the shelters and perhaps some could be retrained and placed very carefully in responsible homes with knowledgeable owners. Thanks Raffi.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 12:39 pm
These are excellent programmes. There are some prisons that rehabilitate dogs and these sorts of programmes really do help the prisoners too and give them a new understanding of life.

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 9:59 pm
Would love to see all rescues get to to be taken care of in our prisons. It would give something to do in return for their food and shelter and also a contribution to society. After all, aren't they supposed to making amends?

Tuesday July 7, 2009, 11:32 pm
I saw this on Sundance and I was really not paying attention to it because I was busy with something and then I began to realize that I was looking at something very special-and the interaction between the inmates and the horses was magic! I was riveted to it-the film is SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE. You see these prisoners fall in love with these horses and the training is stunning. It's a journey of the soul and a melding of horse and human like no other...a purposefulness and an awakening of spirit for the prisoners who have given up and the horses give them new reason to strive for success within themselves. For the horses-they are loved and nurtured and you just have to see it....

Here's another review---from New Zealand.

The Wild Horse Redemption

New Zealand Premiere

Canada 2007 / 90min.
Director John Zaritsky. Producer Terence McKeown.

Uplifting and lyrical, Oscar-winning filmmaker John Zaritsky weaves an uplifting and lyrical documentary about second chances in an innovative prison rehabilitation programme in Colorado that traces the incredible stories of both the wild mustangs and the hardened inmates. The film masterfully intertwines their parallel fates and their mutual struggle towards rehabilitation. Can taming these wild horses in turn tame the prisoners? Can it really be that simple?

Three times a year, wild horses roaming public land in the American Southwest are rounded up, with some of these feral mustangs joining the Wild Horse Inmate Program at the East Canon Correctional Complex situated at the base of the Colorado Rockies. Inmates learn ‘horse whisperer’ techniques, an innovative and highly successful initiative that takes beings with wild spirits who've not lived by the world’s rules and teaches them patience, discipline, respect (and even love) for another creature. The most stirring moments of this film capture the intimacy forged between beast and man in the dramatic space of the training ring, where both undergo extraordinary transformations.

This is cinema at its best, a captivating and unforgettable experience. The cinematography celebrates the aesthetics of the landscape and the horses, with each bray and frost-filled snort filling the early frames with awe. Audiences are sure to find hope in this intimate tale of freedom, discipline and redemption.

Saturday July 25, 2009, 4:02 am
i just watched this today and think it was absolutely amazing brilliant , well done dean and all the guys ,,managing to have the patience and show your love to the horses ,xx