Buck

The documentary "Buck" by director Cindy Meehl beautifully depicts the life of Buck Brannaman in his journey from a terrifying childhood to a life of compassion and contribution. Buck has transformed the leaden abuse of his past into the gold of "helping horses with people problems".

The pacing, incredibly lovely cinematography and editing all serve the subject well. "Buck" focuses on the central subject while also introducing the context of historical methods of cruelly "breaking" and training horses. There is much to admire about Buck's approach and lots to mourn otherwise, but the overall effect of this skillful documentary is one of compassionate optimism. We can move from fear to compassion, and we can make a difference for animals and ourselves in this essential choice.

To paraphrase Mr. Brannaman: a horse is a mirror, and you may not like what you see. Don't blame the horse! Buck displays a calm, unflappable wisdom sourced in his own journey from personal terror that is inspiring not only for those of us who love horses but for everyone.