For someone who grew up loving horses and movies like I did, maybe it’s not so unusual to find myself producing a “lights, camera, action" piece similarly focused on capturing such movement and relationship. Or to find myself writing a 30-second commercial script for it that plays like a movie trailer. It would never have happened as it did without a cast and crew of rural Middle Tennesseans who we can all be proud to call our neighbors.
Because the process of starting a colt through natural horsemanship has become the focus of a great portion of the equine industry, many clinicians and events have emerged to give the average horse owner/lover an opportunity to get more education while being entertained. None, perhaps, are as renowned as the original ground-breaking event known as Road to the Horse.

When co-founder, Tootie Bland, lost her husband, Steven “Dooky” Bland who founded the event, she knew that continuing to give back to the equine industry through Road to the Horse was the best way to salute this great man’s legacy. So each spring this event, known as RTTH, has grown; taking as its partner this year the American Quarter Horse Association or AQHA.

In addition to holding the event in Murfreesboro, they decided to come to Middle Tennessee to produce the commercial. Once the script and timeframe were approved and established, some quick work starting taking place. Wellknown local horse gentler, J.R. Root was tapped as the cowboy clinician for the spot. Location scouting found Williamson County willing to help. After looking at outdoor and indoor facilities alike, it became clear that filming outside in the cold January weather would be difficult. Saddle Springs Equestrian Center emerged as a possibility with business manager, Drea Gunness, offering not only their great indoor arena for the shoot but also a perfect space to observe while eating a lunch delivered by Barbara’s Homecookin'.
Working with TNDV’s Nic Dugger, technical producer and post production supervisor for RTTH, plans were made for shooting style, camera selection and edit. The only thing left was the horse. The right horse.

An American Quarter Horse.Clients and friends of Root stepped up to offer their horses. Phone calls went out and horse scouting began. One phone conversation with
teacher/clinician/author, Sam Powell of Lewisburg, was like striking pay dirt. Turns out there were award winning reining horses and owners right in our back yard. Pictures and video snippets were emailed back and forth. And when that dust settled, three horses were standing…three with that unmistakable muscle tone and strong jaw that says cow horse.

There was Just Looky Here, an eight-year old sorrel gelding owned by Lynette Phillips. We found him at Lucas Ayers' place on Thompsons Station road. Ayers, who trains and shows ranch horses, reiners and cow horses, rode Looky to a Reserve World Ranch Reining Championship title in June of 2009. Lynette says she’s never had so much fun or learned so much as these past two years with Looky, Ayers and his wife, Kathryn. Inquisitive and brave, this gelding’s ears perked up as he looked right down the camera lens.

There was Dusty, owned by one of Root’s clients; a seasoned sorrel gelding who looked like he belonged under western saddle with a Marlborough man up top. His big soft eyes belied his tough looks and melted the camera.

Then there was the little mare, owned by Sara Cook. Six-year old Dixie, who pranced like a proud filly and dared to be contained by the camera’s focus, was sired by Zippo Pine Chex. Dixie was born and raised by Cook right there on her farm just 15 minutes outside Leiper’s Fork.

Turns out that Cook, a Lifetime AQHA Member, is somewhat famous in the reining world having just won the prestigious Florida Gold Coast Circuit Championship in Amateur Reining this past January. AQHA points earned in Florida have
qualified Sara and her little roan show mare, Maggie for the AQHA Select World Championship to be held in Amarillo, Texas in August of this year.

At Saddle Springs on shoot day, Sara Crossan practically rolled out a red carpet. Together with the crew and their trusty dogs the ring was dragged, set-up was assisted and even the cherry picker moved into place for aerial shots. Once all was in place, it was time to add the most important elements—the horse and the man.

In Walter Farley’s book The Black Stallion, young Alec Ramsey awakes on the wet sand of the island only to find the Black tangled in the ropes still on him from the shipwreck. With the knife his father had given him, Alec cuts the horse to freedom. Thus begins the beautiful beach dance of the two castaways as they square off in distrust and gradually come together in friendship while the surf glistens around them.

J. R. enters the pen. The horse isn’t sure what to expect. We’ve contrived a chance to capture something real with our lights and our camera’s extensions, but it is Root who will deliver it. He moves and slides in the dirt, chaps flapping, rope
at his side. The horse turns on a dime giving a little snort, nostrils flaring. Their eyes say what no script can write and through the “willingness that meets respect” their final handshake is as sweet as the moment when the Black gets down in the water so the boy can climb on his back.

Moments like that are as real as anything and for those who love horses, there is no measuring their significance. You can see this handshake at www.roadtothehorse.com. While you’re there you can also learn more details for the March 6th-7th event.

After that, you can thank your lucky stars every time you have the chance to partner up with something or someone that you love.