Wild Horses and Wild Men Documentary
Horse whisperer Randy Helm teaches inmates at Arizona’s Florence Prison the art of gentling wild horses, providing them with a unique pathway to self-reflection and personal growth.
Stepping into a pen with a wild, thousand-pound horse requires humility and patience. Without these qualities, the powerful animals will quickly assert dominance. Horses respond to the energy around them; any signs of aggression are met with equal force. Inmates learn to use subtle body language, a soft tone of voice, and embrace incremental progress—skills that are invaluable both inside and outside prison walls. The process is fundamentally about building and earning trust.
The horses come from the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, which relocates animals from overpopulated areas. After training, these horses are either adopted out or employed by federal agencies like the Border Patrol.
This compelling story has been showcased at several film festivals, including the Filmstock Film Festival, The Social Film Festival, Route 66 Film Festival, and the Prescott Film Festival.