Animal Heart

08/28/2025

Doc Bar was born to run, but fate had other plans. This 1956 chestnut stallion flopped at the racetrack, earning just $95 in four starts. But when he was handed over to Charley Araujo to try his luck in halter shows, everything changed. Standing just 15 hands and looking nothing like the champions of his time, Doc Bar shocked the horse world by winning 9 grand champion titles out of 15 shows. His style was so different, so striking, that he rewrote the rulebook for what a halter horse should be.

Then came his real legacy. In 1963, Dr. and Mrs. Jensen saw something special in him and bought him for $30,000. At their Double J Ranch, Doc Bar didn’t just sire champions, he became the foundation of modern cutting horses. His foals were smart, athletic, and born with a natural instinct for cattle. Names like Doc O'Lena and Dry Doc became legends, and his bloodline gave rise to stars like Smart Little Lena. Doc Bar passed in 1992, but his impact is forever. One year later, he took his place in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, exactly where he belonged.

08/27/2025

Viggo Mortensen turned heads on the red carpet when he arrived riding T.J., the real horse who played Hidalgo in the movie. After filming, Viggo was so bonded with the horse that he bought him. What’s even cooler? Viggo did many of his own stunts and horseback riding in the film. His connection with T.J. was real, both on and off screen.

08/15/2025

At 50, Bernice Ende saddled up in Montana with one goal... to visit her sister in New Mexico. But that solo ride sparked something wild and free. She just kept going and ended up riding over 30,000 miles across the U.S. and Canada over the next 15 years.

Bernice was a former ballet teacher. But she left everything behind, taking only her horses and her dog, Claire. She rode through snowstorms, deserts, and mountain passes. She slept outside, cooked over campfires, and lived on just $3 a day.

Strangers gave her food, shelter, and stories. She, in return, inspired thousands, especially women, to break out of fear and follow their own road. She carried a sign that read “Lady Long Rider,” and people came from all over just to hear her speak.

Bernice was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, wrote a book called Lady Long Rider, and became the subject of a documentary. But more than any award, her life was her message: IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN. She passed peacefully in 2021, but her spirit lives on in every woman who dares to follow her own road.

08/15/2025

In 1924, a film crew brought 14 bison to Santa Catalina Island for a Western movie but never took them back. With plenty of space and nothing to stop them, the bison multiplied, and their numbers once grew to over 500. Though they were never meant to stay, they still roam the island today, a wild legacy of a forgotten film.

08/14/2025

08/04/2025

3 Generations... Beautiful animals and a wonderful, powerful and determined woman and her family! She was an inspiration for all!

07/27/2025

Viggo loved the horse he rode in The Lord of the Rings so much that when filming ended, he bought the horse for himself. But that’s not all. When Arwen’s stunt double’s horse went up for auction, Viggo found out she couldn’t afford it. So he bought that horse too, and gave it to her as a gift.

07/26/2025

This horse owner had a genius idea. Instead of keeping the trailer plain, he transformed it into a moving illusion, making it look like the horse inside is staring right at you. It's clever, and more than just funny. It gets drivers to slow down, pay attention, and give the trailer the space it needs. Smart, creative, and all about keeping horses safe on the road.

07/18/2025

Only an equestrian will understand 🙂

07/17/2025

Zenyatta was more than just a racehorse, she was a phenomenon. Known for her heart-stopping, come-from-behind finishes, she captured the imagination of fans everywhere. She won 19 of her 20 races, her only loss coming in her final start, and even then, it was by just a nose.

In 2009, Zenyatta made history as the first mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and nearly repeated the feat in 2010. But it wasn’t just her power and grace on the track that made her a legend. Off the track, she was known for her charisma, her playful personality, and the gentle way she interacted with people. Zenyatta didn’t just race, she connected. And that’s what made her unforgettable.

07/09/2025

Every Sunday in Palmer, Texas, Clint Sparks rides his horse down the road, proudly carrying the American flag. With each wave and warm smile to passing cars, he quietly spreads a message of unity and kindness, a simple act that reminds people how even the smallest gestures can bring hope.