Professional colt starters (from left) Rod Smith, Matt Hamm and Jeff Williams work with a young horse near Post, Texas. The bay gelding often bucked and ran off, and recognizing its trust issues, the men laid down the horse in a round pen with soft ground. The method is used by many respected horsemen and was demonstrated in the movie The Horse Whisperer. The goal is to show the horse that at its most vulnerable position, human hands are there to calm and comfort the horse, not harm it.
