Full bio Inducted 2001 Born May 20, 1878, Georgia Died Jan. 23, 1957, Glendale, California Career 1933-1957 Media Hank must have sensed something in me he could cultivate. Thomas Smittle, who has worked as a contract trainer and farrier for Return to Freedom, was hired as a wrangler and actor for the movie The Mustang,\" a film about a convict's connection with a wild horse in a prison training program. . He smiles, but is matter-of-fact about his prospects. One of the inmates told me that he had to get right with himself before he could get right with his horse. The Thomas Muller horse named Dave makes the footballer feel comfortable as Muller claims he is fascinated by the horse's attitude and way of life. Smith was played by Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper in the 2003 film Seabiscuit. - The horse became the leading money earner of the time with $437,730 and was Horse of the Year and champion handicapper in 1938. The two exchanged knowing nods. 2000, Ranked 14th by You have to learn to speak their language. 2023 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. - 2013 - Mylute, 2nd I felt that it was kind of obvious that it was a story about a man and a horse, she said. Last Runner. Men may be moved from other NDOC facilities into the program for good behavior, including some former medium-security inmates such as Dudo. - 2008, Ranked 16th by He died two years later in Glendale, California, and was buried there in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Sunrise Slope, Lot 6121, Space 4. They mature in this program, develop a sense of pride, and a willingness to take constructive criticism positively. Actress-turned-filmmaker Laure de Clermont-Tonnerres feature-length debut The Mustang focuses on the still-unique process of animal therapy treatment for prisoners, and she researched the project by witnessing the French program up close. Nevadas is not the nations first wild-horse program (Colorado and Wyoming were the forerunners), but its perhaps the most successful. They felt safe., She decided to set the film in a mustang rehabilitation program in Carson City, Nevada. The public hero Seabiscuit was the most famous horse trained by Robert Thomas Silent Tom Smith, who also trained four other champions and a Kentucky Derby winner. For every horse adopted, the BLM pays the prison a $1,000 training fee per animal. The bond between inmate and horse is obvious, and the audience erupts in applause and whistles. Wins I spot Harry Hamman, 39, who at the time had just completed his first 120 days as a trainer after transferring into the program from the High Desert State Prison outside of Las Vegas. The prison is an overflow facility for trainable horses, generally between 2 and 5 years of age, explains Heather Emmons, Public Affairs Specialist for the BLMs Nevada State Office. Tom is a young trainer, who launched his own business in 2013. On May 20, 1878, a crying baby boy was born to poor parents in the remote woods of Georgia. Their destination is prison in the Nevada desert, where an inmate named Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) has just been transferred out of solitary confinement. Wins In 2000, Smith was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and was inducted in 2001. Last Winner. Smith led all North American trainers in earnings in 1940 and 1945. Those agonizing moments are offset by Jason Mitchells portrayal of a cheerful, trick-riding inmate named Henry. Whats more important is that once released, inmates take the lessons theyve learned from working with horses and incorporate them into their daily lives. Even if the insight inmates gain from working with and bonding to their horsesand each otheris what ultimately leads to change, Currys combination of skill and genuine concern for the horses and inmates and his desire to see them succeed are crucial to its success. - Thomas has appeared in many documentaries about wild horses and has a credit with SVT TV of Sweden, due out April 2019. Thomas Smittle hopes to continue an acting career and is seeking an agent (2/9/19). On Adoption Day, I watch him lead the Grand Entry (a drill team performance featuring the trainers) on his horse T-Bird and carry the American flag. What must it be like for the inmates to watch them, knowing that leaving by their own free will isnt an option? Wins - 2019, Ranked 18th by For an inmate to be accepted into the program, he must submit an application after case workers review his file to make sure hes an appropriate candidate. In his absence, Roy Waldron trained for a time for Maine Chance Farm, winning the Pimlico Futurity with Star Pilot, before Smith's 36-year-old son, Jimmy, took over for the remainder of the suspension. I got this wonderful trust from them that allowed them to go pretty deep into the psyche of the characters., De Clermont-Tonnerre didnt know much about animal therapy treatment, until she happened upon a piece in a French magazine about the use of it in prisons nearly five years ago. Wins 2004, Ranked 31st by 2021, Ranked 15th by In her years of research, including dozens of interviews with prisoners in the American penal system, de Clermont-Tonnerre said she found the connection with her subjects with ease. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Looking for a trainer, lesson barn or boarding facility? 207 Likes, 1 Comments - Sweetbeau Horses (@sweetbeauhorses) on Instagram: "Welcome to our guest trainer, Thomas Smittle. Most of them end up doing construction.. De Clermont-Tonnerresparked to the story, and wanted to use it to build out film that was about teaching men how to behave and how to reconnect with themselves., Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre on the set of The Mustang, And it had to be men: She gender-swapped the roles when she discovered that the program is currently only available to male inmates. From small-town Oregonian to well known horseman,clinician and wild horse advocate, Thomas Smittle makes his debut acting career in The Mustang 2019. New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund. Thomas Morley Best Racing Class Achieved Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer Add to Virtual Stable Add to Compare 2023 Statistics* Career Statistics See Complete Stats *All current year statistics include results from all countries. 2001, Ranked 30th by You want some more, Buddy? he asks.The Wild Horse Training Program is a self-supported state entity that works in a cooperative partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections. Earnings RKC Dressage, LLC: Ralea Casperson, Willeston, FL(training, lessons, clinics). Earnings Thomas Smittle, an incredible Mustang Trainer met our Sweetbeau Horse, Hollywood, during the filming of a movie. 2009, Ranked 33rd by Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Program Director Hank Curry, 62, says that to train a horse effectively, you have to think like a horse. There are exceptions. His pride is evident in his erect posture and broad smile. Every dollar of profit goes back into the program. - The sad story of Seabiscuit trainer Tom Smith is one the readers of EZ Horse Betting will not soon forget. Five scruffy weanling foals surround the strapping man, who wears a faded chambray shirt and navy-blue beanie. Earnings Trainer Profile. Emmons points to a lower return rate back to the BLM on horses people have adopted through the prison program as testament to its success. When Unaweep was sold in 1921, Smith found work training horses to race. - Or that human and animal develop an unbreakable bond, through which they both learn to trust and let go? - - Solo travel can be risky. 2012, Ranked 9th by 2016, Ranked 31st by A prisoner seeks rehabilitation by trying to break a wild horse in the inspirational film The Mustang. I ask Bryant why people would want to purchase a wild horse that has only 120 days under saddle and has been trained by an inmate rather than by a professional trainer or clinician. 2014, Ranked 14th by Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer. Surprisingly, mares arent in great demand for the program, and burros only come through occasionally, as theyre slower to reproduce. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, How Michael B. Jordan's Love of Anime Shaped 'Creed III' Fight Scenes, Jamie Dack's Feature Debut Scared Some People -- Now It's Nominated for 4 Indie Spirit Awards, 45 Great Films That Failed at the Box Office, 51 Directors' Favorite Horror Movies: Bong Joon Ho, Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, and More, The Mustang Review: The Shawshank Redemption With Horses in Stirring Prison Drama. They should have much more. 2009, Ranked 23rd by 2007, Ranked 21st by Hooded, brooding and given to sharp bursts of impulsive violence, Roman keeps to himself, much like the magnificent, unmanageable buckskin that isolated in its own cell begins to exert a wordless pull on the moody prisoner. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. From small-town Oregonian to well known horseman,clinician and wild horse advocate, Thomas Smittle makes his debut acting career in The Mustang 2019. Earnings Cowboy Irwin, twice the nations leading trainer in wins. Some inmates, like 34-year-old Alisandro Alex Barajas, have something of a fan club amongst regular adoption goers. ', De Clermont-Tonnerre admitted that joining the film wasnt an easy ask for Smittle, who is training to be a horse trainer, but the filmmaker found that the support and confidence that the program had instilled in Smittle helped him feel secure in taking on the role. - 2020 - Serengeti Empress, 3rd Robert Thomas Smith (May 20, 1878 January 23, 1957) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. WARNING: This interview contains some brief spoilers about the movie's plot. In 1934, he was hired as a trainer by the wealthy businessman Charles S. Howard . All rights reserved. But none are as well-regarded as the Carson City program, as inmates are allowed to spend large chunks of time working with the animals. It was a gamble for the female director. Working with inmates has changed me. For more information about the purchase of a Rescue Glide or training classes, contact: Roger Lauze Equine Rescue and Training Coordinator MSPCA at Nevins Farm 978-687-7453 ext. 2004, Ranked 17th by Horses are flight animals that survive in the wild through reacting to real or perceived threats, and many inmates identify with [that instinct], she says. One of 1,419 inmates at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) in Carson City, Nev., Dudo is serving a 14-year sentence and has virtually no prior experience with horses. It really says something about this masculinity and vulnerability., Armed with all her research and insight, the filmmaker aimed for maximum veracity, filming the project at a former prison and even casting a trio of recently released prisoners who had participated in the program while incarcerated. It made me think about how Id lived my life up until that point. Wins Its a lot of contrast. Earnings He is already well-regarded within the local communities and with horse rescue programs. - Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Seabiscuit won stakes from coast to coast, including the Pimlico Special against Hall of Famer and Triple Crown winner War Admiral and the Santa Anita Handicap. Luckily, The Mustang overcomes its most predictable story beats thanks to de Clermont-Tonnerres intimate, unfussy style and a quietly captivating performance by Schoenaerts. At Newbury we believe riding, training and showing should be pleasurable and enriching experiences for both horse and rider. Combining a horse/inmate training program with substance abuse treatment [if needed] could tremendously enhance the rehabilitative potential.. 2006, Ranked 29th by - Soon, Roman and the mustang, which he names Marquis and pronounces Marcus, are training together in a program in which prisoners work with wild horses until the animals are ready to be auctioned or adopted. ON ADOPTION DAY, the stands are filled with more than 150 attendees, many of whom are from the surrounding communities.A lot of people show up at our adoptions just to watch, because they like seeing what the inmates have accomplished, says Ranch Manager Tim Bryant, who is in charge of the Stewart Conservation Camps 1,000-acre working farm. - California has a 73-percent recidivism rate and the average national rate hovers around 60 percent, says OMeara. Its so accelerated that each day brings new challenges and develops new skills. Horse Training Certification. Wins A successful program at a Nevada prison places wild horses in new homes and helps the inmates who train them set new priorities in their lives. 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This Article is related to: Film and tagged Interviews, Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, The Mustang. Born in a log cabin in the backwoods of northwest Georgia, as a young man he trained horses for the United States Cavalry and worked on a cattle ranch. - We strive to foster an environment based on open communication that promotes teamwork, learning and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. The pairing of inmates with horses offers tremendous potential for addressing the psychological causes of the offenders problematic behaviors, and also counteracts the impact of a dysfunctional prison culture that reinforces behaviors unproductive to readjustment in the community. Thomas Smittle hopes to continue an acting career and is seeking an agent (2/9/19). Most, if not all, of the animals sell, usually for between $800 and $1,100 each. 2020, Ranked 20th by Design and development by TJC Technology Services, Inc. /exhibits/photo-finish-juried-photography-exhibition, Employment, Internship and Volunteer Opportunities. For Harness Racing Fans. [1] The drug was given to the horse by the stable foreman without Smith's specific authorization, but under New York racing rules he was held responsible as the horse's trainer. 2016, Ranked 38th by Thomas was born in 1970 in Mehama, Oregon and is the son Jean L Wood (Blackfoot/Paiute), a housekeeper, and Howard Smittle (Cheyenne/Euro), a horseman and fabricator. - - Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Statistics and last 14 days runners. It has to, says Curry, who is the son of renowned horseman Bronc Curry. Hank [Curry] is a key component, obviously, but the residents of Carson City and the vicinity, as well as non-profit horse groups are also behind us.. You may recognize him from his supporting role in" . Brothers and horsemen William "Bill" Dorrance (January 19, 1906 - July 20, 1999) and Tom Dorrance (May 11, 1910 - June 11, 2003) are considered among the founders of the modern natural horsemanship movement. Its a widely popular method in horse-training today for its non-coercive methods and communication strategies. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Career Wins: Group 1 Wins: Prize Money {{result.TotalPrizeMoney | currency . 2012, Ranked 23rd by Lovely Reaction (IRE) 5/1, A P Kelly Limerick Tue, 31st Jan, 23. DVM live on their small ranch near Custer, South Dakota with their five mustangs, eight rescued dogs & cats and a small flock of chickens. 2017, Ranked 23rd by I got pretty upset seeing my first one go because we had really bonded. - You learn a way of looking at peoplebetter, mostly. They need to have equipment and animals. Charming and gregarious, Barajas has become a solid horseman, a skillful trainer, and is one of the programs biggest proponents. He was very generous with his time, so we have a lot of material to write about Tom. David Dudo gently and methodically runs a currycomb over a little chestnut colts fuzzy winter coatneck to shoulder, withers to flank. Thanks to the Vermont Horse Council, this team received a gift of our Rescue Glide as well as sponsored training from the MSPCA. - 2010, Ranked 12th by Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Runs Since Last Winner. But I also look at it as something Ive accomplished and I want them to have a good home, he says. - Smith also trained champion handicappers Kayak II and Mioland. I felt that was easier for them to open themselves to me, as a woman, she added. On November 8, 1945, Smith was suspended from racing for a year by The Jockey Club after being found responsible for administering the stimulant ephedrine via an atomizer to one of his horses. The biggest changes I see are in a lot of the older guys. His life's story was told by author Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling 2001 book Seabiscuit: An American Legend.[3]. Statistics Achievements Entries Results Top Horses Filter Statistics Age Sex Surface Race Type As of 02.25.23 2021, Ranked 29th by Completion of the Riding Master II program or the equivalent level of equine studies. Earnings He is already well-regarded within the local communities and with horse rescue programs. In the 1940s, he was hired to train for Maine Chance Farm, owned by cosmetics tycoon Elizabeth Arden. 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