Hal Coker dreamed of being a cowboy. Not one to let a suburban upbringing hold him back, he set out to learn everything he could. That meant persistence, tenacity and a great work ethic. When his break came he was ready for it.

“It took time but when the opportunity to attend Buck Brannaman’s clinic in Watsonville I jumped on it," says Hal. "I was around some of the top cowboys in the country. I kept quiet and listened and learned.”

Hal's ego was not in it, only his heart. That pivotal experience gave him a much needed boost but it was everything he'd learned prior that set the stage for his success.


“Studying under Buck and his team was an amazing experience,” says Hal. “He’s a gifted man with a heart for horses and an incredible capacity for teaching.”

For those not familiar with the name, Buck Brannaman was the main inspiration for the character of Tom Booker in the novel, The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans. He’s been called the Zen master of the horse world for his approach to treating trouble horses and humans with kindness, compassion and understanding.

For Hal, Buck was a mentor who turned a dream into reality.

“He was exactly what I wanted to be,” says Hal. “He gave me the tools I needed to grow as a horseman. That man deserves the credit for helping me to become who I am today.”


His modesty is part of what makes him good, but the truth is that like any successful person, Hal is who he is because he puts the advice of his mentors into practice. Tenacity, determination and his ability to picture himself where he wanted to be before he was there are just a few of the qualities that have served him on his journey.

“It’s been a hard, unpaved road,” he says. “Because I came in with no experience I had to do things just to prove my worth. Some folks have a romantic view of cowboys, but it’s not a romantic life. There are a lot of bumps along the road. And even when you’re doing what you love, it’s a hard life.”


Whether it rains or snows or winds are blowing 100mph, Hal has a responsibility for his animals; one he takes quite seriously.

“The animals need food and water, they need to feel secure in the barn, their stalls need to be cleaned,” says Hal. “If anything, their needs only intensify when the weather gets rough. Sometimes you can find yourself hundreds of miles away from the ranch with animals depending on you to lead them back. If the horses or cattle need to be fed and it’s freezing, you can’t say, ‘I’ll drop feed to them tomorrow.’ They’ll starve. You just have to manage your responsibilities no matter what the circumstances.”

Interestingly Hal’s early years playing football gave him some of the tools he needed to succeed.

“Football teaches you discipline,” he says. “If you let it, it teaches you to be mentally and physically tough; to take a hit and get back up; to run when it hurts; to take care of your team. The mental and physical demands of being a cowboy are intense. I’ve had more injuries now than I had in all my years playing football. I’ve been thrown off of horses and trapped underneath them because they fell back onto me. Trust me when I tell you, they're even heavier than they look.”

Hal’s had broken ankles, knees, arms, wrists, fingers and toes.


“I had a horse get spooked once and jump off a ten foot drop throwing me into the air,” he says with a shiver. “Even the strongest running back holding a football could never do that.”

So why does he do it?

“I love the horses,” he says simply. “I just do. There is nothing in the world I would rather be doing. Nothing. I work with all kinds of horses. I start colts, which means I get them ready for folks to ride them and I work with older horses who are considered troubled horses or hard to deal with. We joke around the ranch about writing a book calling it 'Last Chance.' I am usually the last chance the horse has before the owners get rid of them.”


According to Hal communicating with horses is no different than communicating with human beings but with one important difference.

“Horses are honest,” he says. "They don’t say one thing and mean another. They will let you know exactly what they are feeling. They have simple needs and just want a peaceful existence.”

So what causes a horse to be troubled?

“The biggest mistake people make with a horse is to try to force them to do things,” he says shaking his head. “Horses need to be taught to do things. All it takes is a little patience and a willingness to teach.

“I see people make the same mistake with their kids," he continues. “They try to force them to behave instead of teaching them how to behave and loving them through the process. It really is that simple. It doesn’t have to be something cosmic. You just have to understand that each horse (and person) is different and be willing to get to know them.”

The road to success has been hard but Hal decided a long time ago that this is what he wanted to do.

“I refused to let other people’s beliefs stop me from making my dream a reality,” says Hal. “I may have started off life as a suburban boy on a bicycle, but I am a cowboy. I don’t let others define me. When things got cloudy and it didn’t seem my dream was coming through, I kept on, no matter what. A cowboy can’t go back to the ranch until their tasks are done. That’s how I made it through. I stayed focused on the task at hand. I kept my mind focused on the goal, even if I didn’t know the way.”

Defining moments happen in each of our lives. They drive us and shape us. Hal’s came early. He knew from a young age what he wanted to do and he overcame countless obstacles along the way. His reward is watching the an owner and their last chance horse come together.


“The look on their faces is all I need,” says Hal. “One of my most fulfilling moments in life came when a man named Frank and his wife sent me their filly to train. They had raised her since birth and she was quite high spirited.”

Frank was dying of cancer. His one last wish was to be able to ride the horse. Hal was literally his last chance.

“She was an incredible horse. I worked with the filly and taught her to enjoy the experience with a rider,” says Hal.

For Hal the look on Frank’s face when he rode her for the first time is the reason he does what he does.

“He got his last wish. Two weeks later he died. His expression when he rode her made it worth all the time and effort I put into the filly. It’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life."

How does Hal define success?

"My definition of success is any person who is doing what they love to do. It’s not money or fame, just loving what you do everyday. There is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing than helping people and horses to connect. Shortly after Frank died his widow sent me a note. That about sums up my view of success.”