In The Horse Whisperer (1998)'s closing credits, Buck Brannaman is listed as "Equine Technical Advisor". In the movie, there's a picture of Buck and his brother Smokie Brannaman in the montage of old family photos during a scene at the Booker home. It's the one with two young boys with Santa Claus; Buck is the boy on the left.
Cindy Meehl approached Buck Brannaman at one of his clinics, eating his lunch alone. Plucking up the courage, she approached him and pitched the idea about making a documentary about him. Within 2 minutes, he had agreed and given her his phone number.
Director Cindy Meehl went to one of Buck Brannaman's clinics. Whilst watching, she was struck that this was something other people needed to see.
Filmed over a period of two years.
Premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Robert Redford's participation in the film obviously helped there.