A group of us from Ontario made the trip down to Buffalo this past weekend to fence sit at a Buck Brannaman clinic. My friend Penny and I had previously attended a clinic at the Legacy of Legends back in 2019, held in Fort Worth, Texas.
As always, Buck was gracious and welcoming. He took time to pose for photos with our group — a real treat, especially for those attending one of his clinics for the first time.
I had a brief chance to chat with Buck about his future clinic plans. He mentioned that he’s beginning to scale back a bit, shifting toward biannual clinics to strike a better balance while still staying active in the horsemanship world.
I also asked him about the possibility of Legacy of Legends making a return. He said, “I’m looking at that, but Caroline [Ray Hunt’s widow] has slowed down and isn’t likely to take it on.” I didn’t get a chance to say it then, but I know I’m not alone in hoping for a reunion between Buck and Martin Black — two outstanding clinicians who, each in their own way, learned from the likes of Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, and Bill Dorrance.
Big thanks to Gail Pearles and her husband for bringing this clinic so close to home and for being such wonderful hosts. We spent the entire Saturday fence sitting — Brenda was scribbling notes like crazy. While video recording wasn’t permitted, we managed to capture plenty of photos and some voice recordings of Buck’s instructions, delivered to over fifty riders split between morning and afternoon sessions. We’re hoping to piece together some of that material for the YouTube channel.
The riders came from all walks of the horse world — from Hunter Jumper and Dressage to a wide variety of Western disciplines. No matter their background, the core message was the same: improving communication through lightness, feel, timing, and balance.
If you’re interested in learning more about Buck’s upcoming clinics, check out his website!