The Wild Horse Redemption | Documentary | Full Movie | Colorado Rocky Mountains

♪ (gentle music and galloping horses) ♪ [helicopter] [neighing] [helicopter] [neighing and stomping] ♪ (gentle music) ♪ - I turned 18 when I went to prison for the first time. If I commit one more felony, then I'll be the rest of my life in prison. - I didn't care too much for authority. I was always getting into fights, and on a one-way path straight to where I ended up. - I started using methamphetamine when I turned 15, got to where I was an everyday user, selling possessions just to buy meth

amphetamine, and that was what I was living for. - I don't want to be coming back here. Getting too old. This isn't a life. It's ten years wasted of my life that I'll never get back. [trainer]: About 90% of the guys we get out here have never been around a horse. I grew up around horses, I've been around 'em all my life. I'm getting old enough where I can't do a lot of this training myself, but now I can teach what I've learned through my lifetime. ♪ (gentle music) ♪ A lot of these guys have got

short tempers and stuff like that. [snorting] They get rough with these mustangs, the mustang is going to come out on top. ♪ (heartfelt music) ♪ [sizzling] [neighing] - My prison number, my D.O.C. number is 50706, which is a real old number, and I got it in 1983. - I've been in maximum security. I've been through the whole prison system, almost every prison that they have here. - I have 10 felony convictions... - Assaults, disarming police officers, criminal impersonations... a lot of little st

uff. - I'm doing four years on this one. I should have made a decision to change my life around a long time ago, but, like I said, I'm a hard-headed person. I love the adrenaline rush of running the streets, you know, playing the game. At least I used to. - I named him Sam, short for Samson. He's a four-year-old sorrel stud. I've worked him a couple of times in the round pen. The first couple of times, he tried to kill me. Tried to run me down five, six, seven, eight times, but, since then, I th

ink we got an understanding. There we go. Come on over here. [trainer]: If he takes his focus off that horse for two seconds, he could get in trouble. [gate rattles] - Hah! - I knew this horse was going to be tough, and he's the kind of horse that, if you had any kind of inexperienced person in there, this horse would just eat their lunch, you know? - Hah! [Peterson]: Every little thing around him spooks him and when he gets spooked, he's gone. He's not doing it out of anger or meanness, he's ju

st doing it because he's scared. [gate rattles] He's been put in a situation that he's never been put in before, like me going to prison for the first time, when I was 18. I was unsure, I was scared. It was either flight or fight, you know? I chose to fight. How! How, Sam! How, Sam. How, Sam...♪ (emotional music) ♪ [neighing] - I see a lot of me in the horses, that same experience... Taken out of all the chaos, brought to here... Taken to a great place. At the start, they don't want to conform,

and all we're trying to do is help them, and I see that's the same as society is doing, is that, at the start, all we want to do is rebel and not conform to the ways of the world, and all they're trying to do is help us. And that's definitely the way I see it with the horses. I was strung-out on drugs and I just made some horrible choices. I was into meth, I started shooting up, I started just not caring about one thing. So, it's by the grace of God I'm able to talk to you right now. - Well, it'

s an adrenaline rush, and that feeds through to the horses and through the people. So, the horses get scared, the people are scared. You can feel them when they're about to... That split second, I knew that he would buck. Hup! [snorting] All right! [McEnulty]: It was a good ride on Edwards' part, but if he would've got bucked off, then the horse would've been a problem. The horse wasn't quite ready to get on, you know? And, of course, you know, the way that horse lost it, it kind of proves that,

you know, if they'd have spent two more days on the ground, that horse probably wouldn't have bucked. - Here we go! - The first two weeks is the most important part. It takes about 90 days to go from untouched to a green, trained horse. - Back in 1998, we were training horses in a different way. It wasn't headed in the right direction, as far as modern horse training. So, I went out and started learning everything I could about the horse whisperers and we started using the same methods as those

guys had been using for years. We've had very few horses come back. The recidivism rate on the horses is way down. [laughing] - Just real soft, real soft... Just total release. Just extend your arms... - Right. - Make him look at you. Pull on his mouth... Just softly, real soft. There, feel that? That's what you release. Well, the old method was just kind of, basically, tie them up, throw a saddle on, and ride the bronco out of them, you know. With this resistance-free method, you get a lot mor

e willing horse than you do if you're forcing him to do things. You can't go faster than what they can learn. - I'd be lying if I said I didn't get nervous around them. You have to be very careful, you know? Sooner or later, you're going to get thrown off. You just got to make sure you don't get stomped, you know? There we go... I honestly thought I knew how to ride until I got on one of these, and I didn't know nothing. I never thought I'd ride a wild mustang. - Don't lean forward. Get your toe

s up. You are leaning forward. - Got to remember to let go. My crime? Burglary. I got six years on it, on this one. This is my third time back. I had a drug charge back in '89, and I did, like, three years on that. Years and years and years ago, I had an assault charge, and I did two years on that, so... Sit right up and down. Don't lean forward. Don't lean forward... There you go. - Once he stops, then you relax and pet him. Keep his head... - Anthony, he's really good. He keeps me really calm,

tells me to relax all the time and everything. He reminds me to be mellow. He's been a big help. I feel really comfortable with Anthony. [gate rattles] Whoa. Relax. [Edwards]: It went pretty much as planned. Everything was smooth, and both him and the horse were learning today, so it was kind of a combination of the horse did a little bit good, and Schoenleber did the same, so, you know, it was a learning experience for both of them. ♪ (thoughtful music) ♪ - I grew up around horses. I've been a

round them all my life. I rodeoed through high school, and then I went to work on the race track, then I worked in a breeding farm, and then I came out here for a little over six years. Mostly, we're looking for size. We've got to pick a horse that's fairly easy to sell to the public. So, it's got to have a little bit of eye-appeal. - Guy has a little different eye than I do. I like a little more meat, a little more muscle and bone and he is more of the more refined racehorse types. - She's sure

got a nice, balanced body to her... - Yeah. - She might have some talent. She is a little light on the hip, but that might come later. - Yeah, she'll be a classic, nice mare. Her number is 1089. - Everything else in this pen that I see is either too little or doesn't fit together or not enough hip on 'em. Some of them are a little too chunky or a little too short, or just not put together very well. A lot of these horses kind of bond with the person, and the public seems to really like that. It

's sort of like a dog that really likes you. [neighing] ♪ Clenching your fist ♪ ♪ Like you're lookin' to fight ♪ ♪ You couldn't resist ♪ ♪ But it's not out of spite ♪ ♪ It's just somethin' you do ♪ ♪ A hard pill that you took ♪ ♪ Before we even met ♪ [Peterson]: Clay, when he first got here, he was scared to death of horses. He didn't want anything to do with them. As a matter of fact, he was our boot clerk for a while. - I just didn't want to be around horses. I didn't care for them too much at

all. I heard about people getting kicked, bucked off, just anything, ran over... Just didn't want that to happen at all. I skipped school. I ran away from home quite a few times. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd, and getting into a lot of negative stuff, a lot of negative stuff. Anywhere from stealing, selling drugs, all that. At 16, I went to a place called R.O.P., it's for juvenile delinquents. They gave me a zero-to-two-year sentence, so I got out when I was 18. While I was on paro

le, I caught another case, so that's what started my adult convictions... I didn't care for authority at all, just... a huge authority problem. One day, I was just... I was eating lunch, and all the cowboys were outside, and they were roping a little dummy, and I thought it looked like fun, so I just decided to try it. It's not something you could just pick up, and just go right after and pick it up right away, you know what I mean? - Easy. It's all right. It's okay. - His name's Nash. I've been

working with him for about two weeks. He's coming along, he's doing better. I'm going to get on him today for the first time. Ride him for his first ride. - Okay, what do you think? Are you ready to get on him? - Yeah. Okay, ask him if he's ready for you to get on him. - It doesn't matter. He ain't got a choice. - "It doesn't matter." I'll bet he does. - Bet he don't. - He's got a choice. - He may think he does. - When he gets in the saddle like that and swings his leg over... Now keep his head

. Let him relax and pet him up. Keep his... Keep... Yeah... Keep his head tilted in. [Peterson]: Our goal here is for them not to buck. We take certain steps to ensure that they don't buck, but you're not 100% guaranteed that when you get on them, they're not going to buck. Let me do the pushing. Want to get him up into a nice little lope? - Let's get him going a little bit, see what he does. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. - Keep your hands on the reins, cowboy. - Come on. Come on. Come on.

[Peterson clapping] - One-rein stop. - Whoa. Whoa... Good boy. - Good. Pet him up. [Schoenleber]: I've got anger issues, and if I could have enough patience to train a wild animal that doesn't have no idea what I want, it should help me in life, I would think. I sure hope so. I need all the help I can get sometimes, I think. [neighing] ♪ (emotional music) ♪ [Edwards]: I'm extremely excited about getting out. It helps me to be working with horses. It's been 39 months, so, I'm ready to go. Totall

y different person standing before you today. [McEnulty]: Peterson's in the top end of the tough ones out here, I would say. This is a kid with a short temper, and that's one of his things that he is going to have to overcome in life. His adrenaline gets him in trouble a lot of times. People, to me, are a lot the same way as the horse. You know, if you get them excited, they can't think very good, and, a lot of times, make the wrong decisions. - Hut! Hut! Hut! Hut! - He's going to have to learn

to work with people before he can help them out much. - Quickly, shut it! [panicking]: Shut it! You got to be ready! I'm not playing! Hut! Hut! Hut! Hut! Shut it! Shut it! Shut it! Sam's the kind of horse... He'll run you over. You see that? He didn't care. [panting] By the sounds of him... [snorting] ...he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. [Samson snorting] Don't be too surprised if he tries to charge me. - Every horse is different, you know. Some horses, it's as little as two

days to touch. Other horses might take two weeks. Once you can get your hands on this horse, usually within a day or two, you're able to put a saddle on him, and approximately five days after you saddle him, they're usually able to get on and ride them. - Whoa, Sam. [tenderly]: It's okay, you're all right, boy. You're okay. You're all right, Sam. You're my boy, aren't you? That's okay. Yeah. You're okay. I can feel him sniffing me. Come here. Good boy. [Samson huffing and sniffing] Come here. Co

me here, Sam. Good boy. Good boy. You're a good boy. Yes, you are. That was the first time... A human has ever touched him. You're okay. Good boy. You're a good boy. He's starting to figure out that this is a nice place to be. Isn't it? Come here, Sam. [softly huffing] ♪ (gentle music) ♪ [Hardin]: The guys that want to train horses volunteer to train. We don't force anybody to train horses, and that works well. If you get a guy that wants to do a job, he's easier to work with than a guy that has

to do a job. Everybody that starts out here does start at the bottom. Unfortunately, at the bottom here is cleaning stalls. If you work hard, then you'll move up rather quickly. If you don't, you stay there or get fired. [panting] - Yeah, some of this stuff don't smell too good. - Okay, when I show you how to tie him up, I'm going to make you do this, at least five or six times, because it's on you if the horse gets loose. - Okay. - I always let them... I put my hand on them and let them know I

'm here. It's better to stay close to them. If you stay close to him and he kicks you, it's not going to hurt as bad as if you're out here. Out here, he's got some wind-up room. Clean it out. Make sure there are no rocks in there, and just let it back down real easy. Walk him back and then down. Now, go do the other side now. I'll help you out. Come over here. That's good. [Peeples]: Drug possession of methamphetamine... My aunt's foster son was selling methamphetamine out of her apartment windo

w, of course, without her knowing. I asked to try it, did so, and it went from occasional usages to where I was using every day. I continued using drugs until I got arrested. The worst of the drug usage, I lived in my truck in the desert. My parents would come home, and I'd be asleep on their couch. I'd have gone through a window or something. Um, it was an awful life. It wasn't living. I was just dying really slowly. - Okay, Peeples. You said you have hardly any experience, right? - I haven't b

een on a horse in 15 years. - Okay. - Since I was six years old. - Go ahead and just pretend like you're gettin' on this horse. I'm going to kind of stop you everywhere you make mistakes. - Okay. - Bend his head. Then you're on. Now what you've got to remember: right rein turns right, left rein turns left. One of the hardest things for me to teach out here is to teach people how to ride, and a lot of them just never have that natural balance to ride a horse very good. Okay, let's see if you can

do a one-rein stop, emergency stop. Good. Not bad... For a first time. Almost all of them are scared starting out. There are a few guys that never get over that fear. They're just not cut out to be a horse trainer. [clicking tongue] [clicking tongue] - Face me. [snorting] Face me. [clicking tongue] You can tell what kind of mood they're in. When you're going to get them out of their pen, they'll turn their ass towards you, and pretty much, "Screw you, get away from me. I don't feel like working.

" Like, when I wake up in the morning sometimes, I'm, like, "Uh, I don't want to go to work today." Face me. He didn't know what I wanted him to do 'cause, really, I didn't even know what I wanted him to do. Yeah, I was starting to get frustrated with him. [clicking tongue] All I wanted to do was get away from him. Hey, Guy, can you give me a hand? [McEnulty]: Having problems? - Yeah, I don't want to get too close to him 'cause he's looking like he wants to kick me. - Okay, try direction. [hisse

s] Pressure and release. Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure! Look tall, look tall. Look tall! There, now back off. Back off. Back off, all the way. There's lots of wind, lots of action going on around. That's part of the problem. - Yeah, 'cause I don't want to just stand there and let him run me over. Me trying to... - Right. [Clay clicking tongue] Try it again. Stay left. Stay left! Go left! Go left. Go to the wall, go to the wall. Get things up in the air and push him away. - Haw! - Push,

push! Stay left. There. Release. - I really thought I was going to get double-barrelled. - Okay, a few parts of this is typical inexperience. When that horse looks like he's going to kick, you don't want to be close. - No. - After you've been around them long enough, you start to understand how they think. This horse ain't a mean horse. He's just figuring out how to beat you. Can you imitate what you were just talking about? You being the horse? - Yeah. Okay, when I face him up... - I would go l

ike this. Keep him working, wherever he made that mistake... - He turns around, he turns in towards the wall. - I'd be going like this. - But then he just keeps coming towards me! - In my own opinion, I think horses are a lot easier to teach than people are. Maybe just because I've been around them so much, but a horse seems to learn things easier than people do. ♪ (soft music) ♪ - I think I need a longer... Ho, Sam. I know it's scary. [smacking lips] Come on, Sam, it's all right. Come on, Bubba

. Ho, Sam. Ho, Sam. Ho, Sam. It's all right. Come here. I know. I know. [Samson's breathing slows and steadies] Start up here... Let it slide down a little bit. Maybe I'll be able to get back there. It's all right... It's all right. [Samson huffing] [tenderly]: It's okay, Bubba. That's all right, Bubba. After a while, he'll stop kicking. But you can just imagine... If you were in the line of fire of this hoof... He has a lot of power. He'll stop after a while. Just... No matter how long this tak

es... He'll stop kicking after a while. He'll let me wrap it around there. [McEnulty]: These horses teach these guys patience. That's the number-one thing that a lot of these guys don't have is any patience. - He said he's had enough of that for now, but I'm going to go right back to it. Good boy... Good boy. Good boy, Sam. - A little progress, Peterson. - Yep. Little bit, huh? Okay, let's run him back. [calling out]: Are you ready? Okay, back off the gate a little bit! Let him come in! Okay, Sp

eedy, go ahead. See you later, Speedy. ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ [Schoenleber]: It's a great day when we go on trail rides. We go way back over, yonder, up in the mountains, and it's beautiful up there. [Peterson]: Trail rides are extremely important, for the horse and for the trainers out here. It lets both of them just be themselves. Lets the horse just be a horse, and let them know there's other things besides training. ♪ Watching the tide flow in and out ♪ ♪ You've got it all ♪ ♪ And then you do wi

thout ♪ ♪ Everything moves nothing rests ♪ ♪ Some days you feel ♪ ♪ Like you're less than blessed ♪ ♪ Every time I come back to your eyes ♪ ♪ I still find the light like day follows night ♪ ♪ And it's no surprise ♪ ♪ I guess it's no surprise ♪ ♪ You lift me up ♪ ♪ Lift me up ♪ ♪ Hold me up ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not coming down ♪ ♪ Oh you lift me up ♪ [Peterson]: Trail rides are one of the funniest things about being a trainer. I can't wait until I can take Apache out on a trail ride. ♪ Just tryin' to b

e the best I can ♪ ♪ Some kind of stronger or smarter man ♪ - Before getting involved with drugs, I had a good family life and did wonderful in school. After I started using methamphetamine... Emotionally and financially bankrupt, so many problems that I had caused within the family that it was almost a shame to show my face. It was an awful life. We've always been a very close-knit family. They're happy with the accomplishments I've made, and they're there for me, as long as I stay drug-free an

d clean. ♪ (gentle music) ♪ [Clay]: I don't want to be here forever. This program is nice, but, I mean... I'm still in prison. Ultimately, I'm just trying to make it home, really. It gets old, it does, and I'm ready to go. [Schoenleber]: I think I'll do good this time. Stay out of trouble. I have to. I can't afford to come back no more, because, if I come back again, I'll probably be doing the rest of my life, and I can't do that. One of my biggest fears is dying in here. ♪ (country bluegrass mu

sic) ♪ [meowing] - Did you kill anything last night? - Yup, you make eye contact, you're the one feeding him. [meowing] - You've got to hold fat Petey just right, 'cause if you hold him wrong, he'll scratch you. [indistinct chatter] I'm fairly new to this, so I don't know all the... All the aspects, but I kind of watched the other farriers that come out, watched some videos, and just told myself, this time, I wanted to learn everything that I could. The thing about these mustangs here is that sh

oeing these guys, sometimes it can be a pain... [panting] Because they don't like to cooperate too much. [stamps] [pail clatters] I've found something that I can make a good living on, so I'm going to give it a shot, because I don't have any more chances. This is my last chance. [snorting] [shoe hits floor] ♪ (guitar music) ♪ [Schoenleber]: Nash is doing good. I took him to the outside round pen the other day for the first time, he did good. I took him down the alleyways, he did good. I brought

him up here yesterday. Just new things that make him nervous and stuff they got to get used to. You never know. Sometimes, like I said, you could be riding him, and the first three or four rides are great, and, then, anywhere after that, some little thing scares 'em, and that's where they'll buck on you, you know? You just never know. I got a whole list of names I wrote down, and I just... I used to read a lot of country-western books and I'd get names out of them, or whatever. "Nash" seemed to

fit him. You came a long way from a wild horse, to getting on him. He trusts you to get on him and stuff. It's a good feeling. - Do some more one-reins. He's thinking about forgetting it. This guy right here is going to be a pretty nice horse, I think. He's a good-minded horse. ♪ (slow guitar music) ♪ It's not real easy to do. It's just like anything else. It takes a little practice. [gate bangs and rattles] - Whoa. - What do you think? What do you think he needs? - Sacking out, getting used to

people walking around him. - So, let's go right to sacking that area. - Okay. With the rope? - Yeah. Go to the spooky areas. Wherever it's most jumpy, that's where you need to work it out. Peeples is doing great, I think, you know. He didn't have hardly any experience at all, and he's getting a lot done. He's a real sharp guy. He picks up things really quick. You know, when I tell him things, you know, he can understand how to do it a lot better than most guys. [birds chirping] [horse neighing i

n the distance] [Edwards]: I just came here to break a couple of colts, and I've been here working with outside horses ever since. I absolutely love it. Couldn't be blessed any more. [smacking lips] This job is extremely important. It's actually keeping me sober, really. It takes up a lot of my time, and the horses have changed my life, basically. The horses are my life. - I did have some reservations at first. Not knowing Tony, not ever talking to him. I didn't know any of his background, the r

easons why he was in jail or anything, but, you know, I'm a firm believer that everybody deserves a second chance. [Edwards]: I'm in the saddle almost all day, so what more could a person ask for? [Peterson panting and grunting] [Peterson]: It's a big trust issue when you can get up on one of your mustangs bareback. It's dangerous doing it at this stage, and for me to get on his back, like that, it'll be a big, a big step in his training. Can I stay with him? [Peterson panting heavily] [Samson s

norts briefly] Good boy. It's okay. Good boy. Very good boy. I'm proud of you. Very good boy. We're almost there, huh, Bubba? We're just going to go the same route. [Peterson panting heavily] Good boy. Good boy, Sam. I'm very proud of you. You're such a good boy. When I go and I start working a horse, I bond with them real quick and I let them know that "I'm going to take care of you." I'm just going to rub him all over, pet him all over. Good boy. I'm very proud of you. It's like falling in lov

e, you know? You bond with a woman. I bond with my horses, and every horse, I can honestly say, every horse that I've trained I've loved. I love my horses. You know how much I love you now, huh? ♪ (soft music) ♪ - I really don't feel like trying to dodge any hooves today. I'm not going to lie I am kind of scared 'cause I don't want to get kicked. - Every step you take backwards, you build his confidence he can push you. [McEnulty smacking lips] Right there, then, it's like... Whoa. I just wanted

to feel this horse, just to see if he would try me like he was you, and he won't. - I guess it's kind of my fault, but... [gate rattles as it opens] He still looks a little stirred-up. - Clay, just stand there a minute. Let him think about you, and then once you start, you be direct. You pick the directions. Not be the boss, but you be the leader. - Why can't I be the boss? - You can't be the boss. I'd be out of a job. [laughing] - This is kind of hard for me, 'cause I don't want to feel like I

'm in there just dancing around, playing with him, because he's playing with me, you know? - What you might do is keep putting him to work, too, because he's having so much trouble staying focused. - Yeah. - Go ahead and just send him out, stop and face. Do that, a few repetitions of that... Don't stop! Don't stop! Don't stop! You shouldn't have come to the right, there, see? If you'd have walked... - I don't want to let him run me over! - Hold up. Stop. He's still... You know, that little bit o

f fear that kind of hinders his work, but he's getting over it more and more. The more he does, the more they learn how not to get hurt and stuff. When they know they ain't going to get hurt, they won't be afraid. [gate rattles] - Ho. - Go ahead and see if you can find a place to stop, Clay. It's getting nasty. Snow is moving in. Let's call it quits. You feel like you made some progress from yesterday? - I do, but I don't. When I do get his attention, it's only for a short amount of time, and he

'll leave me, and it's just... It's really frustrating 'cause I can't get his attention. [McEnulty]: You can see a difference in this horse, going back to his pen? - Huh-huh. - It's starting to slow down and not be so flighty. - Yeah... - He's making more progress than you think he is. - I don't know, I guess I just... I'm expecting too much out of him. [chuckles] ♪ Did you mean to climb ♪ ♪ But fall instead ♪ ♪ Did you listen too close ♪ ♪ To the song in your head ♪ ♪ Does a whispering voice st

and a chance ♪ ♪ Of reaching you through the deepening trance ♪ ♪ I'm like you ♪ ♪ Haunted by whatever I can't do ♪ ♪ Like you ♪ ♪ Later on we'll take a walk ♪ ♪ Space to breathe time to talk ♪ ♪ Space and time shoves and runs ♪ ♪ Toward the ending of what we've begun ♪ ♪ I'm like you ♪ ♪ Terrified it'll all come unglued like you ♪ - They used to call me a snap-cap... Because when somebody used to say something to me that I thought was... out of line, I'd snap on 'em. See if I can't touch his ta

il and bring it around. [Peterson grunts and stifles a groan] Whew. - All right, Jon? You want to come out for a bit? - No. - Okay. - Ah... Whoo. [groans] Well... It's another day in training mustangs. Kicked, booted, everything else. Obviously, that was too much pressure for him, and he kicked me. So, but I'm not going to let it go. I'm going to bring it right back to where it was. When Sam kicked me, or ran me down, I didn't hold it against him. I knew he was just scared, you know? And, if you

're going to work with mustangs, you're going to get hurt. I've gotten kicked... - Bitten... - Stomped... - Bucked off. - It's bound to happen. - They do what I would do. - They're going to fight you. - I was a fighting fool. - You got to be quick with reflexes. - You know, even myself... - You just go right back at it. - I'm cautious. I don't want to get hurt. - My feet came over top of my head: kicked me in the back. Not only did he say, "Get off!" But, "Stay off!" [chuckling] [Peeples]: Yeste

rday, we were processing new horses, giving them vaccinations and brandings, and one came out of the chute and caught me with a hoof. [violently kicking pen] [loud rattling and clanging] And as the horse was swinging out with its hooves, I was leaning back, and it caught me right around the eyebrow here. First injury. [laughs] More of a tap than an injury, but that's okay. - This horse has got the weirdest mustache I've ever seen on a horse in my life. Look at that mustache he has. That's a must

ache? I thought he had a hare lip. I never seen a horse with a mustache like that, Guy. I never have seen... - We've had a few like that. [Schoenleber]: Have you ever jumped up and down with him? - A little bit. - Just hop a little bit. See what he does. See? See, you got to start doing that. There you go. Why, don't you look cute. Try to go a little closer. What's the matter? You getting tired? - Oh, no. - Yeah, stop lying. Now see if you can go to the side and jump, keep doing it. See? Now it'

s a whole new angle. Pet him while you're jumping. Don't stop jumping. I know you're tired. Now just keep bouncing. Go all the way around to the other side. There you go. See how it's a different side of his brain and it makes him a little nervous? Don't get closer. Just stand there. That's what you got to do until he takes it. You're hating me right now, ain't you? [laughing]: - No more than yesterday. - There you go, that's good. He's taking that good. There. Pet him. Tell him he's a good boy.

He did good. He'd never been jumping around, the horse freaked out. So jumping and slapping the stirrups, he got used to it. We did it so we could look at Peeples' big boobs bouncing up and down. [men laughing] All the girls will love you, Peeples. - Yeah. - Yeah, Tim's a good guy. He jokes around with me more than anybody else. I guess it's kind of the freshman curse, since I'm the youngest one out here. I kind of catch the brunt of it, at least from him, which is all right. It's all done in g

ood fun. [Melonie]: We met at church. - I was still in a halfway house. Just going to church and to my brother's were the only places I could go, so... - And the pastor suggested everyone go greet each other, and he walked right over to me and started talking. Was it love at first sight for you? - Oh, yes. Definitely. - I think I was too nervous and apprehensive. [Edwards chuckles] I didn't know he was in a halfway house when I got called by him. It was kind of funny. He was, like, "Well, I've g

ot to go. Bye." Click. And I'm like "Well, that was kind of weird,". Because I could never call him, either. I think, finally, I asked him, and he explained. - I was calling her more, and talking to her more. So, it was inevitable that I would tell her. So... Like, it's almost like a resume when you're dating, and it's not, like, a great resume... Can I tell you about this later if it gets, further involved? So, that's kind of what you wait on. - He hasn't left anything out. I mean, I asked ever

ything. And, evidently, the person that he is right now isn't who he was before. [Melonie]: We got married December 9th at the church we met at. It was pretty relaxed. I totally freaked Tony out up at the altar because I had made some fake vows that morning... [giggles] And his family, who had, you know, come from out of state, never met me or anything, and I start in with this hick voice. I said, "Darlin', yer my moon pie." "Being with you is better than finding freshly killed... or fresh roadk

ill on the side of the road." Oh, my gosh, he was so embarrassed. He had no idea I was going to do that. He was, like, "My family's going to think she's a fruitcake." But... - That was appropriate. - It was fun. - Okay? [smacking lips] Good. [Edwards]: The whole thing has been a blessing for me all the way through, all the way to this very day, right here. [McEnulty]: The inmates have to want to do it. Anybody can go through rehab and just do the rehab and not do them any good, but if they want

to get better, then it helps them, I think. I'm going to say about 80% to 90%, it works. They've got to toe the line out here, you know, even though they're outside of the prison; they're still prisoners. So, they still got to abide by the rules out here. - Watch yourself, Peterson. [Samson snorting and huffing] - Well, today's Monday. Sam had the weekend off... And it shows. A little fresh this morning. Ho, Sam. Ho. What are you running around for? [Samson huffs] I know you don't know what I wa

nt. I know. It's all right. We'll figure it out. [Peterson sighs] Klinger! Come here for a minute, will you? [gate unlatches] [huffing] Careful not to get run over. We're going to go clockwise, okay? Clockwise. So you get on his right side there, and see if... [snorting] There you go, just duck down. That's alright, just duck down. Ho, Sam! - Careful he doesn't run over Peterson by doing that. - Get on that side of him. Watch out! See how he doesn't care? He'll run right over you. - Hold up, hol

d up! - Ho! Ho! Ho! [rattling pen walls] Ho! He thinks we're sneaking and we're going to get on that side. Ho, Sam! He's already bolting for that side. See? He don't even care. Ho, Sam! Ho! - Hold up, guys. I don't think this is gonna work. [birds twittering] [horse neighing] - They all got big bones, all got some meat to 'em. You know, in a trail-ride scenario... [officer]: We have a need for durable horses. These mustangs are built with big, heavy legs, big, heavy hooves, and they are a bulky,

strong horse. The fact that these horses are raised in the wild, these horses know what to do if a cougar is near them. These horses are already familiar with the wild portion of what their job is going to be the rest of their life. Keep 'em flexible. The wider you are, the wider they are. That works real well. [Schoenleber]: He did good. I'm proud of him. It's a big day for Nash. It was sad to see him go, but, in the same sense, you know he's going to get a good home and he'll be spoiled. They

get spoiled, you know, it's all right. - Keep going with him. Get him going. See how he stops? - Yeah. - Are you nervous in there? - Yeah. - It shows. I understand that. There's something in you that you have to have to be a wild mustang trainer. Not everybody has it... Clay might not make it. You want some help? - Yes, please. - Okay. No, stay in here with me. I'm just going to show you a little few things. The sooner you touch him, the sooner he'll calm down. Let's throw a rope around him. -

Hold on. Let me get out! - No, just get behind me. Just get behind me. - How am I supposed to stay behind you? Goddamn it. - Watch out! Duck down! Quit doing that! - Then move out... - Get down! [Clay laughing] Get out! Get out and I'll rope him for you. Get out of here. You don't have to throw that. Come here. I'm just going to rope him, we'll get out and tie the rope to us. There you go! Look at that. Come on in here, Clay. [gate closing] Okay, now. Come here. Pressure... And release. Pressure

... Release. Okay. Just let him calm down a little bit. Good boy. Good boy. Yes, you are. Good boy. You see his eyes? Is it a change? Good boy. You're such a good boy. Yes, you are. You're a good boy. Can you sniff me? Can you sniff me? You want to touch him for the first time? - Yep. - Come on up here and take your gloves off. Okay, just... When you come up here, a little tension on here, and let him sniff you... Okay? And then pet him on his cheek, right there. Keep that tension on there. You

can pet him on his cheek. Come on... Nice and easy... Pressure. Release. Good. - Good boy. - Good job. Okay, now... Turn and pet him again. There... You see how he calmed down? Look at his eyes. He's, like, "This is cool. You guys aren't going to hurt me after all." You see that? Isn't that cool? - Yeah. - He can sense the scaredness in you. You know that? He can sense it, like a dog. The first day, the first touch, like this, you're not going to do a whole lot with him, and you're going to put

him away on a good note. Are you happy with his progress for today? - Yeah! Very. - Well, then, let's go ahead and take that rope off. Good. So... - Thank you. - Put him up on a good note. You're welcome. Put him up on a good note. Tomorrow, we'll do the same. - He's done good. You both have. - Good job today, Bubba. [whinnies] [guys laughing] Yeah, he did good today. Oh, yeah, I'm happy with that. There is hope for this horse. [laughing]: - And you? - And me. [both laughing] They call me "Cowbo

y Troy." [laughing] I don't know if you know who that is, but he's a country rapper. He raps country. It's really funny. He's really a joke, but they just call me... 'Cause that's the only black cowboy they know, You know what I mean? I get a lot of kidding around, joking, every day. But it's cool. I'm not too worried. I know it's all in fun. It's just joking. [huffing] [snorting softly] [nearby horse whinnies] [purring] - How brave do you feel? - Brave enough. - Do ya? - Yeah. - All right, put

your foot up in there. Remember, keep him pulled to one side. - Keep him pulled to that side. - Don't be reaching down there. It's his first time. Rub him on his neck. You got them reins still? - You keep a hold of that. - Okay. - That's your lifeline. [clicking tongue] - Hang on. - Don't pull back on him! - Don't pull back on the reins, you've got to give him slack, or he'll panic. Hang on. - You're doing good. - We're going to get him going a little bit, so hang on. Easy. Easy. - Pull it aroun

d. Pull it around. Pull it around! Pull it around. Pull it around! Pull it around. Hang on. Hang on. Pull it around. Just hang on there. You're doing good! - Don't squeeze. Just relax, relax. - You're all right. You're all right. - You're squeezing with your legs. - Relax. - Just hang on. Whoa. You're squeezing with your legs. You're kicking him to go, and he thinks he's going 'cause you lost your stirrup. - Relax, relax. Relax. - Just try not to squeeze him. Pull it around. - There you go. - No

w, just relax. Hold on. Just hold his head there. Easy, boy. Easy. All right, get off. As soon as you get him to stop, pet him up. Pet him up, and get down. Now just let... Now walk away. See what he does. See if he will follow you. Okay, now just walk straight ahead. Don't even look back. See? You got you a new buddy. He's your boy now. It's good for his first ride. We don't want to get him all excited. Had you more excited than anything. - He did good for his first time. You made him panic mor

e than anything. It's all right, he's all right. You did good, Peeples. - For a first ride, it was kind of a surprise. I definitely wasn't expecting as much energy out of him as I did, but I enjoyed it. It was a rush. Yeah, good adrenaline. I think any time you can feel love from an animal that has so much fear, it kind of gives you a sense of self-worth and accomplishment to know you're getting somewhere with them. [horn tooting] ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ [Schoenleber]: I find myself sometimes getting

aggravated at horses, and I just realize that, "Can't get mad at 'em, they don't know what I want." You know, I have to try to communicate with the horse, you know, just like I'm going to have to do in the real world. [bucks chute wall] [Peterson]: I'm 44 years old, and I've probably got 27 years locked up, and I'm tired of it. I mean, this time right here has just really... sunk in, you know? So when I came here, I tried to learn everything that I could, so, when I get out there, I can start u

p a training facility, work with problem horses. [stomping and bucking] That's the most rewarding, to me, is to take a horse that has a lot of problems. Strikers and biters and kickers... and just turn them around, and let them know that there is another way to conduct themselves. [Clay]: I wasn't working for anything toward my future, you know, just living day by day. Now, what you do today affects what'll happen tomorrow, you know? Now I see that. I look back now and wish I could change... I w

ish, I really do wish I could, but... There's nothing you can do about it now but just accept it, you know what I'm saying? And try to make it better for the future. [Peeples]: I have about three years left on my sentence. I call home a couple of times a week, in the evenings. I attend my science classes inside the facility, so, the time goes by fairly quick as long as I stay busy and don't think about it too much. If I think about it too much, it can become kind of depressing and, of course, th

at causes the time to go by slower and slower. But I'm able to pull out of that depression as soon as I show up to work the next morning. ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ [McEnulty]: This guy's got probably about 30 days' work on him. - Really? - Yeah. And, you know, Jon, he's usually riding one in seven or eight days. - Yeah. - We've never had this much trouble on one side on a horse. Makes you wonder if something's wrong with him. - You think he's got... vertebrae, or something? - Well, I was thinking his e

yes at first, but he seems to see good out of it. - He's definitely a lot more afraid of what's going on than the other horses are. - I think so, too. Think he's going to be a spooky horse? When you ride him; scared of everything? - I don't know. But why don't we think about getting you to community after he's done? [Peterson laughs hesitantly] [boisterous laughter] - Hey, he'll be done next week! I'm going to go back today and start packing my bags. He's done to me. [laughing] So what do you wa

nt to do? You want to keep him? - Jon doesn't have much quit in him, and when he starts something, you know, there is a lot of pride involved, and he definitely wants to see this one through. You know, I'm kind of thinking, you know, I could probably get two trained for the time it's going to take to train him, but Guy and I, we hate to give up on a horse like that. - I think we ought to keep going with him, don't you, Guy? [McEnulty]: I think so. - He might be a really talented horse, but who k

nows what his mind is going to be like when we get to riding? You know, he may not ever get over all that fear. [marching band playing] ♪ (marching band music) ♪ [announcer]: ...Border protection, Oroville point of entry, protecting our borders! Give these guys a great big hand. Thank you very much. These horses these guys are riding, now very interesting. The border patrol, they are riding some B.L.M. mustangs trained by the Colorado State prisons. So these were wild horses last year. [onlooker

s applauding] [officer]: Nash did great. He's turned out to be a real good horse. They're not accustomed to all this hullabaloo. This is a good test. He's probably the most athletic out of the bunch. He moves real well, picks things up very quickly. [Pinkerton]: The prison has done a tremendous job of working these horses. The horses were flawless in the parade. They really were. This is just the first of many parades. This is a small one, small town, close quarters. It's just a start. The year

after that, maybe the presidential inauguration. That's my goal. - You're okay. Halt. Come on, Bubba. Good boy. Good boy. - Clay, I'm timing you on this one. - Why are we rushing today, Guy? - I want to see this horse saddled. - I can't go no faster than he wants to go. - That's right. That's right. No problem there. - Good boy. Oh, you're all right. You're okay. - Now, just set it on. Set it on. Don't sneak it on. Set it on. This is where things can go bad all of a sudden. So, that's why you wa

nt to get it on, get it set. - It's on. - Okay, now, one step at a time. Stay to the side. If he bucks, he's coming right over the top of you. - Do you hear how he is breathing? Like he got snot. [huffing with difficulty] - Is he a little rattly? - Yeah, real rattly. - He's probably trying to get sick... - Was that all right for his first saddle? - That was really good. He didn't make a mistake. [sneezing] He's trying to get sick. [sympathetically]: - I know. I know. ♪ (emotional music) ♪ [horse

nearby whinnies] - Good morning, Sam. Are you ready to go, Bubba? Come on. [clicking tongue] [McEnulty]: Samson's... when he figures out one thing, that's all he thinks about. - Okay, we got it right. - When you try and change him, it's tough to get him to change, and Peterson's the same way. [Peterson murmuring to Samson] [gate clicks shut] First touch on the tail! Don't hurt Dexter! [walls rattling and clanging] He don't even care if Dexter is hurt. Ho! Ho, Sam! Don't hurt Dexter. He's not do

ing nothing to you. Huh, Dex? [chuckles warmly]: You guys. You're a good boy. Scaredy-cat. He's a tough one. I tell you, he keeps me on my toes, though. You know what I mean? When his adrenaline's going and my adrenaline's going, it's... [Peterson smacking lips] [Peterson sighs in exasperation] [clicking tongue and hissing] There you go! Look at that. ♪ (beautiful guitar music) ♪ Hurry up, slowpoke. He's catching up. Hurry up, slowpoke! Come on, Dex. Hurry up! Hurry up, Dexter. He's going to pas

s you up, Dex! He's gone, on the inside. He got you on the inside, Dex! Whoa. Okay. You two... Not bad. [McEnulty]: You can see a lot of difference. - Yeah. Good boy. You're my boy, aren't you? He's just a big baby. This is how we like horses. Just like that... About 80 days. Good boy. What do you think? Huh? You want to be like your brother here? Look at how nice and calm he is. It's okay. It's all right. So, I think Sam came in my life for a reason, because he'll probably be the last green hor

se that I train before I get out. So, I think it's fate... And it's... It's making me work. - I've been working Apache now for about a month. A month. Today's the day. I mean, you never know until you get on them. Just be prepared for whatever, I guess. I just hope nothing bad happens. Just got to hold on. As long as you're aware and you pay attention, you won't get hurt. - Yeah, right. - Some of it's inevitable, you can't stop it, but... - It's not "if" you get hurt, it's "when" you get hurt. -

Yeah... - And it will happen. - And how bad? - Yeah. - And how bad? You know? So... I don't know. Like, I'm a Christian, and the only thing that really, really fears me is Him upstairs, and that's about it, so, everything else? I'm in God's hands, you know. - Usually, if they have that much fear, they don't even go... You know, they don't last long. You know, they find some way of getting out of the situation, and that's kind of, in life, kind of the way they have been. You know, society in a w

hole, is... They were out there and they always find an easy way out, and there's really no easy way out... You've got to face everything, and face your fears. - Good boy. - Just do it. From here on out, you got to be... sure of yourself. Wherever... You don't want to let him feel you being tense... or hesitant. Now, go the other side, and just step on. Rub him all over. Let him know that you're partners... Really softly... One step. [clicking tongue] Then come right on... Get through here. - Al

l right. - Go. [clicking tongue] Just be part of him. If he tenses up, go ahead and bring it around. Go ahead and trot. Ask him to trot. [Clay clicks tongue] Just let it go. Long as he's not got a problem, just let it go. Don't kick him hard, just tap. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Tap. That's the way it's supposed to happen. Yeah, that horse started out a really wild horse, but Clay's got enough talent where he's prepared that horse correctly and got through everything. And pet him. Pet him all over

. Release that head and pet. Step down. - Ahh... - Pretty good job, Clay. - Good boy. - Excellent job, I'd say. - Thanks. Good boy. - From when we first started this horse and I seen him in here, I had... a little bit of doubts. [chuckling] But you done... You done great on him. [Clay]: It was real... It was smooth. Everything went smooth. He didn't buck, he didn't do anything. He took that well. Like Guy said, it's how you prepare your horse for when you get on it. He grew trust with me, I grew

trust with him, and everything went smooth. I don't want him to go anywhere. I want to take him home. I want to adopt him when I get out. First horse I've trained from the ground up, so, I don't want nobody else to have him. I trained that horse. [Lamoreaux]: It's a dramatic change. He was scared to death of horses, of animals. Then he started swinging a rope, and we told him about the old famous black cowboy Bill Pickett, and he told us we was full of it, and then, from there, he's just, you k

now, he's just taken leaps and bounds and, you know, overcome a lot of fear and he's grown up a lot. You could see a little kid at first, and now you see a young man, you know, really progressing, and, really, his attitude is outstanding. [Clay]: If you really analyse it, you can take a lot from this program and apply it to your life. Just like me, when I was out there, selling drugs and all that, I didn't want to wait around for a job and stuff like that. That comes with the patience thing. Jus

t take the short route, straight to the money; quick, fast money, you know? You can't just take shortcuts everywhere. You take shortcuts, and you're going to get screwed. That's probably... the most important thing I've learned is patience. [Peeples]: Well, since I started Chad, about 120 days ago, I've lost almost 40 pounds, and I think that's because it's hard work, the exercise I get working with the horses. Mentally and physically, I feel better than I've ever felt before. I'd like to become

a veterinarian one day. The more I'm around them, the more I see myself happy having a career with horses. ♪ (stirring music) ♪ - We use the mustangs basically as a tool for our kids to help our kids find out about themselves. Fear plays a big, important part in our kids' lives. Well, these horses have fear. How do you overcome fears? How do you allay fear and that? So, we think it's a great program for everyone that's involved with it. He looks pretty mellow. - Yeah. Yeah, he is. He's real doc

ile. After just a few days of working him, he was following me anywhere I went. I've sure enjoyed him, and I'm glad he'll make you a good horse. Well, he's all yours, guys. [McEnulty]: That guy's come a long ways real quick, and he's got a super attitude. I can't tell you yet, but another couple, three months out here... You know, he might be a super trainer. Just a feeling I got, you know? [Peeples]: Seeing Chad leave today... Um, kind of mixed feelings. I was glad to see him go, knowing that h

e was going to a good home. But he's the first horse I started, so I kind of developed that bond with him, and wanted to see him stay, but I'm glad to see him going to a good home. - There he goes. - Uh-huh. ♪ Never said that I had any answers ♪ ♪ I've never claimed to be the better man ♪ ♪ I've got no integrity to cling to ♪ ♪ I don't have myself a back-up plan ♪ ♪ For 20-some odd years I've made a mess of things ♪ ♪ I've lost most of the friendships ♪ ♪ That I've made ♪ ♪ And I've burned a lot

of bridges ♪ ♪ And it hurts me still to say ♪ ♪ But I never intended it that way ♪ ♪ No one's ever loved you like I do ♪ ♪ No one's ever loved you like I do ♪ - Whoa. - He's nodding a little... - Huh? - He's nodding it a little. A little off on one side. - On his foot? - I'm not sure which one yet. - Yeah. - Watch him next time you move him. Keep an eye on it. - Yeah. - Hey, Peterson... I know you want to get on this guy, but if he ain't ready, don't do it. - I think he'll be ready. - Sometimes

, that one more day makes a lot of difference. Peterson is running out of time out here. He's wanting real bad to get on this horse before he leaves. This horse, you can't rush him. He's just too flighty. Too wild. - There. [bucks wall] Sam. Ho, Sam. Ho, Sam. [McEnulty]: Peterson's got a one-track mind, similar to this horse, you know. They are a little bit alike. You know, he's got lots of heart, lots of pride, but he just don't stop and think enough. That's why I want you to try and get things

110% before you ride him. You know, if it's a bad experience, it's gonna take a lot of riding to get him settled down. But if it's a good experience, he'll just come right around. He's been kind of a hot-head, know-it-all type guy, you know. I'd teach him one thing, then he thought he knew it, you know? You couldn't teach him further on any one subject. - We'll see what happens on Monday, then. And I guess when a person thinks that he knows everything, that's when he starts to get in trouble. -

So, if you get bucked off Monday, you call me a liar. - No, I call you a liar anyway. [chuckling]: I got you. It don't matter. It don't matter if I get bucked off or not. ♪ (gentle music) ♪ [huffing] You're such a good boy. [Lamoreaux]: Just really take it easy, Jon. Really... We don't want to scare him at this point. - Timmy? [clicks tongue] There we go. Good boy. Good boy, Sam. Good boy, Sam. [clicks tongue] - Bring him around. Just relax, just relax. - It's all right, you're okay. Good boy.

Good boy. You're all right. You're okay. - Easy. Easy. - Good boy, Sammy. - Good boy, Sam. Yeah, good boy. Nobody is going to hurt you. - All right, we're going to go the other way now. - All right. [clicking tongue] There you go. [clicking tongue] [clicking tongue] Come on! Come on, Timmy. Come on, come on! Make it happen. Make it happen! [clicking tongue] - Come on, let's go. - Now I'm going to do a one-rein stop. Good boy. Good boy. You're a good boy. All right, hold on. Don't do nothing. Goo

d boy, Sam-Sam. - That was a good day, Jon. - That's pretty good for the first one there! - Yeah, you bet. - I've just been so... into Sam that with his characteristics, I just had a feeling he wasn't going to buck, you know? Which was good. That's exactly what we want. We don't want to make it a traumatic experience for him. Good boy. I could see it in his eyes today. He just really melted. So, he's going to come along real nice. I'm happy with him. From now on, Sam will have a nice life. Someb

ody will come and adopt Sam and just love on him. And he's going to turn out to be a real nice horse. He follows me around just like a little puppy. It was an equal partnership in this. He wasn't alone, and I wasn't alone. So, it was a learning experience for both of us. So, what, you going to miss me? - Of course I am. - Huh? You're going to miss me talking shit all day long? - You know we will. You're not as stupid as you look. - All this over here has been my world. - And now it's mine. - Our

s! - Mine. - Ours! [Peterson]: There's some really good people in jail. I met a lot of dumb asses, and a lot of people that really deserve to be in jail, and a lot of people that don't. They get caught up in drugs and alcohol, and they are generally good people. - Hey, baby! - I'll miss my horses. I'll miss Sam. - You notice on the hill, as we were going up the hill, he kind of had a little tear in the corner of his eye. - Yeah, right. It was tear of joy, a tear of happiness. [men laughing] I'll

miss the guys that I work with. There are lots of good guys out here. I'll miss the structured, day-to-day routine that I go by... But, other than that, I think this is one chapter in my life that's over, and I need to go on. I need to get out there and work hard and try to accomplish my goals. [McEnulty]: I don't know. I think the odds are kind of against him. You know, he's been in trouble a lot of times. He changed some, you know, but, as far as his attitude, that didn't change much, so, I w

ould bet against it now. [Peterson]: To me, this program here, is going to save my life. [McEnulty]: We haven't done anything with him since Jon Peterson rode him, and he got sore then, and he's stayed about the same soreness since then. So, you know, a bruised foot can be that way, but we're thinking it might be something a little more serious. So, we'll have Doc check him out and see where we're at on him. This guy is a little salty, Doc. Be kind of careful around him. - He's actually still go

t a hole in that foot. Ooh, I know, you're hurting. I think he'll make it. But I think we need to do something... Probably switch to the iodine and turpentine combination to toughen that sole just a bit. ♪ (guitar music) ♪ [Schoenleber]: It seems like forever... Nine years, nine months... I'm done now, though. I'm happy. - Big day, eh? - Yeah, big day. I'm completely free to go have a beer and do what I want. I don't have to answer to nobody, and I'm going to be doing that this afternoon. [chuck

les] I already know where I'm going: an ice-cold beer and a steak. I can't wait. - He's the kind of guy that can get a lot of different kind of jobs out there, and he's been in here long enough, I think he'll straighten out. - Didn't get to say goodbye to you last week. Thanks, Mick. Thanks, Dad. - Bye to you too! - Yeah, yeah, thanks, Dad. Guy. - Schoenleber, take care. - You take care, Rich. Yeah, I'm out of here, discharged. - Someone meeting you at checkpoint? - It should be okay. I'll meet

you at checkpoint. I'll buy you breakfast, Wade. [laughing]: Yeah. [Schoenleber]: I'm a little anxious and nervous. I'll be walking on eggshells, making sure I don't do nothing to get my ass in trouble. - When you get out, give us a call! - I will. I've got your number. - Let us know how it's going. ♪ (uplifting music) ♪ - When I first got out, it was rough, you know, to adjust. I had a lot of doors slammed in my face. And I was walking down the street, feeling kind of sad and stuff, and then I

guess it was just fate that brought me down this side... this side road, and there was a sign saying, "Help wanted", so I walked in the door and I explained to him that I'd just gotten out of prison and I'm trying to turn my life around. The halfway house is a little difficult. There's a lot of rules and regulations that you have to follow. There's certain guidelines you have to go by. I have to do a lot of classes. I have to keep a full-time job, because there are a lot of obstacles here that y

ou have to overcome. There's a lot of things that you have to bite your tongue over, and I'm not the type of person... You know, I'm pretty much an in-your-face type of person, but I've learned. I've learned to slow down and to relax and not to carry all my emotions on my sleeve. I've been out of jail for about two months now. I'm very confident about my future. I'm very excited about my future. Regressing and going back to my lifestyle before is not an option... Is that it, Leroy? - Yeah, you'r

e good now. - ...It just kind of turns my stomach when I think about it. [McEnulty]: I hate to quit him. He's not wild. He's just... Just a little hard-headed. And it might be from that sore foot. - That's understandable. If I had a rock in my boot, I wouldn't be easy to get along with either. Maybe we're better off just to turn him back. - Cut our losses. - Then he won't have to put up with you and me. - Yeah, that's probably right. - And then he can live out the rest of his days in grass that'

s knee-high and doesn't have to walk very far to water. He can have just as good a life, or better after, out there on the long-term holding. ♪ (gentle music) ♪ [neighing] - Well, what do you think? - See how it goes, I guess. ♪ (emotional music) ♪ (music slowly fades)