The inspiration for the Wild Heart Ranch and supporting Non-Profit organizations comes from an old horse named Buck. His story of how he changed the life of the Company's founder, Dawn Van Zant is told here in Dawn's words.

When I decided it was time for me to buy my first horse, at thirty-six years of age, I felt like I was a little girl getting my first pony. I wanted a palomino or a buckskin. Their colors make me think of the western pioneer look that I had always romanticized about. I tried a couple of beautiful palominos and almost bought one. Then one day I saw an ad for a buckskin quarter horse.

I had my riding coach, Carol go and take a look at him. She called me and said "Well, he's not really what we've been looking at, but he's a really good boy." When I went out to see him, we could see by his sway back and teeth he was pretty old, but no one knew how old. We thought he was in his late twenties. Carol told me to think about it, that I was taking on a lot with him being that old. He had been run to a sweat and we knew by his price that they just wanted to get rid of him. I looked into his big sad eyes and we both said "let's take him home." Driving home that day I couldn't stop smiling. I had my first horse. It didn't matter to me that he had bites on his coat, a shaggy mane, a big belly and sway back. I loved him and thought he was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. His name was Buck, the buckskin, not too original, but he was too old to change his name. We have since found out by the vet that he is substantially older than we thought, in his late thirties, we think. I have had him over three years and he is part of my family. He became a show horse for a few years, for a girl named Jill that rode him. He became proud, fit and glorious in his old age.

He is fully retired now and his breathing is difficult. We just hang out and play. He has earned his retirement. He is a good old boy and he is the inspiration of the foundation and my love for horses. Falling in love with him has changed my life.

Buck's Last Days

Today I stood with my very old horse, my dearest friend, and watched him eat grass one last time. Buck goes tomorrow with the vet to end the pain the final stages of cancer is causing him. He grazes quietly and simply enjoying eating as if it was the best gift I could give him. He exudes the pure joy of being a horse until the end.

He has been a part of my dreams and reality woven together with his golden hair and black mane and tail. He is truly beautiful. His quiet, kind, gentle eyes speak volumes to my heart. He is the best listener. He acknowledges every word and gives you a simple nod to tell you the universe has heard your voice. He gives me comfort in the quiet experience of simply being.

He has always shared himself willingly but on his own terms. I don’t own him. We both know that. He has given me the privilege of knowing him. We have found a common ground and a mutual respect. We help each other and honor each other for who we are. I have learned the meaning of the word acceptance through him.

His friendship has been a gift that has changed me forever. I thank the universe for him. My dream is that he walks off the earth knowing how truly loved he was. Let him walk away with dignity and then gallop freely to the stars. After all, he was the inspiration of the horse heaven created in the No More Night Mares Legend. It was a part of him that inspired me to write it.

I dream that as I tremble with loss, I can find the strength to touch his calmness and claim it for my own. I wish that every heart could be as fortunate as mine to be touched by something as simple and pure as the love of a horse.