United States Eventing Association

Looking for Inspiration? "Playing with Magic" Documentary Offers an Unexpected Perspective

Playing with Magic is a documentary about the powerful connection between humans and horses. The film, produced by Wayne Ewing Films, depicts the transformative experience that people and horses alike can undergo when they connect and learn to trust each other, and horses’ ability to help people heal from their emotional and physical ailments.

In the film, horses act as therapists for adults and children alike that suffer from cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism and cerebral palsy. Dr. Allan Hamilton, a brain surgeon, professor of medicine, and award-winning author, explains the effect that horses have on the human brain. Dr. Hamilton, who penned the book “Zen Horse, Zen Mind,” operates an equine-assisted therapy program for cancer patients out of his ranch in Tuscon, AZ with his wife Jane, a Harvard-educated Psychologist.

Dr. Hamilton explains that after he broke his back earlier in his life, he was forced to stay off the back of a horse. But he found that working with horses on the ground through natural horsemanship was incredibly therapeutic for him, and also proved to be an effective way to connect people to the right side of their brains. Dr. Hamilton explains that, “By working with the horse, it demands emotional commitment and spiritual connection.”

The film follows Erika and KC, two women living with cancer, as they find confidence, empowerment, and ultimately, a sense of peace by working with horses. The film also takes a glimpse into the work of Monty Roberts, the famous natural horseman who wrote the New York Times best seller “The Man Who Listens to Horses.” Roberts, who struggled with PTSD after being mercilessly beaten by his father throughout his childhood, helps war veterans heal by connecting them with horses who, in some cases, suffered physical or emotional trauma themselves.

The film draws to a close with a story about the Extreme Mustang Makeover, in which trainers introduce wild mustangs, who might otherwise be unwanted or slaughter-bound, into a life of training and purpose. The film hones in on one competitor who says his horse, who was almost thrown out of the roundup, saved him from a life of drinking and recklessness.

Playing with Magic is ultimately a story of redemption. The film begins with horses saving humans, helping them to overcome their mental, emotional and physical maladies. But it ends with a nod to the people who are courageous enough to save ‘unwanted’ horses from uncertain fates, begging the question, “Who saved whom?”

The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray exclusively through the website: www.playingwithmagic.com. DVDs are $19.95 and Blu-rays are $24.95 plus S&H.