NOTE: WKTV Volunteers and owners of C Grace Productions Bill and Charlotte Rinderknecht are currently traveling the United States collecting stories of people and their horses for the documentary project “Horses and Their People.” As they travel, the couple will be sending periodic updates on the people — and horses — they meet and where the adventure leads them.

By Bill Rinderknecht

Charlotte and I have seen doors open in the last few weeks for C Grace Productions. We have begun to embark on road trip adventures that have the potential of putting C Grace Productions on the [North American] map. Over the last year we have begun filming various events, farms, and horses and we have gathered footage along the way that will become part of a documentary we are producing. We are in a season of planting seeds in the equestrian industry in hopes of harvesting a crop of lasting friendships. We want to tell stories of “Horses and Their People.”

A “serendipitous” Facebook connection led us to Hardinsburg, Indiana, and the Davis Ranch, 500 picturesque acres in southern Indiana. David Davis, a fifth-generation son of the town’s founding father, is a rancher, trainer, competitor, trick rider, and “rodeo preacher” who is internationally known for his talent and character. We spent two days with him, his horses, and his crew filming his training methods, and interviewing him for “Horses and Their People.” What stories he had to tell! He was open and vulnerable and was quick to bring his faith in Jesus into the conversation. We connected well based on our common faith and love of horses.

Looks like we might be returning the Davis Ranch, as Davis wants to retain us to help him sort out his multimedia marketing campaign. We’ll discuss options as summer turns to fall, and we plan to air his episode on WKTV, Wyoming/Kentwood (WKTV.org) sometime after we return from our western trip.

Our second unplanned stop was in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, to visit a Friesian stallion we had filmed at his previous owner’s (Brenda) farm. Through Facebook, we met his new owner, Grace, who agreed to let us come and see him. We had a wonderful time discussing his progress and potential, and captured video that we will share with Brenda and Grace. Grace and her trainer also showed us the potential for filming a pony circuit in which they participate as well.

We’re now spending time with family and dear friends in Missouri and Nebraska before we travel to our next scheduled opportunity in North Dakota. After that, we will be in Montana for more Friesian filming and the annual Crow Nation fair.

For more on the “Horses and Their People” or to follow the project, visit the Facebook page.