As the decade comes to a close, Elizabeth Kaye McCall remembers her friend the legendary Hollywood horse trainer Buford “Corky” Randall who died in April 2009, in a special tribute written for American Humane about the two-time PATSY-award winner (the one-time Animal Trainer’s Oscar) who made his name on the feature film “The Black Stallion,” released in 1979.

An intimate portrayal of the son of Glenn Randall (who trained Roy Rogers’ Trigger)

The tribute includes personal reflections from his wife and family, along with rare photos of Corky from the production set of “The Black Stallion” taken by Tim Farley (author Walter Farley’s son). “I got to know Corky while the horses were in training for “The Mask of Zorro,” the last film he traveled to on location,” reflects McCall, a journalist and author. “I will never forget the first day I went to his ranch and saw Friesians galloping through tar paper covering the end of the barn while they were prepping for a scene. Or, his story about going to Hungary to assess Antonio Banderas’ riding skills to play Zorro.” McCall adds, “Knowing Corky was an education and a friendship I will always cherish. Writing about Corky again through the stories of those I interviewed, was like again visiting again with the remarkable horseman, whom I hope will inspire horse trainers and filmmakers to come.