Before there were Robert Redford as the Horse Whisperer and, more recently, Caesar Milan’s Dog Whisperer, Sy’s great affection for horses has taken him far and wide. Always an avid horseman and trainer, he loves working with problem animals.
He has a special way with them as he patiently and systematically brings them to the point where they become ideal companions.
When Sy settled on the North Shore of Boston, he kept a stable of horses where he boarded and trained them. Eventually he met Wildfire, a magnificent animal. Sy fell in love with him. Wildfire’s original name was Roman Dan, an Anglo-Arab. Sy, as the consummate performer that he is, taught Wildfire many tricks. He had him bow (both a single bow and a coban bow), say his prayers, and do the camel stretch. At the end of all this he and Sy would lie down together, and Sy would put a blanket over them. As they lay there on the ground together, Wildfire would pull the blanket from Sy, leaving Sy exposed while Wildfire slept.
On the North Shore of Boston there was a theme park called Pleasure Island where Sy would take Wildfire, and all the folks would gather around fascinated as Sy and Wildfire performed their routine.
He so captivated his audience he was eventually elected “Sheriff of Pleasure Island.”