In 1959 Living with his family in the farming country of Turlock California at the age of fourteen Henry had saved up some money and bought his first horse. It was a small six month old colt that had no pedigree or refinement but he did have a strong mind and a lot of character. Henry named his little friend Satan after the great fiction horse in the Walter Farley series of books about the Black Stallion. The Black Stallion’s famous son was Satan.
Henry found out very early that his Satan had a natural ability and inclination to jump. To make a long story very short Henry taught himself how to train horses by beginning with this little homely fella. His dream was to make a grand champion jumping horse out of him. The Story of Wonder Horse is a chronicle of all the trials, heartbreaks, challenges and successes that happened along the way as Satan, against all odds, became a great Grand Champion jumping Horse. It is also a story of Henry’s brother Robin and the entire family growing and healing along the way.
Henry went on to pioneer the river running business and for twenty-five years he and his wife Grace owned and operated White Water River Expeditions, Inc. They ran wild rivers all over the western states.
Now with their doctorates of divinity they are both pastors of a church and have an extensive itinerant preaching ministry. Henry is author of the Christian book “God,Gold & Glory! The California Contribution” which was published in 2010.
Accordingly this story, of this Satan, is now going to be a testimony of following Jesus Christ and the power of prayer and perseverance.
For a more complete bio on Henry & Grace please see the church web site at: http://mariposarevivalcenter.org/about_falanys.php
“Great Satin”
A note on the name of Satan. It is ironic and almost humorous that a preacher-to-be could pick such a name. But as a young kid Henry had literally devoured the entire series of books by Walter Farley. The “Black Stallion” was so popular to readers that he became the most famous fiction horse in history. But – “Black Stallion” was more of a title instead of a name, so Henry picked the famous son in the series of Satan for his horse’s name.
However, in 1988 (Satan now 30 years old) – not being superstitious but just in case – when Henry had to put Satan down because of a severe knee injury he re-named him “Great Satin.” By then Henry & Grace were mature Christians and they wanted to be sure that the name would not keep his friend out of heaven. So now and forever his name is “Great Satin” but all through the real story he was known in all the shows and to everyone as “Satan.”