COWBOY FROM VLASIC: THE MAN WHO TURNED HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM INTO REALITY

If a movie were ever made about a man who dedicated his life to horses, Westerns, and childhood dreams, the story of Branko Šuman from Gornje Putićevo near Travnik would be the perfect screenplay.

PHOTO: You Tube

As a boy, he regularly watched Western movies at the Lašva Cinema and read cowboy novels and comic books. Those scenes from the Wild West left a lasting impression on him and eventually led him toward a completely different way of life.

For years, he was torn between music and truck driving, but everything changed when he moved to Italy and became part of one of the most famous circuses of its time - the Moira Orfei Circus.

FROM TRUCK DRIVER TO HORSE TRAINER IN AN ITALIAN CIRCUS

In Italy, Branko worked as a truck driver transporting animals to performances, but horses were always his true passion.

He learned about their behavior, trained them, and mastered the skills required for performances in a major circus. Through daily work and dedication, he immersed himself in the world of horseback riding and horse training, building the knowledge he would later bring back to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The cowboy style he had fallen in love with as a child remained his trademark. His hat, Western clothing, and way of life became an essential part of his identity.

MUSTANG - A PLACE WHERE THE LOVE OF HORSES LIVES ON

After returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Branko decided to turn his passion into a lifelong project. He established his own horse ranch and riding club, naming it Mustang.

For more than fifteen years, he has successfully built this story together with his daughter Branka, nurturing a love for horses and passing on his knowledge to new generations.

His remarkable journey also attracted the attention of YouTube journalist Srećko Stipović, who documented the unusual life of a man who transformed his childhood dream of becoming a cowboy into reality.

THE COWBOY OF VLASIC STILL RIDES

Although he is approaching his eighth decade of life, Branko has no intention of giving up the lifestyle he loves.

He still rides and gallops with his horses with the same passion he had decades ago, as if he were on the American frontier rather than in the hills of the Balkans.