Timothy Barnaby Hayes passed peacefully at his home in Johnson, Vt., on August 17, 2025, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was born February 12, 1945, in Greenwich Village, N.Y., the son of the late Shirley and James Hayes.
Tim is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son, Richard Hayes; stepdaughters, Tori Lockhart and Eliza Lockhart; brothers, Dennis Hayes (Martha), Chris Hayes and Kerry Hayes; nieces, Ali, Zoe and Piper Hayes; and half-sister, Betsy Post. He will always be remembered for his warmth, acceptance, generosity and love. He was a dedicated husband, brother, father, friend, confidant and mentor to many.
Tim grew up in close-knit Greenwich Village, N.Y., with his three brothers as his best friends. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art in New York City, excelling on the basketball court and playing the trumpet.
Tim graduated from the University of Vermont in 1967 with a degree in psychology. He would later become an adjunct professor at his alma mater, in addition to Vermont State University and the University of Connecticut, where he shared his knowledge of the horse and human relationship with his students. Postcollege, Tim joined the Vermont National Guard as an airman. After serving, he continued to find excitement watching the Green Mountain Boys train in the sky in his later years.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Tim began to cultivate a career in the film industry, representing high-profile producers. By the early 1980s he founded Timothy Hayes & Company, Inc., which became a successful business, representing several directors and production companies in Los Angeles, New York and London. Tim’s life changed in 1983 when he joined the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was a dedicated sponsor and championed others in AA through the candidness of his own struggles and his commitment to personal growth. He reached the milestone of 42 years of sobriety.
In the early 1990s, Tim dove into the world of horses after a vacation out West that resulted in his first unforgettable ride. Immediately drawn to the connection he felt with horses, Tim became increasingly curious about what we as humans can learn from their intuitive nature. He became a dedicated student of natural horsemanship. Tim studied under the forefathers of the horsemanship movement. Now donning a cowboy hat and boots, he spent summers driving, branding and caring for cattle on the Black Ranch in rural Idaho. The tough Western hero that Tim once only saw as a role to play in a movie became his reality.
Now in his midlife and an expert in his own right, Tim transitioned into his second career as a riding instructor at the former Chelsea Equestrian Facility in New York City and spent ten years leading trail rides at the historic Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk, N.Y. Tim went on to become an internationally known clinician, helping people deepen their relationship with their horse and ultimately with themselves. Tim’s teachings facilitated breakthrough revelations in his students, leading to changed lives and inspired futures. As Tim noticed these impacts, he was especially drawn toward a focus on equine therapy, the psychology of the horse and what we can learn from the herd about communication, healing and love.
One of Tim’s proudest accomplishments was authoring two books that explore the connection between horses and humans. His first, Riding Home: The Power of Horses to Heal, is widely loved by the equine community, as well as those interested in the psychology of healing. His second book, Horses, Humans and Love: Powerful Lessons From the Herd, examines communication and leadership through Tim’s personal life stories.
Tim’s greatest joy in life was his wife, Stephanie. They met in 2012 and created a life together on their horse farm in Johnson, Vt. He was her unwavering support system and showed his unconditional love every day. Through their mutual passion for horses, Tim and Stephanie became a true power couple in the equine industry. His relationship with Stephanie is a testament of him practicing what he preached: love, compassion, acceptance, patience, understanding and commitment.
Tim was met in the next life by his horse, Austin, who was his steadfast partner for 25 years. The cowboy has ridden off into the sunset.
As he would say, “May the Horse be with you.”
A celebration of Tim’s life will be held on September 6, 2025, at his home in Johnson, Vt. Please RSVP to Stephanie Hayes at vtblackpony@aol.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program (CHAMP).
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This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2025.