Barrie (Barnard Jacobus Johannes) Burger was born on 6 March 1950.

He was raised in Upington and his earliest memories are linked to the vast empty spaces of the Kalahari desert. The family moved to Pretoria when Barrie was 11 and this is where he grew up and finished his studies – BA (with psychology and philosophy) and BD Theology.

As a young man he was always concerned about the underdog, the under privileged and the disadvantaged. His heroes included Tarzan, The Phantom and Robin Hood. He resented Wolraad Woltemade for the death of the horse. All of these were clear indications of his eventual missionary work on horseback!

Barrie started Kalahari Missions in 1985, after a very vivid dream which – to him – outlined his God-given calling and destiny. Barrie: “I saw a man walking into the Kalahari desert on a dirt road. He carried a Bible. Even though he was tired and thirsty, he walked with determination. I knew he was a missionary and I knew it was me.”

Barrie decided on the horse as a method of transport, mainly to be able to associate with the poor communities around him. During the more than 20 years of ministry, he has spent hundreds (if not thousands!) of evenings alone with his horse under the stars, en route to the lonely and isolated people of the desert.

Due to this constant and intimate relationship with the horse, Barrie has become an expert on the methods of communication of these silent creatures. He has also gained a reputation as someone who does emotional therapy on horses and someone who knows how to work with difficult horses. Many so-called problem horses have been helped through his methods and insight. The term “horse whisperer” was ascribed to him in 2002. Barrie: “I think a horse whisperer is someone who understands the sensitivity of the horse’s soul, someone who knows that through cursing and fighting and hitting you can force a horse to do what you want him to do, but in the process you lose the potential of a precious relationship. With a horse you speak with your body, not with your voice. You listen with your eyes, not with your ears. And you touch with your heart, not with your hands.”

Barrie has done six long distance journeys on horseback. The seventh (and longest) journey is planned for January – March 2009:
- 2009 Cape Town to Pretoria (1600km)
- 2008 Noenieput to Pretoria (1140km)
- 2006 Noenieput to Verkykerskop (1010km)
- 2002 Noenieput to North Cape (1400km)
- 2001 Noenieput to Windhoek (1000km)
- 1999 Noenieput to Cape Town (1000km)
- 1995 Kakemas to Johannesburg (1200km)

Due to his interesting experiences, inspirational stories and unique style, Barrie has also become a motivational speaker at, especially, Christian events. He is a regular contributor to inspirational media and currently does a “words of wisdom” type insert on KYKnet’s “In Pas” program.