John Grady Cole is the protagonist of Cities of the Plain. Building on his appearance in the earlier novel All the Pretty Horses by McCarthy, John Grady is noted for his affinity for horses. He can train horses better than anyone else though he struggles to articulate exactly how he forms his bond with the animals. His greatest strength is his empathy. While other characters treat horses like pets or tools for work, John Grady feels a genuine emotional connection to the animals. This sincerity is returned in kind as they respond to his training. That John Grady could make money horse-trading or training for men like Wolfenbarger but chooses not to illustrates the purity of his passion. He wants to help and care for horses rather than exploit them for something as crass as money. John Grady forsakes material wealth for the richness of the bond he shares with horses, a connection worth more to him than anything else.

Magdalena is the only person or thing that can shift the focus of John Grady’s attention. His love for her and his urgent desire to help her is fueled by the same relentless empathy he feels for horses.