The Man Who Listens to Horses

Rating:
Summary: An inspirational story, and practical advice...
Review: I have been riding horses on and off for almost all of my adult life (my grandfather plopped me on my first horse when I was three.) Yet it was only recently that I learned how to use the Join Up technique that Monty Roberts created, and I have to say it's been one of the most incredible things I've ever done with a horse.

This book has two parts. The first is the story of Monty's life, and it's a simply amazing one. He takes us through his childhood as a rodeo star, to his work as a trainer, and his ongoing search to learn to communicate more effectively with horses (and other animals.) The techniques he has developed are ground-breaking, and if for no other reason than to learn how to Join Up with your own horse, I'd advise you to buy this book. But the stories are fascinating, moving, and inspiring, and the book could sell with even without the Join Up technique.

All in all this is a book that every horse owner should read, at least once. And using the Join Up technique with your horse will forever change the way you relate to horses. Try it, you'll be amazed at the results!

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Book by an Amazing Man
Review: The Man Who Listens to Horses By Monty Roberts

Reviewed by Ashley Sutton

For hundreds of years, people have trusted the traditional way of training horses. This method uses beatings, pain, and suffering to break the horse's spirit and force him to obey. This practice was considered normal, but the consequences of "breaking" a horse this way are tragic. Horses lose their trust toward humans, and while many people are aware of this loss, it seemed that this was the only effective way to train horses. But one day, Monty Roberts went out into the wilderness of Nevada to watch the wild mustangs that roamed there. It was observing the herd's strict disciplinary procedures that brought Monty to noticing a pattern in the horses' behavior, a kind of "language." He called this language "Equus," and his knowledge of Equus helped him discover join-up, efficient, painless way to train horses. In The Man Who Listens to Horses, Monty Roberts tells of his childhood, his discovery of Equus and join-up, and of the many obstacles that stood in his way of sharing his methods with others. Now sixty-six years old, Monty "is squarely built, and at 240 pounds on a five-foot-four-inch frame, he is much heavier than he looks," says Lawrence Scanlon, who wrote the introduction to the book. His vision is impaired; he can only see black, white, and a wide array of gray tones. Monty grew up around horses, since his father was a well-known horse trainer. Throughout his childhood, Monty witnessed the cruel methods of breaking horses that his father used. His disagreements with his father were a main factor in what made his so determined to stop these methods. Monty's father was a firm believer in sacking-out, in other words, tying a horse up and beating him into submission. As Monty describes one horse being "trained" by his father, "The whites in his eyes are showing, the horse desperately tries to escape my father, and one eye looks back at him in fear and dread." When Monty tried to show his father his way of training, this turned into Monty's fate, too. For years, Monty was the subject of horrifying abuse from his father, and Monty never forgave him for the pain he caused in so many lives. Throughout the book, Monty tries to communicate to the reader that his talents with horses are nothing extraordinary. He has no special "magic touch," and no ancestry of communicating with horses. He just says that he has learned to "listen" to the horses he trains, and that this allows him to solve their problems with ease. He maintains that anyone can do what he does with horses if they'd just take the time to "listen." His book tells of the hard times he's had, and it shows people that the road to making a difference in the world is often a hard one. The Man Who Listens to Horses is an inspiring story about a man who never gave up on what he believed in. Anyone who likes either horses or just a heart-warming story is sure to enjoy this book by Monty Roberts. It shows the consequences of the trust between humans and horses being broken, and what we can to do to prevent this loss of trust.

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Summary: A great trainer, a great technique, and a great book!
Review: This is a fascinating autobiography of one of the most sought-after horse trainers in the world. Monty Roberts takes us from his childhood, growing up on a ranch in California, all the way up through the years right before the book was first published in 1996. He learned to ride at a very young age and was quite successful on the rodeo circuit and in reined cow horse competitions. But what really gave him his ambition to develop a method of communicating with horses was the abuse with which he saw his father treat horses, and the the abuse he himself received from his father. Convinced that there must be a better way to train horses, he observed the behavior of mustangs, and ultimately came up with a technique he calls 'join-up'.

'Join-up' involves working with a horse in a round pen, first encouraging the horse to flee around the perimeter by making steady eye contact and assuming an imposing stance. The handler then watches for three tell-tale signs that the horse wishes to communicate - first the horse will lock his inside ear on the handler, then begin licking and chewing, and finally lower his head near the ground as he travels around the pen. Once the horse has given these signals, the handler takes his/her eyes off the horse and shifts away from from the animal. At this point the horse will usually come up behind the handler and stand very close, allowing the handler to touch him. Then the horse can be saddled, bridled, and at last, mounted and ridden. (This is a very truncated explanation - the book goes into much more detail.)

Of course Roberts was not the first to use methods like these. Some other reviewers here have complained about this fact, accusing him of taking undue credit. But Roberts himself admits this in his book. He points out that there were trainers in previous centuries that tried (and had success with) similar methods, but that for whatever reason these methods did not take a firm hold on the general equestrian population. So yes, Roberts does do a lot of self-promotion here (another thing some have complained about), but this is because he's attempting to spread the word about his method of training. He is using the book first and foremost to sell his technique, but this is because he wishes to make the training experience a better one for horses.

This book takes us through Roberts' journey of learning, and all the trials and triumphs that led him to where he is today. He tells us of his experience with mustangs, his successful childhood riding career, the encounters with his father that helped shape his own way of thinking, the development (and narrowly-avoided disaster) of his Thoroughbred racehorse facility Flag Is Up Farms, various success stories of his 'join-up' method, his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II of England, his many tours to demonstrate his techniques, and even his succes in using 'join-up' with wild deer. He also introduces us to the horses that have shaped his life and carved a place for themselves in his heart - Brownie, his childhood mount; Johnny Tivio, his all-time favorite; and Dually, his most recent mount.

Toward the end of the book there is a 'How To' appendix describing in detail the 'join-up' technique. Roberts lists all the necessary equipment (nothing fancy is needed - everything is standard equipment that any horse owner should already have; the only thing you may have to 'borrow' is the round pen itself if you do not have one), and takes us through the procedure in a clear step-by-step fashion. He explains the purpose of each aspect of 'join-up' and how the horse will perceive the handler's actions. He also explains the meaning of the horse's responses to these actions. The appendix is very easy to follow and the technique is simple enough that it is easy to remember afterward, without having to lug the book to the arena with you.

The book concludes with an afterword by Lawrence Scanlan, the author of 'Riding High' and co-author (with Ian Millar) of 'Big Ben'. Scanlan describes his experience observing the 'mustang project' that Roberts embarked upon in 1997. This takes us briefly into the story of Shy Boy, a small mustang stallion Roberts attempts to gentle (in the wild, not in a pen) with his 'join-up' technique. The afterword is very short. Roberts went on to write about his experience with Shy Boy in his next book 'Shy Boy: The Horse that Came in from the Wild'. I have not read that one yet, but plan to soon, as I was very impressed with 'The Man Who Listens to Horses'. I would highly recommend it to anyone involved with horses.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book. I learned a lot
Review: I love this book! The best thing about it is that you learn so much about horses by listening to his stories. It's not a boring how-to. I really feel I developed a greater respect for my horse and definitely a greater understanding. Even though there's a lot of controversy over Monty Roberts I really don't care. Who knows what's true and what isn't? Personally I don't care. His methods work in most cases and you can learn a lot from this book. Don't decide not to read this book because of the controversy. It makes no difference because you can learn so much.

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Summary: A Man of Knowledge- Not Magic
Review: Monty Roberts, no doubt, is a man of great horsemanship and understanding of the equine world, but he is not alone. Long before Roberts studied the equestrian arts and wild herds, Natives learned the language of "horse" and passed it on to Spanish conquistadors. Even someone with basic horsemanship could learn the body language and commmunicate. I have experimented with something very similar to "join up" just by sending my horse around the round pen. So whether you are Monty Roberts or not, you can still communicate with horses.

However, this book was a nice refresher course for my friend who has missed out on interaction with horses for several years. She got a lot from it, and being the type of rider who shows up and rides, she learned to respect her horse and build a dominance and a relationship that worked in unison. I would recommend this book to someone with very little to moderate horse experience and have not yet learned the values of horse and man communication.

The deer section is quite cool, though! It's not everyday you hear of a horse trainer talking (or shall I say listening...) to a deer!

Yours Truly,
Anna
The Equestrian Critique

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Summary: An Insightful & Moving Book about Communication
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For me, it is a book about communication. I have no particular interest in horses, horsemanship, horse training, etc. That's not why I read this book, nor why I have since recommended it to many of my friends. No, the book's appeal to me is what it has to say about people. Monty tells a story that illustrates a simple yet profound truth: You can best communicate by imagining yourself in the other's place. For Monty, the most obvious "other" is a horse. Monty was able to communicate exceptionally well with horses because he could imagine himself in their place. Unfortunately, Monty could empathize with horses that his father "broke" because his father treated Monty in the same harsh way. Monty sought an alternative way to train horses that was based on understanding and on compassion, and he found it.

The story's appeal is largely emotional. Since reading it, I have found it difficult to explain to other people what it meant to me, and yet I have found its message useful in my business consulting practice. I think that fact reflects the richness of Monty's story and helps to explain the breadth of its appeal to many readers. You needn't read too much between the lines to see that this book is about listening, about empathy, and about human warmth in all areas of human endeavor. It is much more than a biography, or a story about horses.

Apparently, there has been some debate about the accuracy and the balance of this biography. Did all the events that Monty Roberts describes really occur? Did he originate all the innovations in horse training that he claims? Well, if you read what his critics have to say then I'd suggest you be sure also to read his reponses, which can be found on his web site. It's beyond me to know where the truth lies. But if you are wondering in view of all the controversy whether you should still read the book, if you are concerened it may contain false claims, then let me say that I would recommend the book to you anyway. If you like, think of the whole thing as a work of fiction. Even then it would still be worth reading.

The book is highly readable. To be sure, it's not an outstanding work in terms of style. The story construction is a bit mechanical. And, occasionally, I wondered whether a given passage was in the book only for the self-aggrandizement of the author. But eventually the mechanics of the story worked themselves out. Questionable passages were generally redeemed as they later turned out to be important in the story's development. And, in spite of the shortcomings, the author's use of language is artful and most of the writing flows very nicely.

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Summary: A master of self-promotion whose ideas aren't new
Review: As a lifelong horseman, I have been amused by the acclaim Monty Roberts has garnered with this book. I have heard many anecdotes recently about the "other side of the story" of Monty Roberts. Most point to his genius at self-promotion.

Those of us who spend much of our lives horseback know that the "training methods" Monty describes are mostly good basic horse sense and certainly not new or unique to him. His book is entertaining, but as fabulous as "The Horse Whisperer."

New or aspiring horsemen who are interested in learning the real basics of horsemanship should spend time (a lot of time, not just a weekend clinic) with some of their local professional horse trainers. Equine competition today is tough enough that no one who relies just on "whippin' and spurrin'" can succeed. We all must understand not only what motivates horses, but how their minds & bodies work together.

It is an entirely human trait to look for the "One True Way", especially if that way is cloaked in magic. However, horses don't know magic, and they have no religion. Folks who seek the quick fix with things equine probably ought to stick to goldfish.

Rating:
Summary: An honest story by an honest man
Review: I could not put this book down until I finished it. It was one of those books. I am a city girl and have not had any experiences with real horses, but the book was captivating as ever. The long and unmemorable title was perhaps the biggest disappointment of the entire experience. But once you get back that, you are pulled into the events of Monty Roberts' personal world. The most valuable aspect of the book was that it gave me a glimps into a humble yet great man's heart, his expectations, aspirations, and disappointments. This book is to me less about horses than it is about Monty Roberts as a person.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, even someone who's never seen horses.

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Summary: reveals important traits of human nature that few put in use
Review: I first saw Monty Roberts' book The Man Who Listens to Horses when I was in my local bookstore browsing for reprints of James Herriot's beloved books. I didn't buy it then, because I had never heard of him and didn't know what to expect. I later was reintroduced to him through a video in my ethology (study of animal behaviour) laboratory class and after watching one of his demonstrations and discussing his unique quality to differentiate light movement (due to his color blindness; as similar feature has been noticed in predatory animals such as dogs and wolves), was motivated to go and buy his book.

I have to say that I was sufficiently impressed with Monty's book. I hadn't become aware of the controversy and legal issues surrounding him until today through other people's reviews on Amazon.com, and investigated these claims to get further depth on him.

What I have found has led me to believe that yes, maybe there are untruths. Maybe there aren't. One cannot clearly say, particularly the public, simply because we were not there when the events transpired and all we have to rely on is what people say, and whatever we decide, people will believe what they want to believe. Human memory isn't perfect.

All I know is that the book that I read was a beautiful, compassionate autobiography illustrating a few of the human qualities that we rarely see expressed in our chaotic society today. The world may never know the truth of Monty's stories, but he has still managed to touch and inspire so many people of all ages (must significantly our generation, the younger generation) through his writing, stressing on the values of compassion, love, gentleness, respect, and understanding that are so seldom preached in the mass media today. A projected story such as this that touches hearts and instils the desire to further find links with the animals who share our planet carries with it a solid base and genuine effort that should not go unrecognized.

We should look past quibbles about the truth and understand the message of his book. There is so much drivel out there that carries repugnant and destructive information that we so readily eat up in our everyday lives without realizing it, and an inspirational book like this highlights the fact that it is so easy nowadays for us to forget the softer side of our innate human qualities.

While the stories of James Herriot remain first and foremost my favourite, Monty's book "The Man Who Listens to Horses" nevertheless touched me deeply, and for his courageous and passionate message I salute him.

Rating:
Summary: Roberts Deserves Credit
Review: I have not finished the book yet but i am pretty close to done. I think Roberts is a very smart and a sincere man who diserves credit for his book and his humane training techniques. i have watched tv/movie programs with roberts and am still stunned. i started reading Shy Boy also. even if his methods are old methods he still diserves credit. i am disturbed to think that someone said that Roberts said he basically spiced his book up. i have a hard time believeing this and would be intrigued to find out the date of the article where Roberts supposibly said that some of it was false. i would have gave the book 5 stars but i havent finished it yet. Way to go Roberts!!!