Customer Reviews

Man Who Listens to Horses, The: The Story of a Real-Life Horse Whisperer

5 star:		(142)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Roberts' story is fascinating, and I have found his advice and observations helpful in understanding my own horse, a smart 15-year-old Arabian gelding with an ornery streak a mile wide.

I have read Web sites from his detractors in which they cite unattributed newspaper articles, open lawsuits and other meaningless documents as "evidence" to back up their claims. They also claim that they would have more evidence to show the world if the all-powerful Monty Roberts hadn't magically squelched, stolen or destroyed it.

If you're concerned about Roberts' veracity, my advice would be to do your homework. If his critics show you a newspaper article, get the name of the paper and the reporter ... and make sure the paper and reporter actually exist.

If his critics show you a court document, call the courthouse and ask for a copy of the whole case file, including the verdict.

Beware of sources who feed you a bunch of outrageous accusations, partial court documents and conspiracy theories about why they can't prove their claims. I'm not saying they're lying. I'm just saying that in 17 years as a journalist, I've met a lot of people who make claims like this, but I've never met one who was telling the truth.

Yes, Roberts is controversial. Yes, he has turned his success into quite a little cottage industry. Yes, his methods are variations on older themes. Yes, he preaches in spots. Yes, he sounds a bit arrogant in places.

The same could be said of Barbara Woodhouse. I don't buy animal training books because I'd like to have a beer with the author. I buy animal training books because I have animals and would like someone else's insights on what's going on in their heads.

Roberts' words are well worth the price of the book, and if you can tune out his critics for just a minute, you might learn something from him. I know I did.

This is the amazing life story of Monty Roberts. Monty has been called a modern day horse whisperer, although the language he uses with horses has nothing to do with whispering-except, perhaps, for its subtlety and gentleness. Monty learned the language he calls Equus from a band of wild horses that he observed as a youth in the American West. While the book isn't about Monty's methods per se, it is about Monty's life and therefore about how his methods were shaped. Monty can, using a round pen and the language of Equus, achieve what he calls "join-up" with a green, unschooled (and even difficult) horse and within a half hour have that horse under saddle and calmly carrying its first rider. All this with absolutely no use of force or harsh means. Monty has used join-up to "fix" countless "problem horses" whose worst problems were typically their human handlers.

The book does include a brief appendix as a guide for "join-up." In it, Monty advises, "Hold in your mind the idea that the horse can do no wrong; that any action taken by the horse-especially the young unstarted horse-was most likely influenced by you. We can do little to teach the horse; we can only create an environment in which he can learn... If we refuse to believe that the horse can communicate, pain can be used to train him somewhat effectively. But pain is needless and terribly limiting."

This is a book for everyone, including those unafflicted by "horse fever." You are treated to encounters with such legends as James Dean and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and completely riveted by events one can hardly believe were not conjured by a Hollywood scriptwriter. Here is an inspiring story of hope with a message of peace and understanding. As a child and as an adult, Monty has come face to face with and experienced the brutality that can occur in the world. Monty is living proof that the cycle of violence can not only be broken, but that people can learn to live in harmony with each other and with our fellow creatures. I highly recommend this tribute to the human and equine spirit for horse lovers, students of the human condition and those just looking for a great read. My gratitude to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth for encouraging Monty to write it down!

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.

It opens up the subject of communicating with animals. Its lessons are very concrete.

At the same time, its a story of Monty Roberts; the story of how children grow beyond their parents; a story that you must be the best at whatever you choose to do; a story about avoiding over-dependency in a business deal.

Read the Introduction last. Lawrence Scanlan, who does a great job with the story, rambles without a point during the Introduction. Indeed, he gives away some of the best parts of the story and provides little enlightenment to aid the story that follows.

Read this book. Then, if you have read the Horse & Rider article and question the book's truthfulness, go to Monty Roberts' website and read his rebuttal.

I am a brand-new owner of horses, and had almost NO idea what I was doing. Using only the information I got from Monty's book, I was able to saddle and ride my horse in one day. (Yes, I did have some riding experience.) It did take me more than 30 minutes. Not surprising since it took me 20 just to straighten out the bridle!

Anyway, I wouldn't pay to much attention to what Horse & Rider had to say. Monty PROVES on his web-site that the article contains lies, misquotes, and garbled truth.

C. Esposito

Despite his self-aggrandizement and accounts of extensive abuse in childhood, I read this book looking for the elements of information that might enrich my own horsemanship. My heart ached for him and for the horses he claimed were brutalized by his father. Admittedly, I found several of his claims as inventor of concepts to be preposterous, but ignored the ego-speak for what I believed would be the value of his experience. After reading recently published and disappointingly convincing accounts disputing numerous critical facts of Mr. Roberts life and experience with horses, I am contemplating returning my hard-copy of "The Man Who Listens to Horses" to the publisher. While I recognize that detractors can have reasons of their own to dispute his story, their accounts are sufficiently dispassionate and compelling that I find him to be no longer a credible source of information. Such a shame and so unnecessary. Will stick with listening to individuals whose integrity and skill have withstood the test of time (e.g., Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, etc.).

This book was great! It's amazing how Monty Roberts communicates with horses in their own language. I wish I could do that! This book is great if you have your own horse and want to connect with him/her. Also, it's a great read if you just love horses!