Quick Takeaways
- Monty Roberts pioneered a gentle, trust-based approach to horse training.
- His methods focus on horse communication through nonverbal signals and language.
- Roberts’ technique transforms problem horses by building mutual trust and respect.
- He believed humane training could save wild horses from slaughter and harm.
Monty Roberts’s Gentle Approach to Horse Training
Monty Roberts, a renowned horse trainer, died last week at age 91. He became famous for his humane method called “join up,” which emphasizes trust over force. Unlike traditional training that uses pain and punishment, Roberts used nonverbal language to connect with horses. His approach was based on observing wild mustangs and understanding how they communicate.
Roberts learned to read horse language by watching native wild horses in the Sierra Nevada as a teenager. He realized that horses send signals through body language—ears, eyes, posture, and movements. By mimicking their signals, he could ask horses to cooperate without using force. This method helped him train all types of horses, from wild mustangs to racehorses and problem animals.
His technique involves initially sending the horse away using aggressive signals like piercing eyes and square shoulders. Once the horse retreats, Roberts reads its signs of readiness to re-engage, such as licking and chewing, or making respectful gestures. He then gradually invites the horse closer using passive, relaxed postures. This process builds trust and encourages voluntary cooperation, leading to better training results and improved relationships.
Roberts’s personal background shaped his methods. Growing up on rodeo grounds and competing as a champion rider, he saw firsthand how traditional, harsh training methods could cause pain and fear. His observation of wild horses and their social structure revealed the importance of communication and respect. His friendship with Queen Elizabeth II, who supported his gentle approach, helped popularize his techniques worldwide.
His approach has gained recognition in the equestrian community and beyond. Roberts trained thousands of horses, including those with severe behavioral problems. His success in transforming difficult horses into cooperative partners highlights the power of trust-based training. His philosophy challenges old beliefs that pain and dominance are necessary for discipline, advocating instead for understanding and communication.
Legacy and Broader Impact
Roberts’s influence extends beyond horse training. His work emphasizes the importance of empathy and respect, ideas applicable to human relationships and education. His background in psychology and experience with foster children show that the principles behind his methods are universal. Roberts used the same concepts when working with troubled children, stressing responsibility, trust, and positive reinforcement.
His memoir, “The Man Who Listens To Horses,” and the documentary “The Cowboy And The Queen” reflect his life’s work. His success inspired many trainers, animal lovers, and psychologists to adopt more humane practices. Roberts’s death marks the end of an era, but his methods continue to change how people think about training and communication, both with animals and in broader social contexts.
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