Monty Roberts...

estherj92 · 10-24-2009, 07:58 AM

Hi, I'm just curious to know how many of you have heard of Monty Roberts, and if you have, what your opinions of him are. I personally have been able to put into practice some of his concepts and find them better than any others that I've tried. His horsemanship and the ways he uses to communicate with the horses while dealing with them are absolutely amazing to me. What are your opinions though? I'm just curious...

PinkHorse · 10-24-2009, 08:11 AM

We saw him at Equine Affair last spring. Colour me not impressed.

He was all talk with very little in the way of useable results. In the space of 30 minutes, he plugged at least a dozen different products and then tried to sell a line that he has no stake in the companies that make them - except being paid for his endorsement of course.

If you do a Google search, you'll also find that much of his back-story is a bunch of made up BS.

Great businesman? Absolutely! Great horseman? IMO, not so much.

sunrisegurl146 · 10-24-2009, 08:22 AM

I like SOME of his stuff. I really like join-up. But I know its been used before Monty Roberts came along.

I don't like that hes so commercial now either.

frisco17 · 10-24-2009, 08:24 AM

I'm not fond of him. He is a different trainer "behind the barn", when he isn't in the eye of the public

Narmowen · 10-24-2009, 08:28 AM

This says enough: http://horsewhispersandlies.com/

CJnBucksMom · 10-24-2009, 08:33 AM

Just remember, something someone recently said to me. Just remember, there are two sides to every story. The truth usually falls somewhere in the middle.

estherj92 · 10-24-2009, 09:18 AM

I will say that when I first read his book 'the man who listens to horses', I was very impressed but not inclined to use his methods at the time. While they seemed impressive, I didn't have the tools I'd need to try them. Then over a year later my mare had become almost entirely unmanageable. Her saddle had been causing her pain and when I had replaced the leather appendage that was responsible for it, she was still unwilling to trust it NOT to hurt her. At first I figured that if I just started riding her regularly she would finally realize that it wouldn't hurt her. However, she continued to react more and more violently to the saddle until not only would she go crazy if she so much as saw me with the saddle, she would also try to kick, and bite in a very aggressive manner if I even tried to put the saddle blanket on or mount bareback. My friend suggested that when she tried to bite, I jerk the reins downwards really hard and use my fist to cuff her behind the ears. I d the idea but was so desperate that I halfheartedly tried it a few times. At the end of that period it was so much worse that I simply decided to not even try to ride her or brush her for awhile. By this time, I couldn't get close enough to her to get the halter on, and while she would let me approach her empty-handed or with her hay/grain, she acted frightened and aggressive if I so much as came within ten feet of her with a brush in my hand. It was very frustrating, and let me tell you I almost was ready to give up! Then I started watching Monty Roberts videos and read parts of his book again. They gave me some ideas. While I couldn't do join-up, because we have a pasture fenced with barbed wire, and no round pen, I could try keeping my adrenaline down and not reacting with and anger when she was plainly frightened and upset. Before, I had noticed that the punishments my friend had suggested had only caused Diana's anxiety to escalate, and the condition to worsen. However now, taking the quiet approach I was gradually able to stroke her face with the halter in my hand and run it over her head getting it used to it as a harmless and pleasurable item. Over the course of three months, thanks to the Dually Halter that Monty Roberts uses, and the methods and concepts I had learned, I was able to get her completely relaxed while being saddled bridled and eventually accepting me as her rider again while standing quietly. During this time, I never had to raise my voice or strike her at all, and yet she was respecting me, and no longer saw me as a threat, but as a friend. I know this has been long-winded, but I can't help but share what I've learned. Add to the whole situation that Diana was my first horse and I'd only had her about a year at the time, and you'll know how frustrated I was with my inability to help her conquer her fear. I am so grateful to Monty Roberts for his concepts, and although everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I was glad to hear them, I remain unchanged in mine. If any of you have had a similar experience please share it, I would love to hear it. By the way, if his concepts are indeed so false, why is it that Queen Elizabeth of England now has all of her horses trained by his methods alone? Also, I did get to meet him in April at the Equine Affaire, and was much impressed by his horsemanship. What are your opinions of what he did with Shy Boy? Thanks so much for responding!

noreins · 10-24-2009, 09:24 AM

This is the first I have heard of him being a phony so I don't know but I have read his book and loved it. But as with any trainer, I took bits and pieces of his method and fit it into my own program. I like him though. Maybe I am related to him lol my last name is Roberts.

estherj92 · 10-24-2009, 09:26 AM

I think that with many people who have a new and unfamiliar idea (like Monty Roberts), there will always be those who will do their best to convince others that he's phony. However when someone has seen the methods are successful when others weren't, how can they be challenged and labeled as false????

noreins · 10-24-2009, 09:29 AM

He is my favorite personally but everyone is different I guess.

10-24-2009, 07:58 AM	#1
estherj92 Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46 Images: 8	Monty Roberts... Hi, I'm just curious to know how many of you have heard of Monty Roberts, and if you have, what your opinions of him are. I personally have been able to put into practice some of his concepts and find them better than any others that I've tried. His horsemanship and the ways he uses to communicate with the horses while dealing with them are absolutely amazing to me. What are your opinions though? I'm just curious...

10-24-2009, 08:28 AM	#5
Narmowen Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 996 Images: 11	This says enough: http://horsewhispersandlies.com/ __________________ "...And then Buffy staked Edward. The End."

10-24-2009, 08:33 AM	#6
CJnBucksMom Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tenntucky Posts: 1,109 Images: 127	Just remember, something someone recently said to me. Just remember, there are two sides to every story. The truth usually falls somewhere in the middle. __________________ Official Member of the 'My Husband is Hot Club' 'Real Stallions Wear Pink' Sexy by ChristmasChallenge-r!! Goal: 19 lbs LOST CURRENT: 1 lbs LOST

10-24-2009, 09:26 AM	#9
estherj92 Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46 Images: 8	I think that with many people who have a new and unfamiliar idea (like Monty Roberts), there will always be those who will do their best to convince others that he's phony. However when someone has seen the methods are successful when others weren't, how can they be challenged and labeled as false???? __________________ "Horses take me for what I am, but they judge me by what I do." --Monty Roberts

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10-24-2009, 08:11 AM	#2
PinkHorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: My Desk Posts: 1,019 Images: 50	We saw him at Equine Affair last spring. Colour me not impressed. He was all talk with very little in the way of useable results. In the space of 30 minutes, he plugged at least a dozen different products and then tried to sell a line that he has no stake in the companies that make them - except being paid for his endorsement of course. If you do a Google search, you'll also find that much of his back-story is a bunch of made up BS. Great businesman? Absolutely! Great horseman? IMO, not so much.

10-24-2009, 08:24 AM	#4
frisco17 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 342	I'm not fond of him. He is a different trainer "behind the barn", when he isn't in the eye of the public

10-24-2009, 09:18 AM	#7
estherj92 Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46 Images: 8	I will say that when I first read his book 'the man who listens to horses', I was very impressed but not inclined to use his methods at the time. While they seemed impressive, I didn't have the tools I'd need to try them. Then over a year later my mare had become almost entirely unmanageable. Her saddle had been causing her pain and when I had replaced the leather appendage that was responsible for it, she was still unwilling to trust it NOT to hurt her. At first I figured that if I just started riding her regularly she would finally realize that it wouldn't hurt her. However, she continued to react more and more violently to the saddle until not only would she go crazy if she so much as saw me with the saddle, she would also try to kick, and bite in a very aggressive manner if I even tried to put the saddle blanket on or mount bareback. My friend suggested that when she tried to bite, I jerk the reins downwards really hard and use my fist to cuff her behind the ears. I d the idea but was so desperate that I halfheartedly tried it a few times. At the end of that period it was so much worse that I simply decided to not even try to ride her or brush her for awhile. By this time, I couldn't get close enough to her to get the halter on, and while she would let me approach her empty-handed or with her hay/grain, she acted frightened and aggressive if I so much as came within ten feet of her with a brush in my hand. It was very frustrating, and let me tell you I almost was ready to give up! Then I started watching Monty Roberts videos and read parts of his book again. They gave me some ideas. While I couldn't do join-up, because we have a pasture fenced with barbed wire, and no round pen, I could try keeping my adrenaline down and not reacting with and anger when she was plainly frightened and upset. Before, I had noticed that the punishments my friend had suggested had only caused Diana's anxiety to escalate, and the condition to worsen. However now, taking the quiet approach I was gradually able to stroke her face with the halter in my hand and run it over her head getting it used to it as a harmless and pleasurable item. Over the course of three months, thanks to the Dually Halter that Monty Roberts uses, and the methods and concepts I had learned, I was able to get her completely relaxed while being saddled bridled and eventually accepting me as her rider again while standing quietly. During this time, I never had to raise my voice or strike her at all, and yet she was respecting me, and no longer saw me as a threat, but as a friend. I know this has been long-winded, but I can't help but share what I've learned. Add to the whole situation that Diana was my first horse and I'd only had her about a year at the time, and you'll know how frustrated I was with my inability to help her conquer her fear. I am so grateful to Monty Roberts for his concepts, and although everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I was glad to hear them, I remain unchanged in mine. If any of you have had a similar experience please share it, I would love to hear it. By the way, if his concepts are indeed so false, why is it that Queen Elizabeth of England now has all of her horses trained by his methods alone? Also, I did get to meet him in April at the Equine Affaire, and was much impressed by his horsemanship. What are your opinions of what he did with Shy Boy? Thanks so much for responding!