Monty Roberts, a renowned horse trainer and breeder, grew up on his parents' farm, where he developed a passion for horses from a young age. At the age of one, he was already riding a horse with his mother, and by the time he was four, he had won the "Salinas Stockhouse Tournament".
As a young boy, Roberts worked as a stunt boy in Hollywood film production, alongside stars such as Charlton Heston, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, and James Coburn. His experiences in the film industry further fueled his interest in horses.
Roberts became involved in equestrian sports early on, winning national and international titles in various disciplines, including the 1950 World Championship in Equitation and the National Championship in Western Equitation. However, he was deeply troubled by the brutal breaking-in and training methods commonly used at the time, which he believed were inhumane.
These experiences shaped his ideas about dealing with horses throughout his life. At the age of 13, Roberts spent several weeks observing wild horses in the Nevada desert, studying their behavior and communication methods. He developed a system of horse communication, which he called "Equus", and began to use it when working with horses.
Roberts' approach to horse training, known as "Join up", focuses on building trust and respect between humans and horses, using body language and non-violent methods. He has successfully used this method to train wild horses to accept saddles, bridles, and riders within 30 minutes, without the use of spurs or whips.
Roberts has also written several books on his methods and experiences, including "The Man Who Listens to Horses" and "Horse Sense for People". His books have become international bestsellers, and he has been featured in numerous TV documentaries and talk shows.
In addition to his work with horses, Roberts has also been involved in therapy with problematic young people and has developed workshops for managers to learn how to interact with others in a non-violent manner. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the non-violent treatment of horses, including the British Horse Society Appreciation Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich.
Today, Roberts lives with his wife Pat at the Flag is Up Farms training center in California's Santa Ynez Valley, where he continues to train and breed horses using his non-violent methods.
