Talk with your Animals

“The Dog Whisperer” is a popular television show in which a man uses his ability to communicate with dogs to help and train them. Along comes the book “The Man Who Listens to Horses” which tells a similar story about a man who is able to communicate with horses. Monty Roberts is the author, and this is truly a fascinating book that will take the reader on a journey into the internal workings of a horse’s mind. In this article we will not only review this book, but offer some glimpses into some of the highlights as well.

Monty Roberts is a remarkable man, with a story to tell. He grew up with an abusive father who not only abused him, but his horses as well. This formed a strong impression on the young Monty, and as he grew into a man he started to formulate thoughts on “there must be a better way” to communicate with these magnificent creatures.

This “better way” was to become a horse breaking and training technique which he calls “join-up”. For starters, you need a round pen, and an unbroken horse. The handler stands in the middle of the pen, and the horse is encouraged to run away from him/her, circling the pen in attempts to get away. As the horse runs away, the handler forms steady eye contact, and assumes a very authoritative and imposing stance. As time goes by, the handler will look for three specific signs that the horse wishes to communicate with the handler. These signs are:

The horse will turn his closest ear to the handler towards him/her.

The horse will begin a process of licking and chewing.

The horse will lower his head near to the ground as he runs around the pen.

At this point the handler will turn his back on the horse and move away. The horse will then usually come closer to the handler, and allow the handler to touch him/her. At this point, the handler is well on his way to the process of: saddling, bridling, mounting, and riding.

The book takes us on a journey into Robert’s life (in addition to the “join-up” technique). We learn of the various stages of his life and the events that have helped to shape his view of horses, and the techniques he has developed along the way. Some of the highlights are:

-His successful childhood riding career

-The author’s encounters with his father

-The Thoroughbred racehorse facility that the author developed

-Meeting Queen Elizabeth II of England

-Wild deer and the use of the “join-up” technique

-Mustang horses and the author’s experiences with them

-Three of his favorite horses: Johnny Tivio, Brownie, and Dually

Anyone who loves horses and is looking for a humane way to communicate with them and train them should check out this book. Read it over and let the information wrap around your mind.

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