Monty Roberts, like or dislike?

Question

I'm a huge fan of Monty Roberts and his methods but in a few questions i've noticed some people including myself get the thumbs down if we chose him as a favourite. Just wondering if you know of Monty Roberts training methods, do you like or dislike them and why?

Answer 1

I'm not a huge supporter of  him making Natural Horsemanship seem like you can learn it in a day, but there's no denying his abilities when you see him work with a horse to get them over their fear of a trailer.

Answer 2

I don't care for him. He is a liar. Read what LBent put up. That is the truth.

Answer 3

i like him. i think his way of thinking was unique, and got a lot of other people going to treat horses better. hes done great things.

Answer 4

There are 2 things I don't like about him. First if you look in the Shy Boy book, and look at the pictures in the center.  You'll notice that Shy Boy was the only Mustang in that herd that already had a freeze brand on his neck - that means he had been caught before.  And when you watch the video of him "training" Shy Boy in the wild; there is a point when shy boy rears when the other guy gets on him the first time, and he is missing two important things.  So it seemed a little staged.

Second, as a trainer, I don't like the idea of putting a horse in a round pen and running it until it gives up.  I know the horse is supposedly "joining up."  You can call it what ever you want to.  The horse is being made to run until it drops its head and says "Go ahead, eat me."  I think that is just as hard on the horse as some of the older methods - and is certainly nothing new.  

I don't give anyone thumbs down when they say they like him however.  The only times I give a thumbs down are when people are giving advice that is flat out dangerous.  Otherwise everyone has a right to their opinion.

Answer 5

Actually he is not unique, just uses common sense and insight to the natural behaviour of the horse.

He like a few other well known horse trainers are basically showmen who are able to put over their methods to the public.  But he is a good trainer and his methods are mainly natural and productive. I have seen him work and know many of his trainees.

Answer 6

My mare was trained as a three year old cowboy style.  She was not ridden for two years.  She went back to a different trainer for 6 weeks six weeks ago.   When she came back all she did was chew the bit and stumble..She was so rough to ride I thought my ridding was the problem.  I asked a lady that is a Monty Roberts instructor to give me riding lessons.  She worked my mare in the round pen for two sessions at one hour each and she is a different horse.  Her chewing the bit stopped and she no longer stumbles.  Not every horse trainer should be a horse trainer.  She is a different horse now and fun to ride.

Answer 7

I don't like him.  Like all the other big name trainers, he takes a pinch of common sense, packages it as his own knowledge and findings, and throws in a few bits of utter nonsense for good measure.

Yes, he does talk sense at times - but it's not his own.  He's a good salesman who's managed to convince people that they can learn horsemanship in a day by attending a demo.  Unfortunately you can't; it takes years and years to really get horses - it's not a case of being taught by a showman and becoming a real equestrian.  That's what really bugs me - these guys (not just Roberts) tell beginners and amateurs that they can be experienced by buying a book or following a course.  Life isn't like that.

(I don't thumb though!)

Answer 8

We have had Monty give presentations several times in our town.  He seems to have a great attitude and willingness to make a difference. He has extended his knowledge to children also and that seems to be something of great need in towns like ours.  I admire his business and with all due respect I have learned some things from him.  

BUT, I don't agree with everything he teaches, nor do I agree with everything anyone teaches.  I take what I can from them and use it to my advantage.  I think that people should never buy into anything 100% because nobodys perfect and different things work for different people...or horses.

Answer 9

Like a lot of people, I took monty at face value until someone on here put up a free e-book.  http://www.horsewhispersandlies.com

It's free, about 36 chapters, read on-line.

<<+>> he learned those methods FROM his father.  Those  are rebuttals of his maligning OF his (deceased) father FROM his Brother and Sister.  he didn't 'discover' something  new, he's just taking credit for it.   RFD-TV dropped his show. . .

Answer 10

i like his methods to a point. i do think he's an awesome person. but that doesnt mean when i get a horse that needs help in certain areas.. im gonna automatically use his methods. i dont know much of them either. but he's got a gift. i do like him

Answer 11

I too train horses.

I have read so many books written by all sorts of 'trainers' 'whisperers' 'breakers' or whatever else you would like to call them. From each of them I  have taken things that they do that I like or agree with and some of the other stuff I basically ignore.

What I am trying to say is that I like some of his ideas and I honestly believe that a lot of his methods do work, I wouldnt take his word as gospel but I do agree with SOME of his ways.

Answer 12

I like his methods to the degree that I have heard about them on here.  I think the thumbs down are because he is rumored to have made up some of his stories pertaining to his background?  Again, I mostly know of him through this site.  I figure, like all trainers, there are good and bad and somewhere-in-between aspects to it.  I just keep an open mind and use common sense when it comes to training methods.  If I haven't tried it myself, I don't support it or discount it.