É um livro interessante. Eu hesitei em dar 4 estrelas apenas porque o autor gasta muito tempo falando de si próprio, sua infância e todos seus dramas familiares e de vida. Não tenho tanto problema em saber um contexto geral, que sempre ajuda a entender de onde surgiu a técnica e etc. Inclusive, até o momento que ele vai estudar a linguagem dos cavalos selvagens eu acho que seria relevante ter o contexto todo e a vida do autor. Mas o autor volta inúmeras vezes aos seus dramas familiares e como ele é um herói em superar isso. Confesso que não gerou tanta empatia porque demonstrou uma falsa modéstia ao longo do livro, na minha opinião. Mas mesmo assim o livro é bacana para quem se interessa por cavalos e forma de entendê-los melhor e domá-los sem violência. Se o autor realmente criou essa técnica do zero, ele é um herói por isso. Parabéns. O livro seria melhor, no meu ponto de vista, se fosse mais direto ao ponto da técnica, como aprendeu, como aplica, como evoluiu etc. Mas esse é meu ponto de vista.

I've read a few books on horse behavior before but none of them have actually explained all of the various things that horses DO. Especially that chewing and tongue poking out that I see often. So then I left wondering WHY are they doing that? Are they thirsty?? But if they are then why don't they go get a drink? I mean the water is right there and the horse is free to wonder about, as we are in the pasture. So basically I'm left guessing and feeling a bit confused and trying to apply human thoughts to a horse (thirst, etc) which may not actually be accurate. But this is the first book that I've found that actually explained this mysterious chewing habit! And to be clear, this is chewing when they are not eating. I should probably add I've only worked with horses for about two years now so I'm still kind of new to them. I'm more trying to understand them. Just spend time with them, groom them, etc. I don't really ride.

So I found the life story of Monty just fascinating! He's lived through so much and he has also mentioned things in here I have never heard of or even imagined, like some of that stuff involving cows or steers. I can't imagine why anyone would want to bite one on the upper lip during a contest. Or trying to tie up a cow's legs! It's like reading about a whole different world.

I found his experience with wild horses and deer just amazing! Not to mention how he managed to figure out what they were saying to each other by observing them. It's incredible!

This book includes the ups and downs in his life, the good and the bad. I found it all very fascinating as it gives one an idea what a real rancher does. Not that he's ordinary. Far from it. But it's just such an amazing story!

Later when I see Oliver, George and the herd I'm going to try the Join Up on them. See how it goes. Although to be honest I'm not very good at using pressure on horses. But I'm going to try it and see how it goes. I guess you have to mean it for pressure to work.

This book I read was a library book but I'm going to buy my own copy of this one so I can use it as a reference to horsey type behavior. And at the very back of the book he has his step by step guide to Join Up. By using a horse's own natural language, you can get a wild horse accepting you and "tame" without abusing them by "breaking" them. Which is wonderful. Even the Queen has adopted his methods for her horses.

Amazing. Must read for anyone interested or involved with horses or horse people.

Very sad, but interesting story of how he was abused by his father, but went on to develope revolutionary horse taming techniques called "joining up" and "follow up" which develope trust and a desire on the part of the horse to want to work with you. Uses it too in inter-human relations. Quite enjoyed the preface by a Canadian called Lawrence Scanlan.

I read this in the late 1990s when my children were small. I like to joke that this is the best book I ever read about parenting, even though it's not about parenting.

Twenty-some years later, I still remember certain passages. My rating is based on my response to the book. I'm not rating this as literature/art. It is what it sets out to be: a compelling autobiography that follows Roberts as he develops his understanding of horses.

I look forward to re-reading this and sharing it with my now-adult children.

I really enjoyed this book, it was really interesting and amazing and Monty Roberts seems like a really nice, empathic and skilled guy. The only negative thing I have to say about it, was that it was a bit confusing at times, like the timeline was out of order.
The reciter did a really great job here.

3.5 Stars
A seemingly very random book to read, I found this on a stack of books at my parents house that they were getting rid of, and added it to mine about 7 years ago. Since my goal this year is to tackle my TBR shelves, I finally got around to reading this.

I have always loved horses, ever since I can first remember riding one at 7 years old at a ranch in Colorado. I would return there two more times as a guest and then spend two summers working there in college. I loved King of the Wind and Black Beauty and all of the horse books as a child too. So reading a book all about horses training, racing, and riding was fascinating for me. However, even more surprising was discovering how unbelievably unique and interesting the author’s background and life were. He was a wrangler and stunt double on various movies and became friends with James Dean. He has had multiple visits with the Queen of England.

The mix of cool life story and interesting horse stories blended for a good read. I ended up skipping through the appendix of pure info on how to train a horse, because I wasn’t actually interested in that detail as well as the afterword because the author who wrote that I found boring.

I really love Monty Roberts' work. I've read other books by him and read a lot about his work with horses. I love how he describes the relationships he builds with horses and how he rehabilitates them with such love and care. In this book, he talks more about his childhood and how he came to do what he does now. You have a lot more of an understanding of why he trains horses with such gentility after hearing of his childhood and how his father treating him and his animals. I also enjoyed getting to read about the acomplishments he had with horses even at such a young age. He had such a determination and a love and a want to help these animals and he started when he was barely a teenager. I think it sent a really great message to anyone who as doubted themselves or their abilities because of their age. He's just another person that proves how you can do anything you want if you want it enough.

Celebrated horse trainer Roberts' 1996 book covers his childhood growing up with horses and the development of his unique method of "joining up" (not "breaking") horses. The remarkable results demonstrated to many, including Queen Elizabeth II, and his efforts to develop a "language" with horses is a remarkable tale of patience, resilience and hard work. Inspirational read.

This book should be mandatory reading for all teachers, counselors, physicians, artists, political leaders and all people in positions of responsibility. I agree with others: Life-changing!

This book was the catalyst for change in the way in which i rode, handled and understood horses and for that i have to give thanks to Monty Roberts who introduced me into the world of effective communication, natural horsemanship and the proper understanding of these magnificent animals. I was gripped from page 1 to page 374 hence being unable to put this book down even for a few minutes i finished reading it in under a week, and being that i am naturally a very slow reader this occourance was testimont to Monty's great writing style that was conversational, down-to-earth and utterly captivating througout. We have all herd of 'the horse whisperer' fictional story or the tales of those who 'speak to horses' but here Monty Roberts demonsrates how this is done in practise, that is effective and not in any way mockery or trickery at work. Any experianced horseman can if they so wish demonstrate to an audience tricks that can be done on or with horses, but here is a method that can be used & done sucsessfully with anyone and thier horse and this book explains how Monty came to understand the horse so that the horse could then understand him. It is an extrordinary read that when Monty speaks , the wisdom born of a tough and immensely varied life comes floating out of him, that is utterly spellbinding, enriching and can change a readers life or at least thier understanding of the horse & human relationship. Horses are domesticated animals and with todays 'mechanicalism' of the horse in riding school environments one can forget the animals origin & history and this book as a concequence brings one back down to earth. I saw a film of Monty Roberts taming a wild mustang called 'Shy Boy' which completely transformed me & my understanding in so many ways, hence i was not only speechless but my entire view on the horse changed. For any equestrian this book is such an insightful read and i urge you to look at it even if you are 'not into' the natural horsemanship way as such, because as an indavidual Monty is an increadible horseman with such an extrordinary life that is filled with highs, lows, ups & downs and that will leave you sitting on the egde of your seat thinking 'wow!'. He is an increadible source of knowlege and experiance that knows everything about horses inside & out, and i would not hesitate to pick this little book up again.

Excellent book that made me want to learn more about horses. Most of Monty’s methods and his best stories are in the first half of the book. However, he is a great storyteller and kept me engaged throughout. It gave me a greater respect for horsemen and how much talent, skill, and dedication they must have to their craft to be effective.

Pages 18-24 talk about an incredible story of the dun mare and the disobedient bay colt. The mare observed the colt, slowly moved closer to him, then finally when she had enough of his tomfoolery (biting or kicking other horses) she charged him, knocked him down several times and drove him from the heard. She then left him in exile waiting for him to show penitence. Once driven from the herd, all the horse wanted was to come back.

Page 24 talks about horses being “into pressure animals”. Once they can no longer flee or are tired of it, they will generally come into pressure applied.

Pages 99-100 tell a story of a high school teacher that failed him for a paper on his life’s goals because he was too ambitious. At every turn, Monty is told he can’t do something for one reason or another but instead, he perseveres.