Horse Whispers & Lies: Did Monty Roberts Trade Truth for Glory?

by Debra Ann Ristau and Joyce Renebome

For fifteen years Monty Roberts has reigned as King among Horse Whisperers. He is a charismatic leader endorsed by the Queen of England and revered by millions for his gentle approach to working with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1929055447
• ISBN13: 9781929055449
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Veracity Books
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Write it and they will believe...

I read "The Man Who Listens to Horses" and wondered why I had never before heard of this man who supposedly brought about such a sea change to the world of horse training. The round penning method he claimed to have invented is identical to what other "natural" horse training gurus had already been marketing for the past 10 years. I independently discovered the technique myself back in the 60's when I was a teenager. (Too bad it never occurred to me that I could use it to become wealthy.) "The Man Who Listens to Horses" was published in November 1998, after the release of the film "The Horse Whisperer" in May of 1998, and after the 1996 Nicholas Evans book was a bestseller. John Lyons' first book was published in 1991 after his videos were already popular and the first edition of Parelli's book (very modest and not at all the marketed glitz that Parelli NH is now) was published at about the same time or perhaps earlier. Modern media, coupled with excellent PR made it possible for these trainers to become rich and famous gurus adored by thousands worldwide. (And yes, I picked up a bunch of useful information from them too, just as I do from other professional horse trainers, as I am always working to improve. I take lessons from other professional trainers whom I have observed at shows and admire.) I wondered why readers of the Monty Roberts "autobiography" thought that we had all beat and abused our horses until Monty came along and showed us the better way. All the horsemen I have known have always looked for better ways of training, and I never knew anyone who used the Hollywood movie bronc-busting sterotype as a colt-starting method. Some of my trainer friends are famous within the industry, and others are less so. After I read "The Man Who Listens To Horses" I began to read comments from other folks about what BS it was. I took those comments with a grain of salt, because I wanted to be fair. I read reports by knowledgeable horsemen who had been to his clinics. Overwhelmingly, it seemed to me that it was only the novices and kids who were impressed. I also got a firsthand report from a friend who had an encounter with Monty. Then in February of 1999, the Horse & Rider expose about Monty Roberts' book came out. It appeared to be well documented. There is an infamous "anti-Monty" website and I read the stuff on it, while still trying to remain objective. "Horse Whispers & Lies" finally provided the indisputable proof that I needed to conclude that "The Man Who Listens To Horses" is more a novel than nonfiction. I am grateful to the authors for making the effort to let the truth be known! I know that they have been unfairly and untruthfully accused by gullible Monty fans of having ulterior motives or of being "jealous." It must be very painful to have to endure these insults. I would point out that the authors do positively assert that Monty is a capable horse trainer. They simply want to set the record straight about what is true

He should listen to horses more & pontificate to humans less

Monty Roberts is, I suppose, an "effective" horse trainer if you overlook the casualties...but it was particularly his peddling of the "war bridle" to novices that spooked me. Talk about "a razor in the hands of a monkey." He was in our area a few years ago & we went to see him to at least give him the benefit of the doubt. He spent more time talking about his issues with his father than about how to train a horse. Before AND since then, we've spent time with a number of well-known trainers & clinicians, in virtually every discipline, who have been much more effective and certainly appeared to be much more sane than Monty - trainers who don't find it necessary to resort to (and peddle) the gimmicks & goofy equipment that he does. Seriously, folks, there are MUCH better trainers out there who take more care to ensure the safety of both humans and horses & to foster PARTNERSHIP rather than DOMINATION. Find one & don't waste your money on this nutcase.

Horse Whispers and Lies

I have read Horse Whispers and Lies, The Man Who Listens to Horses and I have been to one of Monty's clinics. Someone asks why it matters if horses are being treated well and the process works? It matters because Monty Roberts DID NOT invent this process and he is getting rich by ruining the reputation of his parents. Monty Roberts also is not a "gentle" man. Monty broke the horse's leg he rode in the Shy Boy video. I guess this could be an accident, but his lack of concern for the welfare of the horse HE injured shows his true colors. Monty is responsible for a lot of abuse DIRECTED AT horses. The horsemen and women who live near his Flag is Up ranch can't stand him. People who have worked with and for him, can't stand him. This is not petty jelousy, it's the disgust of watching someone abuse an animal and then claim gentleness. In the horse community one can't hide behind smoke and mirrors, the truth eventually comes out. He "screens" his "wild" horses for his clinics. I have heard this first hand from the horse owners near his home and there are stories regarding this in the book.The truth matters because he DOES abuse horses and is not the loving horsewhisper he claims to be. Monty only cares about himself and noone else.Yes, the process works but not because Monty invented it. It works because he learned this process FROM his father and from others. This process has been around for a long time but is only gaining attention within the last few years. Watch Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Dennis Reis and other natural horseman and you will see them do the same or almost the same process. So if you believe in the Natural Horsemanship Movement, support the trainers who walk the walk, not Monty. This book is important because the truth matters. This book spells out all the deception point by point. Their evidence can be researched; Monty's cannot because it does not exist. Visit the web site www.citizenforjustice.com/monty and you will see more evidence of Monty's deception then you will ever believe.Again, Truth Matters and good people who have given everything to their family, horses and community should not have their reputation ruined because of a glory seeking, money hungry, con-artist of a son needs attention.

The Man Who Uses Horses

This book is definitely worth reading. It is not written as a novel, but as a point for point documentation using quotable and verifiable sources. The conclusion is that Monty Roberts' life as documented in his book "The Man Who Listens to Horses" is a fabrication from A to Z. People who read Monty's book are immersed in a sad tale of a combination of a beaten child and cruelty to horses in one package. Monty seeks to bring some legitimacy to his book by bringing in actual people and real events, but with whom and with which he had nothing to do with. Do you think he could accidentally forget that his "trip to Nevada" never happened? One reviewer said "not one piece of evidence is professionally documented" and claims it is "muckraking", but in fact the reverse is true and no Monty bashing in the sense of "muckraking" appears in the book. The evidence is verifiable. Monty is self-generating. He wrote a book saying how great he is because he communicates with horses at the same time overcame, now known to be completely fictions adversities, to triumph. He made himself into the classical heroic figure who triumphed over evil and the audience fell for it. Some reviewers say "who cares if Monty lied, it is a great horse book". Only people who cannot be objective would dismiss criticism and evidence to protect their wish for something to be true. Adults who can look from a distance would not allow themselves to be so easily swayed by Monty's fiction and claims. Perhaps they have been blinded by Monty's claims of horse brutality by his father, which are shown to be false? Monty's methods are not "his methods" nor did he learn them through independent study. These methods have been around for 1000's of years and other horse trainers like Parelli, Lyons, etc. tell that to you straight out. Natural methods are becoming popular because the horse is no longer a tool, but a hobby and has been discovered by the urban middle class. Yet another reviewer claims the authors have no documentary evidence, but then the very numerous interviews are all documented and independently confirm each other. In fact documentary and eye witness evidence is the best type to have. If the evidence is wrong a cross examination would reveal that soon enough. The authors will never be sued by Monty. The hordes of witnesses would bury Monty and the cross examination would show Monty to be a liar and open questions on his practices themselves. I have seen his live demo. There is no way he used an untrained horse and it was obvious to see. More than one former student (search the web) has already come forward to state that the horses were pre-trained as was the horse for the BBC special. The obvious conclusions are: 1. "The Man Who Listens to Horses" is fiction sold as non-fiction. 2. Monty's methods were around long before Monty and he made no discoveries. 3. The evidence in "Horse Whispers & Lies" is documented. 4. "Horse Whispers & Lies" is not a novel, nor sold as one. 5.

Can you trust a reviewer that didn't read the book?

I was surprised to read three reviews here by people who obviously did not read Horse Whispers & Lies. The reviews seemed to be based on adoration for Monty Roberts. One reviewer asks for proof to show which side of this debate is right... read Horse Whispers & Lies... the proof is there. The reviewer who tells of his own abuse and how it was kept secret could not have read HW & L and believe it possible for Monty's supposed broken bones and bloodied skull to be kept secret from the 50 to 100 people who were with him on a DAILY BASIS. The reviewer who suggests people get close to Monty before judging him would have learned how very close the authors were to Monty Roberts. It's one thing to read a harsh review from someone who read the book. I take exception to those who give this book a bad review and didn't even read it. Those who read the book have a new understanding and awareness for truth and character and why they matter. I will stand for what I believe though it is not usually the popular thing to do. Reading Horse Whispers and Lies might change your life. This story of a kind and gentle horseman and his wife who had their memories and reputations ruined by a glory seeking son will leave you crying for justice. Read the book before you say it's a waste of time.