I think this book is great. It isn't just about horses it is about Monty's life and his family. It also tells us about the ways they broke there horses in. Some of them were very mean but some of the ways we still se them today. This would be great for people who want to read an autobiography or like books horses. ( )

Monty grew up on the rodeo grounds of the town I grew up in. His descriptions of Salinas take me back. He also takes me back to all those poor ponies I mistreated in my child's ignorance of horse behavior and needs. Those poor ponies mistreated me right back. They weren't being stubborn, they were sticking up for themselves. He takes me back to the one pony that was my teacher and best friend. Also to the horses that I loved after. All were dear friends. His training methods are spot on. His power of observation a lesson to us all. His example shows that we all need to slow down and watch for a while before acting, be it horse or human. He also begs a queer question: Horses learn what we want. They learn our voice commands. They learn our language. And yet, we can't understand a word they say. So, who is the smart one? If you give a kid a horse or pony, this book along with Black Beauty should be required reading long before the horse or pony is ever saddled. ( )

The Man Who Listens to Horses is a nonfiction book written by Monty Roberts about his life, career, and passion for horses. He recounts his autobiographical tale about his journey to becoming horse whisperer. The writing is clear and he does not hold back details in explaining why and how he works with horses. The book is chronological, and he does not just include the dates and events of his life, but instead includes the memorable stories, challenges, people, and horses that define him. This book was very motivational to me because I also love horses and understood the respect and nobility he also assigns to the horse. He includes pictures of important people and horses he helped or helped him. At the end of the book there is a summary index that goes over different techniques and approaches he applies as a horse trainer and whisperer. Overall, the book served its purpose as educating other people about the art, magic, and power of communicating and listening to horses. ( )

To me, this book came across more like a personal memoir rather than the latest trend in horse-training techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed the book soley for the author's personal insight, observatons, and his remarkable kinship with horses and animals.

What most folks in the equine industry don't realize, is that Monty has a special gift & kinship with horses - unique to him only. What works for one trainer, does not neccessarily work for another.

What I see in horse-related magazines and in the equine industry per se, makes me shake my head. The equine media is all to quick to pick up on the latest trainer/training techniques, to wit: John Lyons, Lynn Salvatori-Palm, Pat Parelli, Mark Rashad, etc; (the latest trend seems to be shifting to Australian cowboys, re: Clinton Anderson, et al), then drop it as quickly until the next training fad becomes the new vogue. Folks then jump on the equine training technique flavor-or-the-month bandwagon, thinking "what works for him, will work for me." without taking into account one's own personal dynamics, mood, personality, character, temperment, metabolism, etc.

It reminds me what Dr. Benjamin Spock said on becoming new parents for the first time: "Trust yourself, you know more than you think." Which I suppose could be analogous to getting along with our equine partners: trust your instincts.

That being said, I wish I could go to one of Monty's "join up" clinics - if only to observe man & horse communicate, and watch Monty work his magic. ( )