Monty Roberts, who has died aged 91, became internationally known for a non‑violent horse training method based on observing mustang herd behaviour. He popularised the "join up" technique, worked with the British royal horses and started more than 145 winners, including high‑profile successes such as Alleged and Lomitas. His bestselling autobiography sold millions but also drew scepticism and challenges to parts of his life story; he also fostered dozens of children and was made an honorary MVO in 2011.
Monty Roberts, ‘Horse Whisperer’ Who Championed Non‑Violent Training, Dies Aged 91
Monty Roberts: sold millions of copies of his autobiography, The Man Who Listens to Horses - Dan Tuffs
Monty Roberts, the American horseman famed for teaching horses to "join up" through non‑violent body language and observation of wild mustangs, has died aged 91. His gentle approach won admirers across the equestrian world, including Queen Elizabeth II, and made him an international figure — even as some elements of his life story remained contested.
Monty Roberts with Queen Elizabeth II and the then Duchess of Cornwall in 2015 - Chris Jackson
Early Life and Observations
Born Marvin Earl Roberts Jr on 14 May 1935 in Salinas, California, Roberts grew up on a ranch and was riding from a very young age. He said his formative experience came at 13 while working with mustang herds for the rodeo circuit, where he began to study the subtle body language that governs herd behaviour. From those observations he concluded the herd's leader is often the eldest mare, not the stallion, and that mares signal punishment and later reintegration through distinct postures and gestures.
Roberts with a filly, 1997 - John Storey
Developing "Join Up"
Roberts turned those insights into a training method commonly called "join up." Rather than using force, his demonstrations used posture, movement and a long rope to elicit a flight response and then model the mare's forgiving, passive stance to invite the horse to return and accept a handler as leader. He claimed that, once a horse "joined up," it would usually accept bridle, saddle and rider within minutes.
The Man Who Listens to Horses
"As I watched the wild horses, I discovered they in fact communicate with a very sophisticated silent language. Every movement and position of the horse's body has a meaning."
Career Highlights
Roberts credited himself with "starting" more than 145 winners. Notable successes included Alleged (trained for Vincent O'Brien), a dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, and Lomitas, a German two‑year‑old who developed a stall phobia and, after time with Roberts in 1991, returned to racing and later became a champion three‑year‑old. His autobiography, The Man Who Listens to Horses (1996), sold more than 4.5 million copies and helped popularise his methods internationally.
Roberts in California, 1998 - Axel Koester
Royal Connection and Influence
Roberts's reputation grew after Queen Elizabeth II invited him to work with horses in the royal string in 1989. He recalled the Queen's strong belief that neither people nor animals should be coerced by fear or pain. Trainers such as Sir Henry Cecil and Sir Mark Prescott, as well as instructors for the Household Cavalry, adopted aspects of his approach.
Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer (1998), although it was denied that the original novel was based on Roberts - Alamy
Controversy and Criticism
Despite his successes, Roberts's personal narrative and some claims attracted scepticism. After he described childhood abuse and dramatic early experiences in his autobiography, relatives and critics published counterclaims — notably the book and website Horse Whispers and Lies — disputing parts of his account, including his assertions about time spent with truly wild Nevada mustangs at age 13. Questions about the extent and originality of his methods persisted in parts of the equestrian community.
Work Beyond Horsemanship
Roberts argued his methods had broader applications. He and his wife Pat raised three biological children and fostered 47 others, and he advised schools and organisations on behaviour management. A notable case saw Kingshurst Junior School in Solihull use his concepts and later be reclassified as a centre of excellence. In 2011 he was appointed an honorary Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for services to the Queen's racing establishment.
Legacy
Monty Roberts leaves a complex legacy: a widely admired advocate of kinder methods of training, a populariser of equine body‑language study, and a controversial figure because of disputes over his personal history. He remained a powerful public voice for reducing brutality toward animals and for exploring non‑coercive approaches to training and education.
Personal: In 1956 he married Patricia Gail; she and their three children survive him. Monty Roberts was born 14 May 1935 and died 1 August 2026.
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