Monty Roberts

[TrasaM]

Richard Maxwell used to work for Monty Roberts, so learned a great deal off him, and then added and adapted some of his own - not everyone has access to a round pen for instance.

He was the one who was trying to "join up" with a stallion and was talking to Monty, saying "I think I have join up" and Monty replied "I don't think so" and then the stallion went on the attack; in fact he had been "stalking" Richard and waiting for an opportunity.

I personally think Monty is great, and the RA I have met are great too. Monty has so much understanding and llove of the horse.

^^^ sums up my opinion of him too. Look past the showmanship and take the bits that are relevant to your case. He does it for a living, not for charity, so of course they try to entertain and sell their products.
I'm also not too keen on some of his personal discourses but it seems important for him to talk about it so so be it.

 

[Littlelegs]

My biggest issue is that monty himself admits join up doesn't work with all horses, & there's been some stallions he has given up doing join up with because it was dangerous, in that they never will submit. Now in fairness any good trainer uses different methods for different horses. However montys method is entirely based on speaking the same language. If that was true, then surely all horses would speak it, including extremely dominant stallions.
Also interesting is that if you watch someone who can lunge properly, in just a cavesson, the horse does physically pretty much the same. Except traditional lunging with the horse moving long & low in a swinging forwards pace had that as the aim rather than the bit after when you walk over, pat it & it follows you out. So even montys method of join up isn't new, as clearly people were doing exactly that hundreds of years before & calling it lunging.

 

[Luci07]

I have enjoyed watching Kelly Marks on H&C. She does seem to speak sense and I have picked up some good tips from watching her. I think its important to look at and question rather than blindly accept but that goes for everything to do with horses rather than just MR.

 

[windand rain]

I have enjoyed watching Kelly Marks on H&C. She does seem to speak sense and I have picked up some good tips from watching her. I think its important to look at and question rather than blindly accept but that goes for everything to do with horses rather than just MR.

It is important to cherry pick all methods as long as you are always firm but fair and not inflicting pain and distress

 

[potto]

Loving this thread about Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks. I too have questioned them, in fact of all the trainers i have met or observed, they are the most open and receptive to discussion, criticism 'change and new ideas' at least in discussing them as possibilities to aid the welfare of horses and their humans. I may not always think they go about it in the way i would choose or necessarily make the right business affliliations. However they and in fact the IH team generally are all pretty approachable and accessable and do their best to answer questions from all most anyone in need via forums, email or at demos etc. You can also access courses for free as vounteers to save money. How many trainers of this calibre allow you do do this in the interests of sharing information?

So for me I still have a lot of respect for both of them and their achievements and the help they have given me indirectly from what i have learn't via their knowledge at various times and i hope that i can also return the favour or at least pass it on.