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WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION
(from HW&L - 1999)
To our wonderful husbands, Dave and Pete; we cannot express enough
love and gratitude for the sacrifices they made. Their love and understanding bolstered our determination. They gave us moral
support—or a shoulder to cry on—when the odds seemed insurmountable.
Our loving appreciation goes to Larry Roberts (Monty's only brother) and
his wife, Jamie. Larry’s prodigious files, memorabilia, and hours of tearful interviews were invaluable in our search
to document the truth.
Supporting our determination to celebrate the lives of Marvin and
Marguerite, and helping in so many ways, warm and loving thanks to all members of the Martins and Roberts families.
Most especially to Lou, Lois, Jim, Sally, Beek, Kay, Bud, Merce, Hart, Lillian, Carolyn, Lynn, Curtis, Cheri, Crystal, Marguerite,
Josh, Heidi, Marti, Ray, Larry, Carol and Steve.
We also wish to pay special recognition to Alan Balch, Andrée Forzani,
Angie Garcia, Peggy Goemens, Skeeter Garcia Innocenti, Joanne Church Taylor Johnson, Cynthia Kennedy, Chet Moore, Ron Stolich,
and Caroline Tugle. Their faith, encouragement, and empathy were blessings we cherish.
Sincere gratitude to brave journalists and their publications that
investigated and helped tell our story: Kathy Boccella, Philadelphia Enquirer; Eric Brazil, San Francisco Examiner;
Doreen Carvajal, New York Times, Ronna Snyder, Horse and Rider; and James Willwerth, Time Magazine. Each
dared to listen for the truth.
We also appreciate the editors and publishers of Ropers Sports
News who were compelled to print several passionate letters from the family and also from Monty. A very special note of
thanks goes to James Willwerth who suggested the title, Horse Whispers & Lies.
We must also give sincere thanks to several others whose backstage
assistance helped make Horse Whispers & Lies a record of truth.
The California Rodeo Association; John Steinbeck Public Library; Monterey County
Historical Society; Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse; National Steinbeck Center; Sacred Heart
Elementary School; The Salinas Californian; Salinas Police Department; Sacramento
County Public Library; Santa Barbara County Clerk Recorder; Jim and Louise Barnick; Roy M. Carlisle; Shirley Coe; Karyn S. DiCastri; Vern Fergel; Never Boring Design; Julie Peterson Orona; Jeff and Cheryl Read;
and Steve Strohm.
IF you want to know the truth about Monty Roberts
childhood... READ THIS BOOK... THE TRUTH MATTERS. There is no one else left in the world to stand up for Marvin
and Marguerite Roberts, the wonderful couple who gave Monty life ... and taught him the way of horses.
This book is for Marvin and Marguerite.
Truth & Character Matter
You
are likely one of the millions of people who have read Monty's books or seen him in person. You likely believe
that Monty's was beaten as a child.
Monty's
childhood is well documented. The truth must be told or his lies, published as non-fiction, become the perceived
historical truth.
Truth & Character Matter
Read
this book and decide for yourself. It's free. We do ask that you register in order to protect our copyright.
Truth
& Character Matter
Excerpt from Chapter 11
1998, A Note About The Horse Whisperer
Monty has publicly decried a particular scene in the movie The Horse Whisperer, directed by and starring
Robert Redford. In the scene, a horse is required to lie down. Throughout the filming, representatives from the American Humane
Association (AHA) were on hand to protect the horses from any possible abuse. The AHA ensures animals receive a standard of
care that far exceeds the mere prevention of cruelty.
The director of AHA’s Film and TV Unit, Gini Barrett, personally supervised the scene Monty has most
criticized. What follows is an excerpt from a four-page news release written by Gini Barrett and issued by the AHA and titled,
"American Humane Association Condemns False Statements by Monty Roberts":
[I] personally supervised the scene Monty Roberts has most criticized—when Pilgrim
is gently brought to a lying down position utilizing a rope around a front hoof to shift the horse’s center of gravity.
In the actual filming of the scene, [two horses] were used to play Pilgrim. Both are well-trained horses, and were completely
relaxed throughout the film sequence. Lying down is a familiar and simple request for them, and the rope merely an aspect
of their wardrobe. At no time during the filming of this sequence was any animal stressed or placed at risk.
While Monty Roberts does not approve of this technique, and that is certainly his right, other
compassionate and excellent natural horsemanship trainers can and do use it humanely. Could this technique be used in an abusive
manner? Certainly—as could almost any practice. Monty Roberts has stated in several interviews that his father used
a similar technique in a cruel manner. Perhaps he needs to watch other trainers work and learn how it might be done properly.
Marvin’s horses were a joy to work with and to show. Often called bomb proof,
most could be ridden with a thin piece of twine for reins. Marvin did not use any training technique in any sort of cruel
manner, though millions of people now believe that he did.
AUTHORS NOTE (from
HW&L - 1999)
This work attempts to share the true history of a gentle man whose
integrity and character are being maliciously castigated.
There is a quiet evolution taking place.
Horses and humans are bonding in a positive way that many thought
was impossible. This gentle phenomenon has earned many titles. Some call it "natural horsemanship," others like the term coined
by novelist Nicolas Evans, "horse whispering."
Whatever the name, the message is similar: humans do not have to
use force, abusive treatment, or cruelty, to teach horses. In fact, much is gained, and the experience is much more rewarding,
if humans would take the time to learn the language of the horse.
Long before there was talk of horse whisperers and natural horsemanship,
however, gifted horsemen and women understood and used similar principals in their training programs. The concept is not as
revolutionary or new to knowledgeable and respected horse handlers as it may seem, but methodologies, techniques, and nomenclatures
vary among those who offer to share their knowledge and expertise.
While the be-kind message delivered by most of these clinicians
is proving beneficial to the industry and to horses, it is a travesty of morality that one such crusader appears to base his
fame and training methodology on lies, trickery, and the demeaning of others.
Monty Roberts makes hideously false claims that his father was a
cruel, abusive, racist who beat his son and was cruel to his horses.
Feeding off these lies, journalists and others are now using the
senior Roberts to exemplify the behavior of a cruel horse trainer. Marvin Roberts, dead since 1985, cannot defend his honor
or the statements he made that have been taken out of context to shame him.
Moreover, the legend of Monty Roberts and how he learned the language
of horses goes unchallenged. It’s been said that a tale told often takes on its own reality. Monty insists that he began
to learn the nonverbal method of communication he calls Equus when he studied wild mustangs as a teenager. For weeks at a
time, he says, he rode the Nevada wilderness and peered through binoculars at the feral herds, studying their behavior for
hours. In reality, much of his story is a tall tale peddled as nonfiction in The Man Who Listens to Horses (Monty Roberts,
1997).
Portions of Horse Whispers & Lies describe training techniques
that were used by Marvin E. Roberts. This is not a horse training manual and should not be considered to be one. We hope to
provide an understanding that Marvin’s training methods were not only, "not thought to be cruel at the time," but that
they were not cruel.
It is our sincere hope that the leaders of this gentle and sensitive
evolution are not offended by anything found here. Just as their training methods differ from one another, they are sure to
differ from Marvin’s. These trainers are bringing an awareness to the public and to an emerging group of new horse owners.
We salute the efforts of trainers like Tom and Bill Dorrance, Ray
Hunt, Buck Brannaman, John Lyons, and Pat Parelli, who continue to offer advice with quiet dignity. A character trait of gifted
horse communicators.
The horse is a noble, trusting animal who deserves the very best
in human companionship. A true horseman is an honorable man, an honest man, a humble man—he is not a huckster.
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