I was very pleased and happy with the book and the condition it came in. My husband had been very doubtful and now wishes I had gotten 2 copies! We are giving it to our nephew as a graduation gift... this the book everyone should read.
I have to say it was a book I couldn't put down, a real page turner, but it NOT factual. With so many people today starting to ride at middle age and older on pretty horses that are WAY too much for their experience, it's very easy for "clinicians" to load up a stadium with rank beginners, make you think you've got your horse loving you for life and then send you home where you try some of their tricks and your horse looks at you like he has NO idea what you want. Roberts KNOWS how to make money off beginner ignorance. I know, I went to a show in 1999.At that time I'd been seriously riding and training for 50 years, but wanted to see what all the hullabaloo was about. Felt completely screwed over when I left. Basically it was a "one trick pony" show, pun intended.
People contacted his ranch wanting to know what to do after the horse joined up. They were told to just keep doing it instead of moving onto the next breaking stage. When I was 15 I was having trouble catching a young mare to ride. I gave up, walked away and she followed me! Wish I'd known I could make millions off that little natural move.
I knew two young ladies who worked on his Flag Is Up Ranch and dear Ol' Monty was so much the skirt chaser they had to quit. They also revealed that his "training secrets" with spirited young colts was not whispering techniques, but a round pen with 2 feet of sand in it in which he ran these colts until they were too tired to buck. So much for humane techniques!
Buy this book as entertainment only.
Great communicator of Horses
I just finished this book tonight, and I couldn't put it down. I love the way Mr. Roberts trains horses with love, and non-violence instead of abuse, and cruelty even though he was abused by his father. It also tells Mr. Robert's story of growing up on a ranch in California, being a child star, meeting James Dean, his wife,children,and learning about horses, and learning to train them. I liked this book a lot. There should be more people like him in the world who show love and compassion for our 4 footed friends. Even though I'm not interested in horse training, I enjoyed this book.
