Monty
Roberts

A Salinas Ranch Childhood — Cal Poly Animal Science Graduate

Monty Roberts was born Marvin Earl Roberts on May 14, 1935, in Salinas, California. He was raised in a horse training family and began riding and competing at a very young age. Roberts later attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, graduating in 1959 with a degree in animal science.

Roberts later stated that his early experiences observing horse training methods motivated him to search for alternatives to force-based training. He described spending time in Nevada observing wild mustangs and studying how horses communicated with one another through body language and behavior. Roberts eventually referred to this communication system as "Equus" — a term he used to describe what he believed was a predictable nonverbal language used by horses.

Trust, Body Language, and the Method That Changed Horse Training

From those observations, Roberts developed the foundation for his Join-Up training method. The method focused on encouraging horses to willingly accept human leadership through body language, positioning, movement, and timing rather than through intimidation or physical punishment. Roberts demonstrated these techniques publicly by working with previously unstarted or difficult horses before live audiences. His demonstrations became internationally known during the late twentieth century.

In 1966, Roberts helped establish Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, California, which later became the headquarters for his horse training, educational programs, and demonstrations. During the 1970s and 1980s, he also became involved in Thoroughbred training and sales, serving as a consignor for two-year-old Thoroughbred sales at Hollywood Park.

Windsor Castle, a Royal Friendship, and the MVO

One of the most important relationships in Roberts' public career developed with Queen Elizabeth II. In 1989, Roberts was invited to Windsor Castle to demonstrate his Join-Up methods before members of the British royal household and royal racing staff. According to Roberts and multiple published interviews, Queen Elizabeth II became strongly interested in his nonviolent training philosophy and maintained a friendship with him for more than three decades. Roberts later trained horses and stable staff connected with the royal racing operation and was invited to several royal events over the years.

In 2011, Roberts was appointed an Honorary Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for services to Queen Elizabeth II's racing establishment. The Queen also became patron of Join-Up International, an organization associated with Roberts' educational and therapeutic horse programs.

A New York Times Bestseller That Introduced Millions to Join-Up

Roberts gained worldwide recognition in 1996 following publication of his autobiography, The Man Who Listens to Horses. The book remained on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year and was translated into numerous languages. Roberts later authored additional books including Shy Boy: The Horse That Came in from the Wild, Horse Sense for People, From My Hands to Yours, and Ask Monty.

Roberts became the subject of several documentaries, including the BBC/PBS production Monty Roberts: The Real Horse Whisperer and the later documentary The Cowboy and the Queen, which examined his relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and the international spread of his horsemanship methods.

Throughout his career, Roberts conducted clinics and educational programs throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world. His work extended beyond horse training into leadership seminars, youth programs, and therapeutic initiatives connected to veterans and trauma recovery. He also established educational programs through the Monty Roberts International Learning Center and online training platforms.