1. Text 3
Monty’s method
Monty is the real-life Californian Horse
Whisperer who can train a mustang to
accept a saddle and rider in 10 minutes.
O
n a cold Tuesday
night in September,
1000 people are
gathering in a barn the
size of an aircraft hangar.
In the queue, there’s
a man covered in blue
denim from Stetson to
cowboy boots whose
spurs rattle as he walks.
He looks the part. They
are all here to see Monty
Roberts. Outside, one
of the volunteers who is
putting up signs says ‘In
the horse world, he’s a bit
of a god.’
Monty Roberts is also
gaining something of a
reputation in the world of
education as schools start
to apply his techniques
in the classroom.
His theories on non-
confrontational human the centre of the arena. magician about to perform
relationships have been ‘Practically everybody a trick, Monty asks Socks’s
credited with turning here has read or heard owner if they have ever
round failing schools. something about me,’ he met. He needs to rule out
begins. ‘That’s just the any collusion because
Back in the barn, the way it is today. But there what follows is so magical
warm-up music of classic won’t be one horse who as to beggar belief. But it
western themes fades and comes through that gate is not a trick. Socks is a
the night’s star attraction tonight that has read or ‘starter’, meaning he has
appears. A big bear heard anything about me.’ never been ridden. In fact,
of a man with a gentle he has never had anything
smile, he acknowledges The rst horse to enter
on his back. He is wild –
the applause and walks the arena is a handsome
in the top 5 per cent of
into the fenced pen at animal called Socks. Like a
untrained horses. Socks
10 Unit 3 The gentle touch © Cambridge University Press 2010

2. Part 1
starts to run round the my teachers as much as I His philosophy is simple:
pen, rst one way then the have been theirs.’ positive actions reap
other, as Monty throws a positive consequences;
Monty Roberts has done
line softly on to his back negative actions incur
this routine thousands of
and kicks up sawdust and negative consequences.
times. It’s second nature
dirt, imitating a predator. He encourages parents
to him. It’s the reason he’s
After a couple of minutes, and children to draw
famous. But it’s not his
Socks realises he is not up a series of contracts,
raison d’être. During the
in danger and starts to verbal or written, and
evening he will ‘join up’
chew and lick his lips, just this gives even children
with ve horses, gently
as Monty said he would. as young as two a sense
curing them of habits of
Then he stops, and drops of responsibility. Children
biting and bucking and
his head to the ground. should never be rewarded
refusing to go into boxes
for good behaviour
And then the magic or through gates, without
with food or money, but
begins. Monty stands laying a nger on them
allowed to go on an outing
sideways on and walks except to pat their noses.
or do a favourite pastime
slowly towards Socks, But incredible though this
instead. Breaking the
avoiding eye contact. is, it is only a sideshow.
contract means a task, but
Then Socks turns towards
Monty’s main concern this should be something
him, and Monty scurries
these days is to apply useful. It is important that
away. This is not the
his non-violent methods the child decides on both
action of a predator,
to human relationships, the reward and the task
the horse thinks. The
to revolutionise the and that both parties stick
third time he does this,
way we communicate. to the deal. ‘There’s not a
something incredible
‘These are the most bad kid born,’ says Monty.
happens. Socks begins
precious relationships,’ ‘There’s not a bad horse
to follow Monty across
he says. ‘Every human born. Circumstances and
the ring, his head almost
being is more precious life’s environment are
resting on his shoulder. In
than all the horses I what make us either bad
eight minutes, wild horse
have worked with.’ Like or good. And teachers
and civilised man have
horses, children are ight have been the most
made friends, achieving
animals, meaning that important part of our
what Monty calls ‘join-up’.
when threatened they ee, sociological order since
He signals for his rider
except that our predatory the beginning of time,
to bring a saddle, and
ancestry means we put because they represent
within 10 minutes Socks
up with a lot more abuse what our future will be.’
is carrying a man on his
before we run. ‘Each of
back around the ring. Monty is a charismatic,
the animals that comes
‘Horses are stupid – that’s articulate but modest man.
in that pen is just like a
what they said for 2000 He describes his work as a
child,’ says Monty. ‘They
years. Look at this young mission to leave the world
have the same needs.
horse. Look at him learn. a better place than he
They want trust, they
Horses are 50 million found it. In some places,
want to be able to trust,
years old, and humans in prisons and schools,
they want safety and some
have been around for a thanks to him, it already is.
love. They don’t want to
much shorter period of
be hurt.’
time. Horses have been
Adapted from Harvey McGavin, Times Educational Supplement, 21st September 2001.
© Cambridge University Press 2010 Unit 3 The gentle touch 11