Monty Roberts

Life & Legacy

Marvin Earl "Monty" Roberts MVO (May 14, 1935 – August 1, 2026) was an American horse trainer who promoted his techniques of natural horsemanship through his Join-Up International organization, named after the core concept of his training method. He believed that horses use a non-verbal language, which he termed "Equus", and that humans can use this language to communicate with horses. In order to promulgate his methods, Roberts authored a number of books including his original best-seller, The Man Who Listens to Horses, and regularly toured with a live demonstration. He ran an Equestrian Academy in Solvang, California, and an "online university" to promote his ideas until his death on 2026.