Shy Boy : The Horse Who Came in from the Wild by Monty Roberts
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Reviews
New York Times
"Monty Roberts will soften you up, get you chewing and listening to his
insights into equine behavior and make you marvel at the success of his
spiritual quest."
Washington Post Book World
"From those cold nights and blazing days in the desert, he would build
a
life anchored by his love and understanding of the horse."
Boston Globe
"It's a magical dance between equal partners."
Los Angeles Times
"Through trust, respect and negotiation, Roberts routinely will start a
wild-eyed stallion to bridle, saddle and rider in about 30 minutes. If
the
understanding and conversations continue, the loyalty and mutual regard
are forever."
From Kirkus Reviews , April 12, 1999
Roberts (The Man Who Listens to Horses, 1997) deploys melodrama in
the interest of common decency in this tale of gentling a wild mustang
into
the domesticated community of horses, then giving him a choice: stay with
your new friends or run free to the herd. It is Roberts's wish to ``make
the world a better place for the horseall horses, including free horses
without names.'' He has made it his duty to show that the brutality
typically employed to break a horse is simple cruelty, and there is a much
kinder method. He calls it joining up: forging a relationship of trust
and
generosity through communication and fair treatment. As ably spelled out
here, this is achieved through a kindness of voice and touch, and a body
language he calls Equus, ``ingrained in the genetic, tribal memory of all
the
world's horses.'' To demonstrate that his technique can succeed even in
the wide open spaces of the Sierra Nevada, he convinced the BBC to
film him starting (Roberts' term for breaking) a mustang from the wild.
So
unfolds the story of Shy Boy, a creature Roberts paints as an American
icon, noble and romantic in extremis: strong and free, wild and graceful
and sensitive. Evidently stung by allegations that all was not kosher in
his
first book, Roberts, in an unappealing defensive tone, makes sure there
are plenty of independent experts on hand to observe his every move as
he and Shy Boy get to know each other; the book has nearly as many
pages of photographs as text. Roberts takes detours in the book to
excoriate abusers of humans and animals, before breathlessly, and
hamfistedly, charging to the climactic moment when Shy Boy must
choose between the herd and a home with Roberts. Roberts may be
relentlessly self-righteous and not above going weepy to ingratiate himself
with his readers, but his mission is too laudable to be ridiculed. (100
color photographs) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All
rights reserved.
Dallas Morning Sun
"With his broad shoulders, deep chest and big hands, he could be an ol'
boy from any well-managed ranch in West Texas. Instead he's a
horseman from Salinas, California, who has shaken up the horse world
with a simple message: Be gentle."
Forbes
"Roberts turn[s] a dangerous bucking horse into a faithful follower
without breaking its spirit."
People
"Monty Roberts trains horses using a language they understandtheir own."
Book Description
World-famous horse gentler Monty Roberts reveals the unique rapport
he shares with one special horse: a wild mustang
In this beautifully illustrated book, Monty Roberts's be loved horse Shy
Boy takes center stage. In a gripping, intimate narrative and in one
hundred color photos, Monty Roberts relives their unique relationship,
beginning with his first encounter with the wild horse in the high desert.
During a dramatic three day ride across a hundred miles, Monty Roberts
used all his skill to connect with the little mustang he finally befriended.
Throughout the year that followed, Shy Boy grew to love life on the farm,
playfully demanding attention and becoming fascinated by children.
During a year of challenges and one frightening illness, the wild horse
earned the respect and admiration of his trainershe had exceptional spirit.
And, as his fame grew following the PBS-aired documentary that
featured his initial three-day encounter with Monty Roberts, Shy Boy
began to receive visitors from all over the world.
Yet throughout Shy Boy's year of fame, Monty Roberts was asked,
"Would Shy Boy rather be free!" With trepidation, he took Shy Boy
back to the wild to let him choose: Go with your herd, or stay with your
gentler. What happened is so exciting and moving that it will surprise
every reader.
And like Monty Roberts, readers will fall in love with Shy Boy.
About the Author
Monty Roberts and his wife, Pat, live in California on their Flag Is Up
Farms.
Shy Boy : The Horse Who Came in from the Wild by Monty Roberts
Click on the down
arrow and select books,
type in Monty Roberts
and click the GO
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