The Horse Whisperer Advises Inmates

"Try not to seek pleasant things so much - they will come when you've earned them. The real joys in your life will be your accomplishments."   - Monty Roberts

Florida prison inmates got a lesson from world famous horse trainer Monty Roberts, who visited the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm at Marion CI near Ocala, Florida, this past October 16. Roberts instructed inmates participating in the correctional equine training program.

Some might say the famous horse "whisperer" had little chance for success, himself. He grew up in a violent home, enduring beatings so severe that, as a child, he ended up in the hospital with broken bones and spinal injuries.

Yet, Roberts not only stopped the cycle of abuse in his life, he also improved the way that human beings communicate with horses, other animals, and each other. Now, he teaches inmates who work with horses the lessons he has learned.

For many years, it was thought that the real cowboys had to "break" their horses - beating them into submission, breaking their will. The young Monty identified with the beaten horses and began to watch them closely.

The "breaking" process takes anywhere from four to six weeks. By observing a group of wild mustangs for a period of several days, Monty started to notice patterns in the way they communicate with each other. Since then, he has refined and enhanced his knowledge of their communication system, and by using their own language, he can communicate with them using physical posturing with his body, head, and eyes.

"People told horses for 8,000 years that if they didn't do what they wanted them to do, they would hurt them," Roberts stated..."no one has a right to say that to any other person or animal." www.montyroberts.com

Roberts now takes a horse that has never before had a saddle on its back and tames the animal into accepting a saddle and rider without ever having to use physical force - all in less than half an hour. He now trains other people in a horse language he has termed Equus. Monty has demonstrated this gentle method of horse training several thousand times and continues this training method even with the Queen of England's horses.

Modified versions of this Equus language have been found to work with other animals, including deer. Roberts also applies the ideas behind the language to communicate with people.

Central to the concept is the idea that humans and some animals, including horses, are social beings. We are group animals and need to be around others. By reinforcing positive behavior from the horse with positive rewards and negative behavior with negative consequences, Monty modifies the horse's behavior much like a parent modifies the behavior of an unruly child. The system of rewards and consequences has to be used continually during the training phase. Adapting this system to people, Monty and his wife, Pat, have helped nearly 50 foster children.

Roberts' methods differ radically from those used by traditional horsemen. He achieves astounding results using nothing but a calm, non-punitive training method. This is the same method he advocates for human-to-human interaction. Educators, psychologists, and military chaplains who work with abused children and present seminars on domestic violence are using Roberts' non-violent techniques.

Horse trainer Monty Roberts advises inmates at the equine training program on the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, Marion CI.

In 2000, The Florida Department of Corrections, Marion CI, and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) opened the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and correctional equine program training facility near Marion CI on State Road 25A.

Corrections farm manager and vocational instructor Betty Jo Bock teaches inmates who care for the horses to treat them with kindness and respect.

Roberts is author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Man Who Listens to Horses. He demonstrates horse communication methods in a seminar using them as a metaphor for human interaction with inmates of the prison. These communication methods are used in youth and adult detention facilities throughout the world: John Oxley Youth Detention Center in Brisbane, Australia; Christchurch Youth Detention Center in Christchurch, New Zealand; Milbourne Alternative High School in Chicago, Illinois; Murphy Alternative Learning Center in Nashville, Tennessee; Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center in Cleveland, Ohio; and, most recently, Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The farm provides pasture and shelter for retired racehorses. The inmate-training program provides instruction in the care of horses that have either sustained an injury or are not able to perform at their peak.

"We advertise and promote the horses as courageous creatures when they're doing well, but it can be another thing when they are not serving our purpose," said Michael Chronin, chairman of the TRF board, Florida division.

Marion CI Warden Don Gladish added, "The partnership between the TRF and DOC is a win-win proposition. The training will prove beneficial to inmates and to the horse industry."

Several years ago, Roberts and his team founded a business institute because, as he sees it, many of the problems with businesses today revolve around the motivation of the employees. IBM and Volkswagen are two of the companies who have benefited from his way of thinking.

Robert's with Shy Boy

"Companies tend to put a safety net under their employees, trying to prevent any type of failure; however, failure is essential to long-term success because only when people fail do they see the consequence of negative behavior."

Upon release, inmates trained at the TRF will be employable as stable attendants, groomers, or exercisers. The program teaches all aspects of equine care including farm maintenance, basic care, grooming, nutrition, caring for lame horses, breeding management, and geriatrics for the older horse.

The equine training program is the result of a partnership between DOC and the TRF. The program will train inmates to rehabilitate retired thoroughbred racehorses for use by the Department of Corrections and other law enforcement agencies, adoption by the general public, and provide life-long retirement for some horses. The program requires that inmates pass both written and performance tests. Upon completion of the program inmates receive a vocational certificate in equine care.