Doc THE QUEEN and the COWBOY Communicating with Compassion with Horses

As a horse lover, along with Queen Elizabeth and "horse whisperer" Monty Roberts, I was excited to watch the documentary featuring Roberts. But, I was very distraught by coverage depicting the extreme cruelty and disregard meted on horses. For sensitive viewers, be warned, there are parts of this enlightening and uplifting film that may be too distressing. However, the evolution of caring and training horses from barbaric methods of "stringing" or "breaking in" to a non-violent methodology is central to this film. Monty Roberts' created a methodology he named "Join-UP" where in the trainer communicates through body language to the horse and no forms of physical force are used. Born in 1939 on a horse ranch in Salinas, CA, Roberts passed away this August at age 91on a horse ranch. Horses were his first and life-long passion. Roberts narrates this film which depicts him at age 3 winning national rodeo championships. Roberts tells us about his father whose methods for taming horses were the cruel, common practices of the times. He also shares the abuse his father bestowed on him. "Breaking in" means beating a horse until it surrendered itself without resistance. "Stringing" involves roping a horse's legs to prevent him from running free. These methods shown in the doc. often result in injury or death to the horse. It renders a spirited horse into a servile creature. Roberts shows us the physical signs horses use (postures/body language) that people can imitate to communicate with horses. He explains how he discovered this language while watching wild horses interact with each other. It's fascinating to observe him demonstrating his techniques. Queen Elizabeth contacted Roberts after she read about him, asking that he come to England to show her and the elite Equis society how he works. Queen Elizabeth lifestyle is the antithesis of urban cowboy Roberts but their mutual love for horses bonded them in a friendship. Roberts credits her having saved his livelihood after he was publicly declared a charlatan in the states. I felt the doc. was most rewarding with Roberts tending to horses. The relationship of the Queen to her stable of thoroughbreds felt off-putting; equating horse riding with a snobbish, elite society. Should you put aside the heinous treatment of horses in the doc. (I will never again watch old westerns) and the frippery of Royalty (which Brits adore) and I abhor, you will be rewarded with a fascinating film with substantial, core concepts. Roberts proved forming trust and communication between animals and humans can and should only come through kindness, positive re-enforcement and open mindedness.